Education
Carolyn Owens, Chairperson
General Information
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is an institution approved by the Texas Education Agency to offer provisional and professional level teacher certification. The certificate shows the area and/or level of specialization in which the recipient may teach. The area of specialization is determined by the teacher program chosen by the student. A student who completes an approved program must also make a satisfactory score on state licensing examinations required by the Division of Educator Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). After completion of all certification requirements, the certifying student must make application for teacher certification. The recommendation for the teaching certificate is made to the Division of Educator Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by the University.
Since teacher education is a cooperative effort throughout the University and involves other departments in some manner, the Teacher Education Program is coordinated through the Department of Education.
The purpose of the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Teacher Education Council, is to plan and implement the Teacher Education Program in a Christian environment, which will lend itself to Christian teachings. This purpose not only adheres to but also extends beyond those regulations set forth by the Division of Educator Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Students planning to follow the Teacher Education Program are encouraged to complete a degree plan early in their college career. A major advisor in the student’s field of interest (8-12, EC-12 art, music, physical education, Spanish and theatre) or an advisor in the Department of Education (for EC-6, 4-8, Spec Ed. EC-12, and Interdisciplinary Studies majors) should be consulted for planning purposes. Students who plan their program early will be more likely to finish in a timely manner.
Policy Statement Relative to Teacher Education
Realizing that education is the avenue for transmitting our cultural heritage to succeeding generations and that modern advances should be incorporated with successful techniques of the past, the education faculty of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor accepts the responsibility for teacher preparation for each candidate as follows:
- Acquire the knowledge to thrive in today’s challenging classroom.
- Mold valuable attitudes.
- Develop effective leadership characteristics.
- Influence the dynamics of the total community.
Successful completion of the challenges offered by the faculty should enable every student to become an excellent teacher. In implementing this mission, the University maintains a close relationship with the public schools in order to familiarize students with school procedure and to prepare them for entry into the teaching profession.
Teacher Education Council
The Teacher Education Program is administered under the direct supervision of the Teacher Education Council. The Dean of the College of Education serves as Chairperson of this committee, and its members are representatives from the Department of Education and from the University departments approved for teacher education by the Division of Educator Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Registrar, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs involved in the preparation of teachers. Meetings are called as necessary to conduct business of the Teacher Education Council.
Objectives of the Teacher Education Program
It is the purpose of the Teacher Education Program to develop within the teacher the following:
- An ability to write and speak the English language with a degree of competence and confidence.
- A stability of emotions, a broad base of interests, and an intellectual capacity.
- A focus of ideas and beliefs which empower the learner.
- An ability to think and creatively organize information in a framework to insure effective integration of ideas.
- An understanding of the organization and basic philosophy of public education in the United States.
- A high degree of competence in the teacher’s subject matter area(s) and a willingness to assume the obligation of continuous improvement in this chosen field.
- A familiarity with a broad range of teaching methods.
- An understanding of physical, psychological, and sociological constructs in the development of children of varying ages.
- An ability to appropriately implement developmentally sound decisions for students of varying ages.
- An ability to employ self-evaluation to determine teaching effectiveness and to evaluate the progress made by students under the teacher’s direction.
- A genuine respect for American youth and the desire to make personal contributions to the betterment of the individual.
- A level of confidence for entering the classroom for the first time as a result of a well-planned and organized program of classroom observations and personal teaching experiences.
- An ability to administer and to interpret the results received from various types of measurement devices and rating scales.
- An awareness of and an appreciation for the proper role of professional organizations.
Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Students choosing to pursue teacher certification in the EC-6, Interdisciplinary Studies, 4-8, and EC-12 special education levels are advised in the Department of Education. Those who choose to pursue certification at the 8-12 level and all-level art, music, physical education, Spanish, and theater are advised in the department of their academic major. Such students are required to follow a teacher certification program and to make formal application to begin the process to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program during enrollment in EDUC 3320 or 3315. It is recommended that students enroll in EDUC 3320 or EDUC 3315 during the first semester of the junior year. Students who are transferring professional education credit(s) from other colleges or universities to UMHB should see an advisor in the Department of Education for special admission procedures to the Teacher Education Program.
