WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Area residents interested in obtaining an education degree offered by Missouri State University through the Teacher Education Completion Program at Missouri State-West Plains are invited to attend a teacher education fair beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in Looney Hall Room 1 on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus.

The event is being hosted by the Missouri State University College of Education in Springfield, organizers said.

While information about all of the education degrees available locally will be offered, the fair will highlight the college’s Master of Arts in Teaching and Bachelor of Education degrees, both of which result in teacher certification, organizers said.

The MAT is an “alternative certification program,” as defined by the Mo. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), which allows students to obtain a teaching certificate and a master’s degree in the same program.  It is designed to enable people considering a mid-life career change to pursue certification in an area of secondary education similar to their undergraduate degree program and/or work experience, organizers said.

The bachelor’s degree is designed for those who are interested in teaching as a career, whether they are just beginning college or have earned an associate’s degree, they added.

A light dinner will be provided for those who attend this free program, organizers said.

For more information, contact Missouri State Outreach Coordinator Deanna Smith at 417-255-7931 or at DeannaSmith@MissouriState.edu, or visit the Missouri State Outreach website at http://outreach.missouristate.edu/ or the Missouri State University College of Education website at http://education.missouristate.edu/.