Main Office
Matthews Hall, 206
P.O. Box 311337
Denton, TX 76203-1337
(940) 565-2920
Fax: (940) 565-4952
Elementary Education
Reading Education
Matthews Hall, 206
(940) 565-2920
Curriculum and Instruction
Secondary Education
Matthews Hall, 204
(940) 565-2826
Educational Administration
Matthews Hall, 218
(940) 565-2175
Professors Camp, Campbell, Contreras, Greenlaw, Hardy, Hinely, Kemerer, Laney, Luttrell, Moseley, Sandefur, Simms, Stansell, Teeter, Tipps, Williamson. Associate Professors Adkison, Allen, Anderson, Bane, Cowart, Craig, Crocker, Day, Fox, Gallian, Leavell, Meeks, Turner, Van Tassell, Wilhelm. Assistant Professors Ausbrooks, Bernshausen, Cobb, Huffman, Mathis. Lecturers Cowan, Horany, Oxford.
The Department of Teacher Education and Administration offers undergraduate and graduate programs to develop highly competent teachers, school administrators and others who wish to provide educational leadership to organizations. Effective instruction, curriculum development and evaluation are emphasized in all programs. Students use current theory and research to make decisions about effective practice. The department strives to improve practice through generation of new knowledge and through service to educational institutions, governmental agencies and practitioners at all levels.
The teacher education programs at the University of North Texas have a long history of preparing effective teachers. As the needs of children and schools of Texas change, the programs continue to change. In 1992, the teacher education programs began to establish professional development schools, which are field-based educator preparation programs. In professional development school programs, public school teachers and administrators collaborate with faculty from the University of North Texas to prepare teachers for the challenges of the new century. Teacher education students in professional development schools learn and apply their knowledge and skills in clinical settings under the supervision of master teachers. The programs in teacher education are working toward the goal of assuring that all students recommended for certification have had experience in professional development schools.
Programs in teacher education are approved by the State Board for Educator Certification and are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) [2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036-1023; (202) 466-7496]. The department offers teacher certification programs in elementary education and secondary education both for undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduates seeking certification in elementary education should enroll in the Bachelor of Science program with a major in interdisciplinary studies. Undergraduates seeking certification in secondary education receive a degree though their major department and add the required courses for certification.
Students who have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited university may have their undergraduate transcript evaluated in the College of Education Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105, to develop a certification plan.
The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:
To be enrolled in any elementary, early childhood, reading, secondary, or special education course, students must formally apply and be admitted to Teacher Education through the College of Education Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105. For specific admission requirements for each area, see "Admission to Teacher Education" in the following areas in this catalog: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation.
All-Level Art or All-Level Music Admission to Teacher Education
Applications for Teacher Education Admissions are available in the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105.
The student must complete the University Core Curriculum. (See "University Core Curriculum Requirements" in the Academics section of this catalog.) Programs in teacher education require specific courses contained in parts of the University Core Curriculum to satisfy particular degree requirements. Students must consult program advisers for a list of required courses. Students may be required to take extra courses if they fail to take these courses
If an instructor in any class judges a student to exhibit behavioral characteristics or communication skills that indicate potential problems in school settings, the student will be referred to the Admission, Review and Retention Committee. If the ARR Committee agrees with the instructor's judgment, it may recommend specific courses of action to the student and the instructor. The ARR Committee also reviews student appeals.
Teacher certification is a function of the State Board for Educator Certification. Completion of the bachelor's degree and the required education courses does not necessarily result in certification by the agency.
In order to be certified, one must (1) successfully complete an approved teacher education program for the preparation of elementary or secondary teachers. and (2) pass appropriate sections of the Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET). All students seeking certification through the University of North Texas must first attend preparation seminars and make passing scores on appropriate ExCET practice tests. To obtain the bar code needed for registering for the ExCET, students must successfully complete this process. These sessions are offered twice each long semester and once in the summer. Contact the ExCET Coordinator office (Matthews Hall 218G) for further information [(940) 565-4420] or vantass@coefs.coe.unt.edu.
Those seeking basic elementary certification must present acceptable scores on the Elementary Professional Development and the Elementary Comprehensive portions of the ExCET. Those seeking basic secondary certification must present acceptable scores on the Secondary Professional Development and content area portions of the ExCET. Additional certifications or endorsements may require satisfactory scores on portions related to those areas. Information is available in the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105. Contact academic advisers or program areas for specific degree plan, GPA requirements, and/or certification plan requirements.
Students working on a certification plan for teaching (non-degree) must meet all requirements stated on their certification (deficiency) plan.
The degree plan is the official document outlining the student's course of study. The student is responsible for initiating the degree plan process and should do so as soon as possible after being formally enrolled at the university and prior to the first semester in teacher education.
