Department of Education

Dr. Janet Hindman, department head
	Old Main, Room 416B • WTAMU Box 60208
	806-651-2615 • Fax 806-445-3763 • jhindman@wtamu.edu

For a listing of Graduate Faculty Membership go to the following link: Graduate Faculty Membership.

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.

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 accredited by the Texas Education Agency/State Board for Educator Certification. Educator standards are set by the state of Texas and are subject to change.

Admission Requirements

Prerequisite for all master’s degree programs, except professional counseling and instructional technology, is 18 semester credit hours of education. In addition, Texas Administrative Codes requires a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 on all course work attempted or a 2.75 on the last 60 hours attempted for educator preparation program admission. Before beginning work toward the standard professional certificate, the student may be required to hold a valid classroom teaching certificate (see individual program requirements).

Curriculum/Certification Requirements

A graduate core of nine hours is required:

EDPD 6303
; and
Three hours from
EDPD 6304
,
EDPD 6085
or
COUN 6330
; and
Three hours from
EDLD 6311
,
EDPD 6305
,
EDPD 6308
or
EDPD 6329
.

If seeking a standard professional certificate, the student must complete the appropriate graduate program, meet the additional requirement of two years of teaching experience, and pass the appropriate state test. The Master of Education degree must be completed within six years.

The professional certificate gives the holder legal authority to perform duties in public schools of Texas in the area designated on the face of the certificate.

Alternative Certification

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 and gain course work to apply to the Master of Arts in Teaching degree through the Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators/M.A.T. (Texas Classroom Teacher Certification) .

For more information, see the alternative certification website, www.wtamu.edu/pace, or contact the Office of Alternative Certification Program, Old Main, Room 413, 806-651-2599.

Discipline - Course Prefix

Counselor Education - COUN

Early Childhood - EDEC
Educational Leadership - EDLD
Educational Psychology - EPSY
Elementary Education - EDEL
Generic Special Education - EDSP
Instructional Design and Technology - EDT
Professional Development - EDPD
Reading - EDRD

Research - RSCH
Secondary Education - EDSE

NOTE: See the “Course Descriptions ” section of this catalog for a complete list of courses offered by the University.

Programs

Doctoral

Educational Leadership Ed.D.

Master

Certification/Licensure Preparation

Requirements for licensure and/or certification vary from state to state. Our programs prepare students for licensure and/or certification in the State of Texas. We do not represent that our programs prepare students for licensure and/or certification in other states.