TEACHER EDUCATION
The Huston-Tillotson University Teacher Education Program offers teacher preparation designed to meet the needs of undergraduates in Interdisciplinary Studies and Academic Specializations. Meeting the new standards approved by the State Board for Educator Certification, September 2002, the Program offers 12 certification areas.
DEGREES OFFERED
Degree programs formerly offered by the Teacher Education Department prior to Fall 2002 no longer meet recent statewide changes in teacher certification. Students who did not complete required coursework before May 2002 are subject to the new state certification standards. Consequently, students interested in pursuing teacher certification leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree at any level should consult an advisor in the Teacher Education Program.
Teacher Certification Programs
Interdisciplinary Studies
Early Childhood - 4th Grade, Generalist
Technology Applications (Grades 8-12)
Special Education (EC- Grade 12)
Academic Specializations
Computer Science (Grades 8-12)
English, Language Arts / Reading (Grades 8-12)
History (Grades 8-12)
Mathematics (Grades 4-8)
Mathematics (Grades 8-12)
Life Science (Grades 8-12)
Physical Science (Grades 8-12)
All Level
Music (EC-Grade 12)
Physical Education (EC- Grade 12)
GENERAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The Teacher Education Program prepares certification-seeking professionals for educational, societal, and technological teaching needs through a holistic curriculum. Integrating field-based experiences through the theoretical/pedagogical course delivery is a hallmark of the Huston-Tillotson University Program. Particular attention is given to effective decision-making and best-practices for tomorrow’s classrooms. Program goals provide students a nurturing learning environment in which they may explore:
- Extensive supervised field-based and laboratory experiences that empower teachers with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes necessary to guide and instruct the diverse needs of all learners.
- Opportunities to learn professional practices, legal responsibilities, and the organizational structure of the education profession that produces teachers who are at the forefront of educational innovation and are a valued member of an educational team.
- Instructional activities that develop levels of expertise beyond the required standards for educator testing and certification.
Requirements for Undergraduates Seeking Teacher Certification
As the State of Texas mandates specific academic requirements for persons seeking teacher certification, students should plan lower-division coursework schedules carefully. In order to obtain adequate counsel from Teacher Education Program faculty, students interested in attaining a teacher certification are encouraged to declare as a major early in their University sequence. However, declaring a major is not synonymous with admittance into the Teacher Certification Program. Students desiring certification through the Teacher Education Program MUST comply with the program's three-step admission process.
Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program Requires a Three-Step Process
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STEP 1
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· Complete program application
· Post cumulative GPA average of 2.50
· Post THEA scores:
- Mathematics, 230
- Reading, 230
- Writing, 220
· Complete pre-admission assessments:
- E-Lassi
- Watson-Glaser
- Nelson-Denny Reading Inventory
- Praxis General Knowledge Test
- OWLS Oral Language Test
· Demonstrate acceptable proficiency in:
- Oral/written communications
- Quantitative skills
- Critical thinking
- Reading
- General knowledge skills
· Complete an interview with the Teacher Education Review Team
· Submit written approval from your certification area Chair
· Submit criminal history search form
· Demonstrate entry level technology skills mastery (EDU 223 portfolio)
· Remove all incomplete (I) and failing grades from transcript
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STEP 2
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· Submit professional e-portfolio
· Post grade of “C” or better in all education classes with an overall GPA of 2.50
· Complete three interviews with senior professors
· Complete an interview with the Teacher Education Committee
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STEP 3
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· Complete final admission process
· Complete student teaching
· Demonstrate readiness to take TExES
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Step One
Apply for provisional admission and receive acceptance into the Teacher Education Certification Program before or during the first semester of their sophomore year. Provisional admission is the prerequisite for enrollment in the Professional Responsibilities and Pedagogy sequence of courses.
Provisional admission requirements are offered within EDU 201, Orientation to the Teaching Profession. Students must successfully complete all requirements for admission into the Teacher Education Program. Students identified with deficiencies based on results of the diagnostic assessments are required to participate in the University's tutorial program to improve their skills.
Step Two
Successful completion of the three interviews provides valuable information regarding the teacher candidate's professional and emotional readiness for teaching. More importantly, the Professional E-Portfolio including documentation of the three interviews, field internship experiences, and evidence of preparation for student teaching and certification is vital to gainful employment.
Step Three
Students seeking designation as a Program Completer* (one who is eligible to take the state certification examinations) must complete Step Three requirements. Otherwise, the University will not designate (recommend to the State) the student as a Program Completer*. As such, the student is not eligible to take the state certification examinations.
In order for the Huston-Tillotson University Teacher Education Program to recommend a teacher candidate for a Texas teaching certificate, a student must successfully complete student teaching or equivalent internship as a teacher of record in an approved school and demonstrate readiness to take the Texas Examination for Educator Standards (TExES) examinations. Candidates for teacher certification must pass the designated pre-certification examination in Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities and the designated pre-certification examination in the specific content area (e.g. the Mathematics Program will administer and evaluate the pre-certification content examination for students seeking teacher certification in mathematics.)
*NOTE: Since program guidelines for new State Standards became effective September 2002, graduates prior to that date are not considered Program Completers. Since September 2002, continued eligibility as a Program Completer is honored only if there have been no changes in State standards, the HTU Teacher Program policies, or the Bulletin under which the person registered. If a Program Completer does not attain certification within one year after graduation, the Program Completer’s status is re-evaluated on an individual basis by the HTU Certification Officer, who may require the person to return to campus for additional coursework or academic preparation.