Advising should be sought in the Student Advising Office. The student, with advisement, makes decisions relating to the program of study. The degree plan is subsequently prepared in the College of Education Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105. Degree plan processing takes four to six weeks. Students should pick up completed degree plans in Matthews Hall, Room 105, and check them for accuracy. Any changes in degree plans must be approved by the academic departments and the teacher education departmental office.
The department offers master's and doctoral degrees. For further information on graduate degrees and certificates available in the graduate programs, consult the Graduate Catalog.
Bachelor of Science
Students completing the requirements for the undergraduate degree will receive the Bachelor of Science with a major in interdisciplinary studies and a minor in elementary education.
The undergraduate program typically requires a minimum of 132 semester hours. The specific number of hours required is determined by one's choice of academic fields, academic discipline and certification option as described below.
Requirements include courses under the following headings: University Core Curriculum, interdisciplinary studies major, certification option (specialization or delivery system and discipline), combination of subjects (composite), and professional education (elementary education minor).
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science must meet the following requirements.
1. Hours for the Degree: Completion of minimum of 132-135 total semester hours; 42 hours must be advanced.
2. General University Requirements: See "General Degree Requirements " in the Academics section of this catalog.
3. University Core Curriculum: 47 hours
See "University Core Curriculum Requirements " in the Academics section of this catalog for additional information.
4. Major Requirements: 54 hours.
5. Minor: Professional Education: 18 hours, EDEE 3320, 4330, 4340, 4350 plus 6 hours student teaching. Psychological Foundations: 2-6 hours, depending on Option.
6. Electives: 4 hours, fine arts, computer science, mathematics, foreign language or natural/physical science.
7. Other Course Requirements: MATH 2090, CECS 1100 and ENGL 2220.
8. Other Requirements:
Applications for Teacher Admissions are available in the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105.
Interdisciplinary Studies: 54
Minor (Professional Education and Psychological Foundations): 20-24
MATH 2090, CECS 1100, ENGL 2220: 9
Electives: 4
Core:
English 6
Mathematics 3
Natural Sciences 8
History 6
Political Science 6
Wellness 3
Visual and Performing Arts 3
Humanities 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Communication 3
Cross-cultural, Diversity and Global Studies 3
42 hours must be advanced; 24 of the last 30 hours must be completed at UNT.
Students are encouraged to see their adviser each semester for help with program decisions and enrollment.
Option I certifies the student to teach in grades one through six. The number of semester hours varies depending on the academic specializations chosen, but all hours count toward the interdisciplinary studies major.
Inactive, see adviser.
Option II, academic specialization, certifies the student to teach in grades one through eight, including the middle and junior high schools. The number of semester hours in the academic specialization varies, but all hours count toward the interdisciplinary studies major.
One academic specialization is required. Available specializations include biology, communication studies, earth science, English, French, geography, health, history, kinesiology, mathematics, music, Spanish or theater arts.
Twelve semester hours of reading are required. Fifteen to 24 semester hours across two academic fields other than the first academic field must be taken as combination-of-subjects (composite) courses.
Option II, reading, certifies the student to teach in grades one through eight, including the middle and junior high schools. All 18 semester hours of required reading specialization courses count toward the interdisciplinary studies major. Eighteen semester hours in an academic discipline and 18 semester hours across two academic fields other than the discipline must be taken as composite courses.
The generic special education delivery system certifies the student to teach elementary grades 1-8, and special education grades PreK-12.
The generic special education delivery system consists of 24 semester hours, 18 of which count toward the interdisciplinary studies major. Eighteen semester hours in an academic discipline and six semester hours of reading are required. Twelve semester hours across two academic fields must be taken as composite courses.
This delivery system does not provide certification in severely emotionally disturbed/autistic or severely and profoundly handicapped; however, such programs are available at the graduate level.
The student completes an academic specialization in life-earth science that certifies the student to teach in grades one through eight, including middle and junior high schools.
All 30 plus semester hours of the life-earth science academic specialization option count toward the interdisciplinary studies major. Twelve semester hours of reading are required. Nine to 11 semester hours across two academic fields other than the first academic field must be taken as composite courses to complete the required 54 hour total.
Option IV, the early childhood delivery system, certifies students to teach in grades prekindergarten through six.
The early childhood delivery system option consists of 21 semester hours which count toward the interdisciplinary studies major. Eighteen hours in an academic discipline plus six semester hours of reading are required. Nine semester hours from two academic fields other than the discipline must be taken to complete 54 required hours.
The elementary education minor requires 18 semester hours divided between pedagogy (12 semester hours) and student teaching (6 semester hours), plus 2-6 semester hours in psychological foundations. Students must have an interdisciplinary studies major in order to minor in elementary education.
