Department of Education

Dr. Amy Andersen, Department Head

Old Main, Room 414A • WTAMU Box 60208 aandersen@wtamu.edu
806-651-2626 • Fax 806-651-3610 • wtamu.edu

Faculty: Allen, Andersen, Bigham, Bingham, Campbell, Capt, Cartwright, Castillo, Diego-Medrano, Frick, Gunter, Henderson, Hwang, Kelly, Monroe, Nix, Riney, Rose, Rutledge, Spaulding, Thomas, Willey-Rendon, G. Williams, J. Williams.

West Texas A&M University is accredited by the State Board for Educator Certification to prepare elementary teachers, secondary teachers and school service personnel at the undergraduate and graduate level. The University is also a member of the American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education.

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 students to teach in an ever-evolving society. This requires not only that graduates demonstrate knowledge of material pertinent to their designated area of interest but also that they be encouraged to be creative thinkers and creative “doers” who employ interpersonal, organizational and motivational skills.

The purpose of teacher education at WTAMU is to prepare professional educators who are academically and technically proficient, reflective in practice, committed to intellectual empowerment of others and guided by the larger democratic purposes of American education.

Upon completion of the program, students shall:

Possess attributes of an effective educational leader.
Be able to create a model of teaching related to their individual knowledge base, personality and perspective rather than accepting existing models of teaching.
Be grounded in a broad array of current research and theoretical principles combined in unique ways to meet needs of individual students.
Have an understanding of professional and ethical practices governing education.
Have an understanding of societal factors that affect students’ academic and social performance.
Have an understanding of available resources in the community that will augment the educational process.

The Teacher Education Program is University-wide in scope, with each individual department making its contribution to the program. The dean of the College of Education and Social Sciences is the administrative officer of the University who is ultimately responsible for the Teacher Education Program. The department head is chairman of the Teacher Education Unit, composed of faculty members chosen from the five colleges of the University. The unit has the responsibility for approval of the teacher education curricula of the University and approval of admissions criteria to the Teacher Education Program.

Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) Degree

Associate of arts in teaching (A.A.T.) degrees approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (July 15, 2004) do not allow students to count both TECA and EDUC courses on the same A.A.T. degree. Students transferring from a community/junior college to West Texas A&M University will be held to the same standard. Specifically, this means that a student will be allowed to transfer TECA (1311, 1303, 1318 and 1354) or EDUC (1301 and 2301) and count them toward an appropriate degree program at WTAMU. Exceptions may be granted for transferring students who entered a field-of-study program and took TECA courses prior to fall 2005.

University Core Curriculum Requirements

Refer to the “University Core Curriculum ” section of this catalog.

Basic Program Requirements

Admission Requirements

The state of Texas establishes 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 Teacher Education Program. 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.

Requirements for Conditional Admission into the Teacher Education Program (TEP) and Enrollment in EDPD 3340

Texas Success Initiative (TSI) complete. Refer to the TSI section of this catalog.
Overall grade point average of 2.50 on all course work attempted (transcripts from all entities attended)

Full Admission and Retention in the Teacher Education Program and Enrollment in EPSY 3341

Retain grade point averages as required for admission.
THEA (TASP) Reading score of 260 or above, Accuplacer Reading score of 98 or above, or passage of PPR exam, no exceptions.
No “D”s accepted in professional education courses or teaching fields.
For retention, a combined GPA of 2.5 in EDPD 3340 and EPSY 3341.
If a student fails to maintain admission 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 admission through the Department of Education Appeals Committee.

NOTE: Under some circumstances, a student may be withdrawn from the Teacher Education 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, wtamu.edu/codeofstudentlife.)

Requirements for Enrollment in Professional Methods

Admission to the Teacher Education Program.
Student must be eligible for student teaching (or internship) the following fall or spring semester (or have written approval of Advisement Center).

Requirements for Enrollment in Student Teaching

Full admission in the Teacher Education Program.
A minimum of 30 clock hours of field experience must be completed prior to student teaching.
Grade point averages required prior to assignment and certification recommendation to State Board for Educator Certification:
- 2.5 GPA—Overall, each teaching field or concentration, and professional education courses. NOTE: No grade lower than “C” is accepted in a teaching field, subject concentration or professional education course. Admission to Teacher Education Program requires a grade of “C” or better in ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302 .
- 2.5 GPA—Overall and at WTAMU.
Student must have completed the following course work:
- Secondary
  - All professional education course work.
  - Must lack no more than one course in each teaching field.
  - Must lack no more than 15 semester hours on completion of degree/deficiency plan program (excluding student teacher courses).
- All-Level
  - All professional education course work.
  - Must lack no more than two courses in each teaching field.
  - Must lack no more than 15 semester hours on completion of degree/deficiency plan program (excluding student teacher courses).
- Elementary
  - All professional education course work.
  - Must lack no more than two courses in interdisciplinary course work and one course in subject concentration.
  - Must lack no more than 15 semester hours on completion of degree/deficiency plan program (excluding student teacher courses).