Special Conditions
Transfer Students applying for admittance to the Teacher Education Program must provide an official transcript including catalogs from previous Universities attended. The University policy requires the student complete 50% of the courses in the major at Huston-Tillotson University. Each transfer candidate's application is individually reviewed. Transfer students who wish to transfer hours in an area of specialization are required to take a subject examination(s) to determine what course(s) or tutorial studies each person must take, retake, or pursue to fulfill requirements for teacher certification.
Teacher candidates seeking course credit by experience for Teacher Education courses must apply for provisional admittance to the program and compile the required Professional Portfolio with documented evidence of knowledge and skill performance as related to content in the course description(s) explained in the Bulletin. Each candidate's work will be individually reviewed, and the program faculty will determine each person's specific needs. Education majors may not test out of courses in the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities block, Reading, or Special Education.
Important Terminology/Distinctions
Crimal Search - Prior to a teacher candidate beginning a field internship, the school district in which a candidate is assigned for field experience has the right to conduct a criminal history check on the teacher candidate. Using the data, the school district has the right to clear or refuse the candidate entry to district campuses and events. Students seeking admission to the program are required to sign an acknowledgement form attesting to their understanding of this policy and its implications. Rather than wait to secure clearance via a criminal search by the school district, each intern is encouraged to procure the data by accessing the Department of Public Safety website at personal cost (about $5.00). In this way, the teacher candidate directly pays and prints off the data which can include a sex offender report as well as proof of fingerprints. The website address for the DPS check is http://records.txdps.state.tx.us/
Fingerprints - Beginning October 1, 2003 the State Board for Educator certification will require all applicants for aninitial credential to be fingerprinted as part of a national criminal background check. A $45 fee will be charged for the fingerprint process.
Program Completer is a student who has successfully fulfilled the requirements of Step Three of the Teacher Education Admission Process.
Non-Completer is a candidate who enrolled in an education course(s) but did not choose to advance through or did not satisfy the qualifications for Step Three of the Teacher Education Admissions process. The student does not graduate as a Teacher Certification candidate and is not eligible to take the state certification examinations.
Academic Specialization Major-Teacher Certification Candidate signifies a student's major coursework is within one subject discipline area. The student will follow the degree program guidelines within that academic major in addition to the education course requirements.
Interdisciplinary Studies Major-Teacher Certification Candidate requires a minimum of 48 semester credit hours drawn from several disciplines, at least 21 of which are upper division, and includes no education courses. The student will also complete the additional education coursework that meets state requirements for teacher certification.
Interdisciplinary Studies Major-Learning Specialist requires a minimum of 48 semester credit hours drawn from several disciplines, at least 21 of which are upper division, and includes no education courses. The student must also complete 18 education course hours. Learning Specialist majors may not enroll in EDU 313, EDU 374, or EDU 414. The student does not meet the requirements as a Program Completer and is not eligible to take the state certification examinations (TExES).
Program Policies
It is imperative that students interested in becoming certified teachers seek qualified counsel from Education Program faculty. After meeting with an Education advisor to plan the program degree sequence, it is the student's responsibility to become familiar with all degree requirements. Students are expected to utilize electronic communication, the campus web site, and online/printed mediums to stay abreast of program requirements, changes, and related activities.
Teacher candidates admitted to the Teacher Education Program will adhere to the following policies:
- Show proof of student membership in an affiliate teacher organization (i.e. TCTE, ATPE, or TMA) prior to beginning the first field internship and continue to update this membership through the interim of all education courses and field assignments.
- Maintain a 2.50 overall GPA and make at least a "C" in all education courses.
- Build a Professional Portfolio with evidence of educator preparation to be presented to senior professors during the Final Admission process and to personnel directors or principals during job interviews.
- Present evidence that any "I" grade has been satisfactorily removed from transcripts from previous semesters prior to enrolling in education courses.
- Provide documentation to fulfill University mandate of 120 hours in community service prior to graduation (approximately one hour per week/15 hours per semester).
Degree Program Sequence
Core Curriculum for all Teacher Certification Candidates
The initial curriculum for students seeking teacher certification is the same as the core curriculum described in the Academic Program section of the Bulletin with the exception that all teacher certification candidates must take 6 credit hours in government (PSC 113 and PSC 123) and 6 credit hours in history (HIS 213 and HIS 223). Two courses may be taken by education majors to earn credit for both the core curriculum and Education Program requirements: EDU 233, Educational Psychology & Human Development (fulfills behavioral science requirement); and EDU 373, Teaching Learners of Diverse Cultures (fulfills diversity/global perspectives requirement).
All candidates seeking teacher certification MUST complete four hours of pre-requisite courses before enrolling in the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Sequence, and 21 hours in the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities course sequence. A student MUST adhere to advisement recommendations before permission is granted to enroll in upper division EDU courses which have pre-requisites that are closely monitored. Most EDU courses in the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities sequence include a 45-hour fieldwork component in which teacher candidates mentor and tutor children in public school classrooms. The student teaching course, EDU 426, involves a full-dya internship for 12 weeks under the supervision of a classroom teacher.
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Sequence
Pre-requisite Courses
1 Hour EDU 201 Orientation to the Teaching Profession
3 Hours EDU 223 Technology Applications in Education
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Upper-Division Sequence
Pre-requisite Courses
3 Hours SED 313 Survey of Exceptional Learners
3 Hours EDU 313 Teacher and Student in a Multicultural Society (Level 1)
4 Hours EDU 374 TEKS Curriculum for K-12 (Level 2)
1 Hour EDU 411A Teacher Certification Exam Preparation - P&PR
4 Hours EDU 414 Assessment, instructional Strategies, Management (Level 3)
6 Hours EDU 426 Professional Collaborations: Student Teaching (Level 4)
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21 Hours