Department of Education

Dr. Betty Coneway, department head

Old Main, Room 416B • WTAMU Box 60208 • bconeway@wtamu.edu
806-651-2615 • Fax 806-651-3610 • wtamu.edu/academics/education

Faculty: Andersen, Barbosa, Behl, Bigham, Bingham, Campbell, Coneway, Garcia, Garrison, Green, Hart, Henderson, Hindman, Hughes, Hwang, Kim, Miller, Peeples, Rogers, Rose, Shin, Simmons, Whaley, Weiss, J. Williams, Yang.

West Texas A&M University is accredited by the Texas Education Agency/State Board for Educator Certification to prepare elementary teachers, secondary teachers and professional educators at the undergraduate and graduate levels. WTAMU also prepares individuals with a previously earned bachelor’s degree the opportunity to earn their initial teacher certification through WTAMU’s Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) program.

The Department of Education faculty is dedicated to providing a comprehensive post-secondary educational program designed to produce graduates who are well prepared for future roles as educational leaders of the young people of our society. We believe that, as teachers, we exert a significant influence on society and, therefore, must be prepared to serve as models as well as instructors. Recognizing that teaching is an ever-changing science, we use successful educational principles of the past and research data from the present to prepare candidates to teach in an ever-evolving society.

The WTAMU Department of Education prepares confident, skilled, and reflective professionals through course work and field experiences who are critical creative thinkers, effective communicators, advocates for diverse learners, users of technology, life-long learners, and stewards of the profession. Through active engagement in the Educator Preparation Program (EPP), our candidates will be:

Critical creative thinkers who develop solutions to improve the educational environment and who inspire students or co-workers.
Effective communicators who us verbal, nonverbal, electronic, and print modes of communication to establish a positive school or work environment and promote thinking and learning.
Advocates for diverse learners who appreciate, promote, and model the values of diversity.
Users of technology who seamlessly integrate multimedia in learning environments as instructional and management tools to enhance learning.
Life-long learners who take responsibility for their own learning and continuously foster their professional renewal.
Stewards of the profession who represent ethical and professional dispositions.

Candidates will demonstrate these professional dispositions by:

Demonstrating an expectation that all students can learn and are a vital part of the learning community.
Displaying sensitivity to students’ needs.
Working with peers, clinical instructors, cooperating teachers, university field supervisors, and relevant stakeholders to advance learning.
Modeling poise, maturity, and sound judgment.
Engaging in continuous self-evaluation and improvement.
Promoting ethical and professional standards in teaching, learning, and research.

WTAMU’s Educator Preparation Program (EPP) is University-wide in scope, with each individual department making its contribution to the program. The dean of the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences is the administrative officer of the University who is ultimately responsible for the EPP. The department head is chairman of the Teacher Education Unit (TEU), composed of faculty members chosen from the five colleges of the University. The TEU has the responsibility for approval of the educator preparation curricula of the University and approval of admissions criteria to the EPP.

Admission/Retention Requirements

The state of Texas establishes minimum standards for teacher education programs. All certification programs at West Texas A&M University are in compliance with these requirements. Students must meet state, University, college and department/program requirements for acceptance into the EPP. Students are responsible for contacting the Office of Teacher Preparation and Advising (Old Main, Room 415) to obtain information about specific requirements in major and program areas.

Admission to and Retention in the Teacher Education Program (TEP)

Texas Success Initiative (TSI) complete. Refer to the TSI section of this catalog.
For admission, an overall grade point average of 2.75 on all course work attempted or a 2.75 on the last 60 hours attempted (transcripts from all entities attended).
For retention, a 2.75 GPA with no grade lower than a “C” in each area: teaching field, content, and professional education course work.
If a student fails to maintain retention requirements, the student will be placed on probationary status in the program. If the deficiency is not corrected by the end of the probationary semester, the student will be removed from the program. Students on probationary status may not enroll in further professional education course work. If removed from the program, the student must apply for re-admission through the Department of Education Appeals Committee.
Enrollment in professional methods requires full admission into WTAMU’s EPP.

NOTE: Under some circumstances, a student may be withdrawn from the Educator Preparation Program. The withdrawal may be initiated by the Department of Education or by the student. Due process will be observed. (See the West Texas A&M University Code of Student Life, www.wtamu.edu/codeofstudentlife.)

Requirements for Approval to Test (State Certification Exams)

Admission to Educator Preparation Program,
Successful completion of EPSY 3341 with a grade of “C” or above,
A minimum score of 80 on the required practice certification exams, and
Departmental approval.

