Department of Teacher Education

Location: 202 Education Building, Phone: (409) 880-8217

Chair: Interim - Dr. Debbie Troxclair, (409) 880-8217, 202A Education Building

Degree Coordinator

M.Ed.-Teacher Leadership - Dr. Julia Yoo, (409) 880-2127, 222 Education Building

Faculty

Professor: Andrea Karlin, Dorothy Sisk

Associate Professor: Lula Henry, Cristina Rios, Mamta Singh, Freddie Titus, Debra Troxclair, Vanessa Villate, Julia Yoo

Assistant Professor: Stacey Bumstead, Katherine Sprott 

Instructor: Gayle Butaud

Clinical Instructor: Paula Hussey, Cavan Leerkamp, Margaret Swope.

Undergraduate Program

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with specializations in:

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies

The Department of Teacher Education offers the Interdisciplinary Studies degree plan for the following Core Subjects EC-6, 4-8, and Core Subjects 4-8 degree plans leading to teacher certification:

Core Subjects EC-6 – Total Min. Hours: 125
4–8 English, Language Arts & Reading – Total Min. Hours: 122
4–8 Math – Total Min. Hours: 120
4–8 Math/Science – Total Min. Hours: 126
4–8 Composite Science – Total Min. Hours: 122
4–8 Social Studies – Total Min. Hours: 122
4–8 Core Subjects – Total Min. Hours: 120
Early Childhood–12 Special Education – Total Min. Hours: 125

Secondary – Certification

Students desiring to certify in Secondary and All Levels Education earn a degree in a teaching discipline. For degree and certification advisement purposes, students should report to their major department and to the academic advisor for secondary and all levels certification in the Office of Professional Services, Room 201 in the Education Building. Twelve hours in the teaching discipline must be advanced (3000-4000 level).

Certification options for secondary and all-level certifications are listed below.

American Sign Language (Early Childhood-12) Life Science (7-12)
Art (Early Childhood-12) Mathematics (7-12)
Business Composite (6-12) Music (Early Childhood-12)
Chemistry (7-12) Physical Education (Early Childhood-12)
Dance (Early Childhood-12) Physical Sciences (7-12)
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Early Childhood-12) Science (7-12)
English Language Arts and Reading (7-12) Social Studies (7-12)
Family and Consumer Sciences (6-12) Special Education (Early Childhood-12)
Health (Early Childhood-12) Speech (7-12)
History (7-12) Technology Applications (7-12)
Journalism (7-12) Theatre (Early Childhood-12)
Language Other Than English (LOTE) 

For students seeking secondary certification, the following pedagogy courses are required:

PEDG 2310 Introduction to Teacher Education
PEDG 3300 Human Development and Learning
PEDG 3380 Secondary Curriculum and Methodology
PEDG 4380 Secondary Methodology and Classroom Management
READ 3326 Reading/Literacy Strategies for the Content Areas
PEDG 4620 ClinicalTeaching in the Secondary School

For students seeking all-level certification, the following pedagogy courses are required:

PEDG 2310 Introduction to Teacher Education
PEDG 3300  Human Development and Learning
PEDG 3380 Secondary Curriculum and Methodology
PEDG 4340 Managing the Early Childhood/Elementary Environment
READ 3326 Reading/Literacy Strategies for the Content Areas
PEDG 4630 ClinicalTeaching -Special

Graduate Program

The Department of Teacher Education offers a program leading to the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Teacher Leadership. It is the goal of the Master of Education program to provide the academic climate and practical experience necessary to produce teachers and other specialists of superior competence in their chosen fields.

Degrees Offered

Master of Education in Special Education (Generalist)
Master of Education in Special Education (Educational Diagnostician)
Master of Education in Teacher Leadership

Certification in Educational Diagnostician

M.Ed. In Special Education (Generalist)

This 36-credit hour degree program offers advanced coursework at the graduate level in the area of special education. This degree program provides graduate learners with the content, knowledge and skills they need to assess, instruct, and provide behavioral support for exceptional learners from an inclusive, collaborative perspective. Admission requirements: Teaching credentials in any K-12 certification area. This program does not provide eligibility for initial certification in special education.

