overview
Cape Girardeau is located on the Mississippi River, approximately mid-way between St. Louis, Missouri; and Memphis, Tennessee. Settled in the 1730s by French traders, it became a town in 1793 and has had both French and German influence. Cape Girardeau is noted as a stop on the Lewis and Clark exploration of the American west, a part of the 1838 Native American Trail of Tears, and more recently as “The City of Roses on the River.”
courses
Bachelor Courses in English
Business, Computer Science. Industrial Technology, Mass Communications, and Fine Arts may be possible. Other disciplines may occasionally be possible (excluding nursing and education). Students taking a full course load normally register for 12 credit hours, which represents 4 courses each meeting 3 hours per week. Enrollment in 15 credit hours (5 courses) may be possible in consultation with the home school coordinator. For class schedules, click here (choose classes numbered 500 and below). Course descriptions are available here.
Note: Visa regulations restrict enrollment in online-courses.
Master Courses in English
Business. Master-level students can participate for one semester or summer and can enroll in upper-level bachelor courses, master-level courses, research with courses, or research only. Master level students may enroll in 6-9 credit hours, which represents 2-3 courses each meeting 3 hours per week. General information about master-level courses can be found here; class schedules are available here (choose classes numbered 500 and above from the Master of Business Administration program).
Note: Visa regulations restrict enrollment in online-courses.
Thesis/Project Work
Business. Bachelor or master level students interested in working on their thesis or final project may do so, with prior permission. Southeast can generally arrange a faculty advisor. For bachelor level students, 3 credit hours of independent study credit can be granted (6 ECTS). For master level students, 3 credit hours of independent study credit and 3 credit hours of MBA credit can be granted (12 ECTS). Students may participate in part-time courses, plus thesis work, or, if space is available, they may come to Southeast only to work on their thesis (no courses/credit; maximum duration 3 months). In some cases, the only-thesis option may be available only during the summer rather than the regular semester. Please inquire about the thesis-only option prior to applying.
academics
Accreditations
The College of Business holds AACSB and NIBS (Network of International Business Schools) accreditation. The university has a variety of other accreditations.
Orientation
Orientation is typically held on the Wednesday through Friday of the week prior to the start of classes.
Internships
Though placements cannot be guaranteed, unpaid on- and off-campus internships can possibly be arranged in the areas of web design, research, computers, marketing, retail, and finance. Internships typically require a minimum commitment of 10-20 hours per week for 8 weeks. Depending on the duration, academic credit of 3-6 semester credit hours (6-12 ECTS units) can generally be granted.
Part-time Employment
Part-time employment is not possible for semester exchange students; limited opportunities exist for students who stay for the academic year. Should exchange students arrange part-time employment on their own, Southeast can possibly cooperate to provide internship credit.
Students with Disabilities
Information is available online.
Grades & Transcripts
Southeast Missouri State uses a four point/letter grade evaluation system. For additional details on transfer of credits, please refer to the Student Guidebook.
fees
Health Insurance
Students should bring proof of coverage if they choose to arrange health insurance prior to arrival; insurance must comply with U.S. Department of State requirements. Health insurance purchased through the university is approximately $750 per semester, payable upon arrival.
International Student Enrollment Fee
$200. Billed to your Southeast student account, this provides for the international student orientation and other student services.
Program, Course and Electronic Course Access Fees
Certain courses (not all) require additional fees. Please click here for more information.
Textbooks
$35 per course (rental). Textbook rental is an option for all bachelor-level classes as well as for 500-level master classes. For 600-level master classes, books may need to be purchased.
Official Transcript
$15, plus any requested delivery expenses. This fee is paid at the conclusion of the exchange semester.
visas
All non-US citizens are required to obtain either an F-1 or J-1 visa to study in the United States.
video
logistics
Housing
Shared dormitory or shared apartment. Students can choose to live in on-campus university dormitories or an off-campus apartment. On-campus housing with utilities starts at approximately $737 per semester. Off-campus housing including utilities averages between approximately $415-$575 per month, but off-campus housing is very limited.
Meals
For students living in an on-campus dormitory, various meal plans are offered with a choice of five dining facilities on campus. Meal plans with 90 meals per semester start at approximately $1,070 per semester and go up to a maximum of 304 meals per semester for approximately $1,835.
Transportation
There is a small airport in Cape Girardeau (CGI), which offers Contour Airlines connections to/from Nashville, Tennessee (BNA). Contour is affiliated with American Airlines, so you should be able to input your origin airport and CGI as your destination airport to obtain a full itinerary. Alternatively, you could use a flight search engine to search for a multi-airline itinerary. Although flying into Cape Girardeau is advised, there is also an option to fly into St. Louis, Missouri (STL), which is 200 km north of Cape Girardeau. However, please be advised that there are limited transportation options to travel between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau. Nevertheless, during the pre-semester period, transportation may be arranged through the International Education and Services Office on limited dates.
Within Cape Girardeau, private taxi service is available as well as limited city bus service and ride-share services. There is also a university shuttle system, which serves the campus.
community
Entertainment
Leisure venues in Cape Girardeau include a multi-plex theatre with 14 screens, bowling, bars with local entertainment, a large casino complex, university museum and nature centers, and an assortment of community and university activities. Cultural events include concerts, live theatre performances, festivals, and exhibitions. The University has two recreation centers, which include indoor pool, basketball and racquetball courts, indoor track, and weight and exercise facilities; the city offers numerous indoor and outdoor sport facilities. Collegiate basketball, American football, baseball, and women’s soccer and volleyball are major University spectator sports. Golf, tennis, cycling, hiking, canoeing, and hunting are popular outdoor activities. Student organizations sponsor various social and educational events; intramural sport activities include soccer, rugby, and more.
Shopping
The campus is located near the riverfront and downtown area, which offers small shops and restaurants. Several shopping malls and large, chain discount stores are located west of the downtown area; larger stores are typically open every day, some for 24 hours.
Climate
Cape Girardeau has a warm, temperate climate. Winter temperatures range from -3ºC to 10ºC with occasional snow or ice. Summers are hot and humid with temperatures ranging from 20ºC to 35ºC. Precipitation is possible throughout the year.