Undergraduate Catalog 2008-2010

Sam Houston State University

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Administrative Officers

Website: https://www.shsu.edu/~edu_www/

The College of Education is comprised of five academic units: Curriculum and Instruction; Educational Leadership and Counseling; Health and Kinesiology; Language, Literacy, and Special Populations; and Library Science. Teacher Certification is also under the administrative purview of the College of Education.

Mission

Through excellent instruction, research and public service, the College of Education provides students with opportunities to develop knowledge, skills, strategies, and experiences which allow them to serve in diverse roles and function productively in society.

Academic Programs

Note 1: This listing of undergraduate degree programs is correct as of December, 2007 and does not include those degree programs being phased out.

Note 2: There is not an undergraduate major in Secondary Education. The primary teaching field will be listed as the major for students seeking certification in Grades 8-12.

Note 3: The asterisk* indicates that the program Academic Studies will be known as Interdisciplinary Studies effective the Fall semester of 2009; subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Teacher Preparation Programs at Sam Houston State University

* The EC-4 Certificate will not be awarded by the State of Texas after the 2009-2010 school year. Teaching candidates under the 2008-2010 catalog should refer to EC-6 Certification program information in this catalog only.

** Beginning in Spring 2007, entering candidates preparing to teach in grades 4-8 will select from three areas of specialization: Mathematics, composite Mathematics/Science, or composite English, Language Arts & Reading/ Social Studies.

*** EC-8 Mathematics and EC-8 English, Language Arts and Reading will be phased out as the EC-6 Certification replaces EC-4.

Highlights

• Preparing high quality teachers for high performing schools through collaborative partnerships with 37 area school districts.
• All elementary teaching candidates are prepared to meet the needs of English Language Learners in the classrooms of Texas.
• Accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education for more than 50 years.
• Exceptional candidate performance on the Texas Examination of Educator Standards

Internships

Internships in public schools are permitted only for candidates who already have a baccalaureate degree. The Student Teaching experience provides intensive, extended activity in the field for undergraduate teaching candidates.

Scholarships

Several academic scholarships are available for undergraduate teaching candidates through the academic departments in the College of Education; other scholarships are also available through the University. Information about departmental scholarships and application forms may be obtained on the College of Education website at https://www.shsu.edu/~edu_www/schol1.htm/. Information on University scholarships may be obtained from the Office of Academic Scholarships website https://www.shsu.edu/~sfa_www/scholarship.html or telephone (936) 294-1672.

College Specific Requirements
Required Field Experiences

Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate candidates are required to participate in field experiences in the public schools. Requirements for these activities vary by course and are coordinated by the Field Experience office. The Office of Field Experience facilitates a review of the criminal history background of each candidate to assure the safety of the public school children who interact with SHSU teaching candidates. This review is required by state law.

Admission to the Educator Preparation Program
Admission Standards

In the first education class, students seeking initial Teacher Certification apply for admission to the program. A one-time fee is charged upon application. Admission to the Educator Preparation program requires meeting each of the criteria listed below and will be pending until each requirement is satisfied. Teaching candidates will not be permitted to participate in the Reading Block, Methods Block or Student Teaching without full admission and academic good standing in the Educator Preparation Program. The requirements are:

1. Demonstration of successful college performance:

   • 2.5 overall GPA (includes transfer hours and SHSU hours)
   • 2.5 GPA in program area or teaching field
   • “C” or above in all courses required for teaching field/certification

2. Demonstration of college level skills

   • In reading: Scores at or above THEA/TASP >250 in Reading, or ACT > 21 in English, or SAT > 550 Verbal. Course grades of “B” or above in specified reading intensive courses may also be used.
   • In mathematics: Scores at or above THEA/TASP > 230 in Math, or ACT > 19 in Math, or SAT > 500 in Math, or Accuplacer > 63 in Math, Asset > 38 in math, Compass > 39, or Grade of B or better in Math 184 and 185 with > 240 THEA/TASP score (EC-4, 4-8), or Grade of B or better in Math 164, 170 or 199 or other required foundation courses.
   • In writing: Scores at or above THEA/TASP > 240 in Writing, or B or higher in English 164 and English 165
   

3. Clear Criminal History Background Check

Regular admission to the Educator Preparation program is required prior to placement in the Reading Block and/or Methods Block coursework.

The requirements are:

• Academic good standing in the Educator Preparation Program, and
• Satisfactory demonstration of oral communication skills
• 2.5 GPA in the teaching field or area of specialization, and
• No grade below “C” in courses required for certification

Regular Admission and academic good standing in the program is also required for placement in Student Teaching.

Teacher Certification

The preparation of teachers for the public schools in Texas is the responsibility of the entire Sam Houston State University community and the public school districts who are our partners in Sam Houston’s Innovative Partnerships with Schools. Students seeking certification for grades EC-4 and 4-8 who graduate prior to Fall 2009 will follow the Academic Studies degree plan. Students seeking certification in grades EC-6 or 4-8 who graduate in Fall, 2009 or after, will follow the degree
plan for Interdisciplinary Studies*. Students who wish to teach a content subject in grades 8- 12 will major in a teaching field area (i.e. Mathematics, English, History) with a minor in Secondary Education (SED). Some specialized areas of teaching require certification for a wider range of grades, usually 6-12 or EC-12. Academic advisors will provide certification and grade level assignment information upon request.

