2012-2013 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Department of Education
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 Return to: College of Education and Social Sciences
For a listing of Graduate Faculty Membership go to the following link: (under development)
Since West Texas A&M University was founded in 1910, its roots have been in the teacher education program. A major purpose of the Department of Education is to prepare individuals for professional positions as teachers, counselors, administrators and other service positions for both public and private schools at elementary and secondary levels. WTAMU is proud of its tradition of providing outstanding students through its graduate education program.
With the largest graduate student enrollment in the University, the Department of Education has nine options for a master’s degree. A state test is required for certification for the standard professional certificate. To ensure quality, master’s degree certificate programs are approved by the State Board for Educator Certification.
Professional Certificate Program
(Standard Certification with Required Renewal)
- Administrator
- Principal
- Superintendent
- Probationary (Assistant) Principal*
- Probationary Principal*
- Probationary Superintendent*
- Educational Diagnostician
- Reading Specialist
- School Counselor
*Certificate is renewable yearly for up to two additional calendar years, if necessary.
Other Programs
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Instructional Design and Technology
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Arts in Teaching
Supplemental Certificates
(Subject to continuation by the State Board for Educator Certification)
- Bilingual Education
- English as a Second Language
- Special Education
- Technology Applications
Requirements for the Supplemental Certificate
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Valid Texas teacher certificate.
- Post-Baccalaureate deficiency plan.
Alternative Teacher Certification Programs
A person who possesses at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and meets other specific qualifications may complete initial Texas teacher certification through either of two alternative certification programs at West Texas A&M University: the Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) program and the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program.
For more information, see the alternative certification website, wtamu.edu/altcert, or contact the Office of Alternative Certification Programs, Old Main, Room 413, 806-651-2599.
Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE)
The Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) Program is an accelerated, selective program designed to prepare highly qualified degreed individuals to serve as public school teachers in Texas.
The PACE Program is designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree and who have a record of work and life experience appropriate to enhancement of the teaching and learning processes in the public school classroom. Certification is achieved through a combination of an intensive summer of course work coupled with a year-long, supervised internship as teacher-of-record in a public or recognized private school. The teacher/intern is jointly supervised by WTAMU and the participating school district.
PACE offers certification the following areas:
- Elementary: EC-6 Generalist and Bilingual Generalist.
- Middle School: 4-8 Generalist, English Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies.
- Secondary: 6-12 and 8-12 Content Areas.
- All-Level: EC-12 Special Education and EC-12 Content Areas.
Although interested individuals may submit transcripts for evaluation at any time during the year, an updated PACE information/application packet is available Dec. 1 each year with a priority application deadline of March 1. For specific program requirements and more information, see the PACE website, wtamu.edu/pace.
Master’s Degrees, Standard Professional Certificate Programs
Admission Requirements
The professional certificate gives the holder legal authority to perform duties in public schools of Texas in the specialized area designated on the face of the certificate. Prerequisite for all master’s programs, except professional counseling and instructional technology, is 18 semester hours of education.
Before beginning work toward the standard professional certificate, the student must hold the standard/provisional certificate in the appropriate prerequisite field. The student must also complete the proper graduate program, meet the additional requirement for the standard certificate of two years of teaching experience and pass the appropriate state test. To obtain a standard professional elementary certificate or standard professional secondary certificate, the student must hold a provisional teaching certificate at that level.
Curriculum Requirements
The master of education degree must be completed within six years. Requirements for the standard professional certificate must be completed within 10 years from the date a graduate student takes the first course required for the certificate. Credit earned by correspondence cannot be applied toward a certificate.
A graduate core of nine hours is required and includes:
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Discipline - Course Prefix
Counselor Education - COUN
Early Childhood - EDEC
Educational Administration - EDAD
Educational Psychology - EPSY
Elementary Education - EDEL
Generic Special Education - EDSP
Instructional Design and Technology - EDT
Professional Development - EDPD
Reading - EDRD
Secondary Education - EDSE
NOTE: See the “Course Descriptions ” section of this catalog for a complete list of courses offered by the University.
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Return to: College of Education and Social Sciences
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