Requirements for Enrollment in Clinical Teaching

Retention in the EPP.
Documentation of a minimum of 30 clock hours of field experience.
Passing scores on all required TExES certification exams.
Lacking no more than two courses in the teaching field(s).

Requirements for Approval to Test (State Certification Exams)

Admission to Teacher Education Program and
Departmental approval

General Degree Plan for Teacher Certification

Degrees leading to teacher certification will include the University Core Curriculum, teaching field and/or content course work, professional development course work, and other degree requirements (see Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees).

Candidates seeking grades EC-6 or 4-8 certifications will work toward a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Education. An official degree plan should be requested using the online Request for Degree Plan or in the Office of Teacher Preparation and Advising, located in Old Main, Room 415. (NOTE: Students transferring to WTAMU from a community college may receive credit for EDUC or other approved courses.)

All other candidates will be working toward a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in the teaching field. Degree plans will vary according to teaching content areas. A minimum of 120 semester hours is required; however, some content majors may require course work beyond the 120-hour minimum.

NOTE: Rotation of courses may be amended. Students should contact their advisors prior to each semester of enrollment to determine correct course sequences.

Certificate Information and Requirements

Candidates who have completed degree, clinical teaching, and testing requirements may apply for the standard educator certificate through the Texas Education Agency’s Educator Certification Online System; submission of fingerprints for a criminal background check will be required. Upon program recommendation, a standard certificate may be issued by the State Board for Educator Certification provided the criminal background check is clear. The certificate gives a teacher legal authority to perform duties in public schools of Texas in area(s) designated on the face of the certificate.

Admission to West Texas A&M University is not admission into the EPP. Admission into WTAMU’s EPP is based on standards approved by the Teacher Education Unit at the time the student is seeking admission to teacher education.
Because teacher education standards are subject to change by the Legislature and State Board for Educator Certification, students are not guaranteed to finish under the requirements listed in the catalog at the time of admission. Consult advisors for updates on degree and certification requirements.

No candidate will be recommended for certification until the student has been admitted to the EPP. Any candidate who does not complete a degree and certification plan within six years or who changes to another degree plan will automatically be dropped from teacher education. In this event, the individual must reapply for admission into WTAMU’s EPP and must complete current admission and program requirements.

Clinical teaching must be completed in residence at a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or other school approved by TEA.
Any candidate who drops or fails clinical teaching is dropped automatically from the program and must reapply for entrance into the EPP. The candidate will be required to appear before an appeals committee which must approve the application before the candidate may be readmitted.

An individual with a previously earned bachelor’s degree may gain initial certification through WT’s Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) program. See wtamu.edu/pace for additional information.

For information about master’s degree programs in education, refer to the “Graduate Catalog.”

West Texas A&M University’s Title II Institutional Report may be accessed at https://title2.ed.gov.

Discipline - Course Prefix
Early Childhood - EDEC
Educational Psychology - EPSY
Elementary Education - EDEL
Special Education - EDSP
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.

Degree/Teacher Certification Programs in the Department of Education:

Core Subjects (Grades EC-6) Certification - Bilingual Track
Core Subjects (Grades EC-6) Certification - ESL Track
Core Subjects (Grades 4-8) Certification
English Language Arts & Reading (Grades 4-8) Certification
English Language Arts & Reading/Social Studies (Grades 4-8) Certification
Mathematics (Grades 4-8) Certification
Mathematics/Science (Grades 4-8) Certification
Science (Grades 4-8) Certification
Social Studies (Grades 4-8) Certification
Social Studies (Grades 7-12) Certification
Special Education (Grades EC-12) Certification

Degree Programs/Non-certificate in the Department of Education:

Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.)
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (B.A.A.S.)

For additional information about the B.G.S. and B.A.A.S in education, contact an advisor in the Office of Teacher Preparation and Advising, OM 415, or call 806-651-2668.

Degree/Teacher Certification Programs offered in departments outside the Department of Education:

Agriculture Science and Technology (Grades 6-12) Certification
Art (Grades EC-12) Certification
English Language Arts & Reading (Grades 7-12) Certification
History (Grades 7-12) Certification
Journalism (Grades 7-12) Certification
Life Science (Grades 7-12) Certification
LOTE-Spanish (Grades EC-12) Certification
Mathematics (Grades 7-12) Certification
Music (Grades EC-12) Certification
Physical Education (Grades EC-12) Certification
Physical Science (Grades 6-12) Certification
Science (Grades 7-12) Certification
Social Studies (Grades 7-12) Certification
Speech (Grades 7-12) Certification
Theatre (Grades EC-12) Certification

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