The early childhood education endorsement, certifying the student to teach public school prekindergarten through kindergarten in Texas, may be added to valid elementary certificates, special education certificates or vocational home economics certificates that require a college degree.
The generic special education endorsements in teaching the severely and profoundly handicapped and the severely emotionally disturbed autistic child are available. A special education adviser should be consulted for the program relating to these endorsements.
The degree requirements for the BS with a major in interdisciplinary studies meet or exceed those mandated by the state of Texas in the 1987 certification standards. The program described herein has been approved by the State Board for Educator Certification and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The University of North Texas is committed to excellence in all academic programs. In keeping with this commitment the university offers a variety of scholarships and awards to continuing students and to exceptional entering freshmen and transfer students. The university has two categories of competitive academic scholarships: general and departmental. Information on general scholarships may be obtained from Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
The programs in elementary and reading education have eight scholarships available to undergraduate students.
The Rena Mae Matthews, Mary Carlisle Webb, Bessie Cowan, Violet and Eunice Garrish, Mina Stroup and Mary Wells scholarship funds provide for grants each year to junior and senior students seeking elementary certification who have been admitted to teacher education.
The Phillip and Margaret Walker Memorial Scholarship and Reva Sykes Friedsam Scholarship are available each year to a senior student seeking certification in teacher education.
Information on these scholarships may be obtained in the Elementary Education Office in Matthews Hall, Room 206.
All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.
The "Course and Subject Guide," found in the Courses of Instruction section of this book, serves as a table of contents and provides quick access to subject areas and prefixes.
Criteria for approval to enroll in the first teaching methods course:
Approval for official admission into secondary education:
Secondary Education, in cooperation with other schools and departments, offers a complete curriculum of teacher preparation. A Provisional Secondary Certificate for teaching grades six through 12 is available with the completion of a major in an approved teaching field and a minor in secondary education.
Undergraduate professional development courses in secondary education constitute a minor for bachelor's degree programs in the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of Business Administration. The program of studies offered through Secondary Education meets all professional development requirements for Texas teacher certification.
The state of Texas teaching certificate requires completion of an approved four-year degree program. Completion of the bachelor's degree with Option I, II, III or IV teaching fields (see explanation of options below) and the professional development sequence meets the requirements of the Texas Education Agency for the Provisional Secondary Certificate for grades six through 12.
For students receiving a BA or BS degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, the following professional education courses are required for certification: EDSE 3800, 3830, 4060, 4070, 4108, 4118 and 4840.
Students seeking certification under Texas Education Agency Option I must complete a major of at least 36 hours in an approved teaching field. Option I teaching fields are available in the following areas.
Single Teaching Fields: biology, chemistry, dance, earth science, economics, English, French, geography, history, life/earth science, mathematics, physical science, physics, sociology, Spanish and theater arts.
Option II: Two Teaching Fields
Students seeking certification under Option II must complete a major of at least 30 hours in one discipline for a first teaching field and have at least 24 hours in a second field. Some disciplines require more than these minimums. Option II teaching fields are available in the following areas.
First Teaching Field Only: life/earth science and physical science.
Second Teaching Field Only: generic special education and reading.
Option III: Business
The teaching field available under Option III, Broad Teaching Fields, is basic business.
Composite teaching fields under Option IV are available in Englishlanguage arts, science and social studies.
(12 hours) ENGL 4040 or 5040; 4080 or 5080; 5320 (second language acquisition) and 5360 (sociolinguistics).
(15 hours for endorsement) DRED 4400, 4410, 4420, 4430 and 5400.
Information Processing Technology Endorsement
Information processing technology endorsement is available through undergraduate or graduate course offerings. For undergraduate students, Level One requires a total of 9 hours: CECS 1100, 3440 and 4100. Level Two requires 15 hours: CECS 1100, 3440, 4100, 4900 and 3 hours of additional CECS course work.
Learning Resource Endorsement, 24 Hours
SLIS 5090, 5210, 5340, 5420, 5430, 5400, 5600, 5720.
Gifted and Talented Endorsement, 12-15 Hours
EDSP 5150, 5160, 5170, 5180, 5430.
The secondary education minor requires 18 sem-ester hours divided between pedagogy (12 hours) and student teaching (6 hours), plus a 3 hour reading course. Students must have a major that is also a teaching field in order to minor secondary education and must be admitted to teacher education.
All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.
The "Course and Subject Guide," found in the Courses of Instruction section of this book, serves as a table of contents and provides quick access to subject areas and prefixes.
Educational Foundations courses are provided primarily as support courses. Although some courses are offered at the undergraduate level, most are available at the graduate level.
Detailed information may be found in the Graduate Catalog.
All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.
See Graduate Catalog.
See Graduate Catalog.
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