Requirements for Authorization to Test—State Certification Exams

Admission to Teacher Education Program and
Departmental approval or
Successful completion of teacher preparation program.

Certificate Information

A standard certificate with required renewal will be issued by the State Board for Educator Certification when all certification requirements have been completed. The certificate gives a teacher legal authority to perform duties in public schools of Texas in specialized area(s) designated on the face of the certificate.

Since teacher education standards are subject to change by the Legislature and State Board for Educator Certification, students are not guaranteed to be able to finish under the requirements listed in the catalog at the time they began. A student who has not attended the University for two long semesters or who has not completed his or her program within five years of initiation of degree plan will need to have a new degree plan prepared. Consult advisers often for an update on state requirements.
A student working to meet requirements for the standard certificate must meet requirements for the appropriate bachelor’s degree as set forth in this catalog. Student teaching must be completed in residence at an approved/accredited school site.
The post-baccalaureate program is an alternative certification program designed to allow degreed individuals to gain initial certification by completing content and professional education course work requirements similar to the traditional undergraduate program. The post-baccalaureate program offers flexibility in registration/completion of course work over a period of up to three years. See the “Graduate Catalog” for additional information on the program.
The Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) program is an alternative teacher certification program designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree and who have a record of work and life experience that would be appropriate to enhancement of the teaching and learning processes in the public school classroom. See the “Graduate Catalog” for additional information on the program.
No student will be recommended for certification until the student has been admitted to the WTAMU Teacher Education Program. Any student who does not complete a degree and certification plan within five years or who changes to another degree plan or graduates through another college will be dropped automatically from teacher education. The student must reapply for admission into teacher education and must complete all current entry and program requirements.
Any student who drops or fails student teaching is dropped automatically from the program and must reapply for entrance into teacher education. The student will be required to appear before an appeals committee which must approve the application before the student may be readmitted.
Any student currently employed as an educational aide while pursuing initial certification should request for aide exemption information, Old Main, Room 415.
Admission to West Texas A&M University is not admission to teacher education. Admission to teacher education is based on standards approved by the Teacher Education Unit at the time the student is seeking admission to teacher education. Before being recommended for a teaching certificate, the student must pass the appropriate state certification exams.
Upon completion of the undergraduate program, students must make application for the degree with the office of the dean. See the “Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees ” section of this catalog.

Description of the Program

University Core Curriculum

42 semester hours (choose elementary or secondary/all-level).

University Core Curriculum, Plus Teaching Specializations and Teaching Fields (48–52 semester hours)

EC–6 and Grades 4–8

Students should decide on the bachelor’s degree to pursue and take appropriate courses to meet requirements as listed in the University catalog. Degree totals will vary according to choices made by the student regarding teaching specializations or teaching fields. Students in EC–6 or grades 4–8 certification will be working toward a bachelor of science degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies. All other students 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 department.

Additional certificates, supplemental to standard teaching certificates, are available:

Bilingual Education.
English as a Second Language.
Special Education.
Technology Applications.

General Degree Plan for Teacher Certification

Students admitted under this program will select a major in a teaching field and receive a degree in that major. If EC–6 or grades 4–8 certification is chosen, the student will receive a bachelor of science degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies. An official degree plan should be requested in the Office of Teacher Preparation and Advising, located in Old Main, Room 415.

Plans of study will vary according to teaching areas, summer school attendance and personal preference. A minimum of 120 semester hours is required, but this total may be increased according to selection of teaching fields.

NOTE: Rotation of courses may be amended. Students should contact their advisers prior to each semester of enrollment to determine correct course sequences. Summer-session or intersession courses should be scheduled.

Certification Requirements

The student’s WTAMU adjusted grade point average must be 2.5 or better. Transfer and WTAMU combined grade point average must be 2.5 or better. A minimum grade of “B” and “C” is required in EDPD 3340 and EPSY 3341 . A grade of “C” or better is required in ENGL 1301 , ENGL 1302 or ENGL 2311 , SCOM 1315, 1318 or 1321.

NOTE: Students transferring to WTAMU from a community college may receive credit for one (not both) set of courses, either EDUC or TECA.

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 Leadership — EDLD
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.