The course work consists of the following:

SPED 5301 Survey of Exceptional Learners
SPED 5302 Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation
SPED 5303 Educational Psychology
SPED 5304 Special Education Law
SPED 5305 Research in Special Education
SPED 5314 Reading and Language Arts for Diverse Learners

SPED 5311 Instructional Strategies for High Incidence Disabilities
SPED 5312 Functional Behavioral Assessment
SPED 5313 Instructional strategies for Low Incidence Disabilities
SPED 5315 Transition for Students with Exceptionalities
SPED 5316 Models for Change Through Collaboration
SPED 5320 Psychoeducational Evaluation of Exceptional Children

M.Ed. In Special Education (Educational Diagnostician)

This 36-credit hour degree program offers advanced coursework at the graduate level in the area of special education which includes coursework needed for certification as an Educational Diagnostician. This degree program provides graduate learners with the foundational knowledge in the field of special education and the content, knowledge, and skills they need to identify and place K-12 learners in special education services. Admission requirements: a valid Texas teaching certification and 3 years teaching experience in a TEA-approved district. Upon completion of this program, graduates are eligible to take the Educational Diagnostician certification exam.

The course work consists of the following:

SPED 5301 Survey of Exceptional Learners
SPED 5302 Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation
SPED 5303 Educational Psychology
SPED 5304 Special Education Law
SPED 5305 Research in Special Education
SPED 5314 Reading and Language Arts for Diverse Learners

SPED 5311 Instructional Strategies for High Incidence Disabilities
SPED 5313 Instructional strategies for Low Incidence Disabilities
SPED 5315 Transition for Students with Exceptionalities
SPED 5320 Psychoeducational Evaluation of Exceptional Children
SPED 5321 Test Administration and Interpretation
SPED 5322 Practicum for Educational Diagnostician

M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership

The M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership is a non-thesis master's degree program designed to develop instructional leaders who can carry out a vision of learning to include designing curriculum, implementing research-based instructional strategies, motivating students, using assessment for learning, and engaging the community to support learning. The program consists of 12 courses offered in a five-week distance learning format through the ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ Academic Partnerships program. The program can be completed in 18 months of continuous enrollment. More information about this program, including admission requirements and application procedures, can be found at

The course work consists of the following:

1. Professional Core. 15 semester hours are required:
PEDG 5326 School-Community Relations
PEDG 5310 Research for Teachers
PEDG 5367 Diverse Learners
PEDG 5344 School Law for Teachers
PEDG 5327 Schools as Learning Communities

2. Academic Support Courses. 21 semester hours are required:
PEDG 5369 Cognition and Instruction
PEDG 5370 Public School Curriculum
PEDG 5371 Creative Instructional Strategies
PEDG 5374 Differentiated Instruction
PEDG 5372 Using Assessment Data to Guide Instructional Decisions
PEDG 5373 Student Expectations & Motivation
PEDG 5376 Practicing Teacher Leadership

Certification in Educational Diagnostician

This 21-credit hour degree program provides coursework to those students who have valid Texas teaching credentials, 3 years teaching experience, and already a hold a master’s degree in a related educational field (i.e., masters in Teacher Counseling, Education Administration, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Policy, and Special Education, Early Childhood Education, etc.). Upon completion of this 21-credit hour degree program students will qualify to take the Educational Diagnostician certification test.

The course work consists of the following:

SPED 5301 - Survey of Exceptional Leaders
SPED 5311 - Instructional Strategies for High Incidence Disabilities
SPED 5313 - Instructional Strategies for Low Disabilities
SPED 5315 - Transition for Students with Exceptionalities
SPED 5320 - Psychoeducational Evaluation of Exceptional Children
SPED 5321 - Test Administration and Interpretation
SPED 5322 - Practicum for Educational Diagnostician