- Grade point average (GPA) requirements are as follows:
- A GPA of at least 2.75 is required in each of the following areas on a student’s degree plan, each area computed separately and individually, AND no grade lower than a “C” will be accepted in any of the following areas: (1) professional development in EC-6, 4-8, 8-12, interdisciplinary studies and all-level; (2) certification area(s) in 8-12, and all-level art, music, physical education, special education, Spanish and theatre; (3) academic support areas in EC-6 and 4-8, and EC-12 special education; (4) academic specialization in 4-8; or (5) in EC-6, special education concentration, and English Second Language in interdisciplinary studies.
- The cumulative GPA must be a minimum of 2.5.
- Basic Skills Requirements:
- Division of Educator Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires that all teacher preparation programs evaluate each candidate’s competence in the following 5 areas:
- Reading
- Mathematics
- Writing
- Public speaking
- Critical thinking
- Competence in public speaking is evaluated by having the student take and pass a course in public speaking with a C or above. All other criteria are measured by the student’s performance on some test. Currently, the tests being accepted include the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA), the ACT, and the SAT.
- The university reserves the right to add other tests to satisfy one or more of the requirements, if a good test becomes available.
- The THEA is the standard choice. Students wishing to use ACT or SAT scores are responsible for evaluating whether their ACT and/or SAT scores meet the equivalent scores on the THEA to meet the requirements.
- Once admitted to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, students pursuing teacher certification through the College of Education will not be granted approval to take specific professional development courses from other colleges or universities. If any of these courses are taken after admission without university approval, the course(s) must be repeated in the College of Education with satisfactory performance to be recommended for certification.
- Application to begin the process of being admitted to the Teacher Education Program is to be made during enrollment in EDUC 3320 or 3315, which should be taken during the first semester of the junior year.
- Application to the Teacher Education Program includes the following:
- Completion of the application form.
- Completion of the ethics statement.
- An assessment through which students demonstrate proficiency in written communication on a designated topic. (Should be accomplished the semester during which the student enrolls in EDUC 3315 or EDUC 3320, but may be done earlier if the student desires.)
- After application has been made, the student is considered for admission to the Teacher Education Program by the UMHB Teacher Education Council.
- Once the UMHB Teacher Education Council reaches a decision, the student and the relevant department chairpersons are notified.
- If a deferral is ruled by the Teacher Education Council, redirection or remediation will be initiated by the advisor in the Department of Education. Any part of the application process may be repeated at the next administration by the Department of Education.
- A student must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program before the semester of student teaching.
Professional Laboratory Experience
Many of the teacher preparation courses offered at UMHB are “field-based,” meaning that they are taught on public school campuses so that teacher candidates receive hands-on experience. Students who take the regular, daytime classes will automatically get sufficient hands-on experience. Students who take some or much of their education coursework in night classes or summer sessions will need to determine if they have experienced sufficient hands-on opportunities.
Students enrolled in a field-based course must show evidence of current education liability insurance.
Prerequisites for Student Teaching
Applications for student teaching must be in the Education Office by April 15 for individuals planning to student teach the following fall semester or October 1 for individuals planning to student teach the following spring semester.
Requirements are as follows:
- Students must have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program and all basic skills requirements must be met by the dates listed above or student teaching will not be permitted.
- Students must be of senior standing and no more than 14 semester hours from graduation after the semester of student teaching.
- All professional development courses must be completed before student teaching.
- Students working toward 4-8, 8-12, and all-level certification may student teach if they lack no more than one course in the area(s) of certification.
- Students working toward EC-6 certification must complete 15 hours of reading courses, the mathematics, and science course in the Academic Support area before student teaching. A student may lack one other course in Academic Support and still student teach.