All teaching certificates are issued by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) under the supervision of the Texas Education Agency, upon recommendation of the University and are subject to change. This recommendation includes verified completion of an approved program in educator preparation and a statement affirming the academic, moral, and physical fitness of the individual for service as a teacher. Sam Houston State University regards this recommendation process as a serious responsibility and has high standards for admission to candidacy in the SHSU Educator Preparation program, checkpoints throughout the program, and exit requirements.

Initial certification requires completion of a state-approved undergraduate program (programs are described below).

Individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a state approved certification area may apply for admission to the post-baccalaureate alternate route to certification which includes admission to candidacy on the SHSU Educator Preparation Program. Information on this program may be obtained through the SHSU certification office (936) 294-1105.

* Pending review of The Texas State University System Board of Regents and The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Application for State Teaching Certification

After the undergraduate has successfully completed the program requirements for graduation and certification and passed the appropriate certification exams, application should be made online to the State Board of Educator Certification for the teaching certificate. The University makes a recommendation for certification after the online application process has been completed and the degree has been posted on the student’s transcript.

After the post-baccalaureate candidate has successfully completed the program requirements for certification and passed the appropriate certification exams, the candidate applies online to the State Board of Educator Certification for his/her certification using the same process.

For further information contact the Certification Officer, Ms. Kim McLerran at (936) 294-1045.

Candidates with a baccalaureate degree who wish to seek teacher certification as a post-baccalaureate student should contact Ms. Molly Doughtie at (936) 294-1105 for a transcript analysis.

Interdisciplinary Studies leading to certification in
Early Childhood - 6th grade
or
Early Childhood - 8th grade

The primary purpose of the Interdisciplinary Studies program is to prepare candidates to become exemplary teachers in Early Childhood through 6th grade (EC-6) classrooms and 4th grade through 8th grade (4-8) classrooms. The Interdisciplinary Studies program consists of at least 125 semester credit hours, including student teaching. In addition to meeting Texas Standards for EC-6 Teachers, this degree plan program also prepares candidates to secure a supplemental
certificate in English as a Second Language teaching, preferred by many school districts in Texas. The ESL supplemental certificate does not require proficiency in a second language, but prepares certification candidates for effective teaching of English language learners. Candidates registered for nine hours during the student teaching semester are considered to be full-time students.

Candidates majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies have the following choices of teaching certification:

For teaching in grades EC-6, the major is Interdisciplinary Studies with three choices for certification:

• Bilingual Education (EC-6 Bilingual Generalist),
• Generalist (EC-6 Generalist)
• Special Education (EC-6 Generalist, plus EC-12 Special Education)

For teaching in grades 4-8, the major is Interdisciplinary Studies with three choices of a minor:

• English Language Arts and Reading/ Social Studies composite (4-8 ELAR/SS),
• Mathematics (4-8 Mathematics), or
• Mathematics/Science composite (4-8 Math/ Science).

While the Interdisciplinary Studies major is assigned to the Department of Curriculum and
Instruction, interdisciplinary content courses in Reading, English as a Second Language, Special
Education, Early Childhood and Bilingual Education are offered by the faculty in the Department
of Language, Literacy and Special Populations.

The Texas Teaching Certificates awarded upon completion of all program requirements and successful
performance on the related certification examinations are:

• EC-6 Bilingual Generalist
• EC-6 Generalist, and ESL supplement
• EC-6 Generalist, and ESL Supplement, with EC-12 Special Education
• 4-8 English Language Arts/Social Studies and ESL supplement
• 4-8 Mathematics and ESL supplement
• 4-8 Mathematics/Science and ESL supplement

All of the above programs have a 42-hour common core of Foundation Courses and a common set of Professional Education Courses that does not exceed 24 semester credit hours. Each major has a unique set of Interdisciplinary Studies courses which vary in the number of hours depending on choice of certification. The Interdisciplinary Studies major component has a minimum of 48 hours. Degree plans which include dual certification fields will require additional semester hours
of course credits. Students choosing one of these majors/minors should contact the Education Advising Center located in Room 217 of the Teacher Education Center (936) 294-3384 as soon as possible to learn the exact courses required for the selected minor and for advising to assist in a smooth progress through the program.

All Interdisciplinary Studies majors are assessed at multiple benchmarks throughout their program and must be recommended at each checkpoint to progress through the program. Thus, they are:

1. required to apply for admission to Educator Preparation (see Admission to the Educator Preparation Programs, Admission Standards),
2. required to apply for placement in Literacy Block,
3. required to apply for placement in Methods Block, and
4. required to apply for Student Teaching.

Sam Houston State University | A Member of The Texas State University System