- Students must continue to meet the GPA and other requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program to be eligible to do student teaching.
- Students must have field-based experiences approved by the Director of Field Experiences.
- Students must grant permission to have a criminal history records check performed by the cooperating school district.
- It is strongly recommended that students make adequate time available for student teaching.
Resource Technology Center
The Resource Technology Center (RTC) in the Parker Academic Center contains a computer lab/classroom and a workroom for student use. The Department of Education, in cooperation with the Townsend Memorial Library staff, also maintains a collection of library resources which includes textbooks in the subject matter areas, curriculum guides and materials, and other items for the specific use of teacher education students.
Student Organizations for Teachers
Professional organizations for pre-service teachers are available. Students planning to become teachers are encouraged to join one of these organizations to learn about the profession, to have fellowship with other future teachers, to become acquainted with the goals and philosophies of different professional teacher organizations, and to acquire educator liability insurance.
Teacher Certification is offered on the Following Levels
- Early Childhood – Grade 6
- Grades 4-8
- Grades 8-12
- All-level, Grades EC-12
Requirements for the Initial Texas Teaching Certificate
- Fulfillment of the Division of Educator Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) basic skills requirement.
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree.
- Completion of an approved teacher education program.
- Recommendation of an approved teacher education institution.
- Satisfactory passing score(s) on examination(s) prescribed by the Division of Educator Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) such as TExES.
- Submission of the official application form to the Department of Education and the Division of Educator Certification and Standards with the required fee.
Teacher Certification
Candidates are required to:
- Be of good moral character.
- Be a citizen of or be legally eligible to be employed in the United States.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Believe in and uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of Texas.
- Speak and understand the English language.
- Submit an application for certification and appropriate fee.
- Be familiar with the ethics code.
Felony or Misdemeanor Conviction
“In accordance with Article 6252-13c, Texas Civil Statutes, the commissioner of education may suspend or revoke a teaching certificate, or refuse to issue a teaching certificate for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime which directly relates to duties and responsibilities of the teaching profession.”
All applicants for Texas certificates will be screened (fingerprinted) for a record of felony or misdemeanor conviction through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Teacher Placement Service
The UMHB Career Services Office aids graduates of the Teacher Education Program in locating positions. When the student registers with this office, complete credentials are assembled and made available to superintendents, personnel directors, or other employers indicating an interest in such information. These credentials remain a part of the student’s record and are available for future reference.
Follow-up Program
The College of Education has as one of its functions a regular follow-up program of graduate activities. This established practice enables the University to perform an added service to the student and provides the University with ideas upon which improvement may be based. Surveys are also conducted by the Department among its graduates with the purpose of improvement of teacher preparation as a primary objective. In addition, the College of Education makes available its resources to graduates who are now engaged in the teaching profession.
Approved Programs for Preparation of Teachers
Grades EC – 6
Certificate areas include:
BA Generalist
BS Generalist
Interdisciplinary Studies
Certificate areas include: EC-6, EC-12 Special Education, ESL Supplemental
BA Interdisciplinary Studies
BS Interdisciplinary Studies
Grades 4 – 8
Certificate areas include:
BA English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies
BA English Language Arts and Reading
BA Social Studies
BS Social Studies
BA Mathematics
BS Mathematics
BS Science
Grades 8 – 12
Certificate areas include:
BA Business Education
BS Business Education
BA English Language Arts and Reading
BA History
BS History
BS Life Sciences
BA Mathematics
BS Mathematics
BA Physical Sciences
BS Physical Sciences
BS Science
BA Social Studies
BS Social Studies
BA Speech
Grades EC – 12
BFA EC-12 Art
BM EC-12 Music
BS EC-12 Physical Education
BA Technology Applications
BS Technology Applications
BA EC-12 Spanish
BA EC-12 Theatre
*Special Education and ESL supplemental may be attached to any certification.