/Institutions/University-of-the-Incarnate-Word/json/2021-2022/Undergraduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/University-of-the-Incarnate-Word/json/2021-2022/Undergraduate-Catalog.json

2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog > VIII. Undergraduate Programs > Dreeben School of Education

Dreeben School of Education

Teacher Education Program

Teacher Education is a valued program of study at the University of the Incarnate Word because it so directly addresses the mission to which the University is committed. The emphasis of the program incorporates a broad liberal arts education as a foundation for the more in-depth focus on academic teaching specializations and the body of knowledge associated with the teaching and learning process. The program prepares individuals for a profession in which they can affect society and mankind in significant, positive ways.

The Teacher Education Program (TEP) at UIW is a field-based program that provides intensive, realistic, and high-quality experiences in settings where preservice teachers can match theory and practice, observe effective teaching practices, encounter diversity, and explore and develop their teaching in close interaction with university faculty.

Programs of Study

Programs leading to baccalaureate degrees with certification are approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Texas Education Agency State Board for Educator Certification. The programs are designed to prepare students for initial certification and teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools. Students seeking certification from the University of the Incarnate Word's Teacher Education Program will be subject to any additional or new requirements, which may be set forth by legislative mandates or by the State Board for Educator Certification.

Students prepare for initial certification at the elementary level (early childhood-sixth grade) by completing the Bachelor of Arts, Education-Elementary Major with a Literacy Minor and required special education coursework. Students seeking a degree grounded in elementary education but without the teaching certification preparation complete the Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies Major which also includes the Literacy Minor and special education coursework. Both majors offer the optional Special Education Minor.

Students interested in secondary certification (grades 7 through 12) and all-level certification (early childhood through grade 12) are able to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major, in their teaching discipline and in Education. For disciplines which offer a degree other than the B.A. (e.g., Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Music), students may pursue the Education Minor to complete certification requirements. The Literacy Minor and Special Education Minor are options for secondary and all-level certification candidates.

At present, the University of the Incarnate Word offers certification in the following areas and levels. Secondary and All Level candidates benefit from advising in both disciplines as they prepare for initial teacher certification.

Education-Elementary Major

• Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading EC-6

Education-Secondary Major

• Biology / Life Science (7-12)
• Chemistry / Physical Science (6-12)
• English Language Arts and Reading (7-12)
• History (7-12)
• Mathematics (7-12)

Education-All Level Major

• Art (EC-12)
• Kinesiology / Physical Education (EC-12)
• Music (EC-12)
• Spanish (EC-12)
• Theatre Arts (EC-12)

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Students seeking entry into the Teacher Education Program must first apply and be admitted to the University. See the Admissions section for complete university admission requirements.

Students who plan to pursue initial teaching certification must also formally apply, and be admitted, to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) before enrolling in professional development coursework. Students should apply for admission the semester prior to beginning the professional development coursework. Application dates (spring and fall) are announced by the Dreeben School of Education. Acceptance to the Teacher Education Program does not guarantee acceptance to the Clinical Teaching Cohort or the granting of state certification.

NOTE: Effective March 15, 2017, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires a fee for each admitted teacher candidate. The $35.00 fee will be paid to UIW upon offer of acceptance and is then forwarded to the Texas Education Agency.

Students who plan to pursue initial teaching certification must meet all requirements for admission to the UIW Teacher Education Program. TEP applications are accepted each semester during announced application periods. Applicants are responsible for meeting posted deadlines. Application requirements are subject to change in accordance with TEA regulations. Current (as of August 2021) application requirements include:

• A current transcript (dated within three months of the TEP application) from each college or university attended verifying that:
  • A minimum of 60 credit hours has been completed with a minimum of 12 credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought (15 hours for mathematics or science candidates).
  • The student has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or greater at time of application. Students are responsible for maintaining the minimum GPA requirement of 2.75 until program completion. All courses taken at all institutions will be calculated to determine the cumulative grade point average. In the event courses are repeated at the same institution, only the highest earned grade will be included in the GPA calculation (in agreement with UIW policy).
  • For undergraduates, a grade of “C” or higher must have been earned for every course taken toward the major and supporting coursework. Education--Elementary majors must earn a "C" or higher in all coursework included in the full degree plan (UIW core included). A minimum grade of B- is required for all professional development coursework. If a lower than required grade is earned, the course must be repeated.
• A copy of a current degree plan reviewed by the DSE Certification Officer.
• Verification that all three sections (reading, writing and mathematics) of the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) exam have been successfully completed with a score of 230 or higher.
• Verification that EDUC 2305 Foundations of Education has been successfully completed or is in progress.
• Submission of two separate written faculty recommendations. Forms are provided in application packet. Whenever possible, a minimum of one recommendation should be completed by a faculty member from the applicant's major.
  

  NOTE: Additional information from the UIW community (solicited and non-solicited) may be considered regarding applicants' professional disposition--maturity, independence, responsibility, interpersonal relations, communication, etc. This information is of great significance to the decisions made by both the Dreeben School of Education and the university-wide Teacher Education Advisory Council regarding acceptance into the TEP.

• Applicants will participate in a group interview to assess effective and professional oral communication skills.
• A signed DSE Texas Educator's Code of Ethics Statement of Affirmation form must be submitted with the application packet acknowledging the applicant is informed of and consents to the professional expectations for Texas educators.

The group interviews typically consist of one hour sessions with five to eight applicants in each session. Dreeben School of Education faculty and administrators, as well as University faculty and administrators from other disciplines, will make up the interview teams. Recommendations from the interview teams will then be presented as a component of the applications packet. Teacher Education faculty and the Teacher Education Advisory Council review all components of the TEP applications and make a recommendation for program admission. A formal decision letter will be emailed to each applicant by the end of the semester. The committees may decide to "hold" an application in the event an application requirement is lacking but in progress. The Dreeben School of Education Office will not make any announcements as to the status of any applicant until such letters are sent.

Admission to the Clinical Teaching Cohort

The final courses in the professional development sequence involve supervised clinical teaching at a partnership school campus. Undergraduates enroll in EDUC 4905: Clinical Teaching, a one-semester experience of supervised teaching in conjunction with EDUC 4305: Clinical Teaching Seminar.

Students applying for Clinical Teaching must complete all required coursework, with the exception of the clinical teaching courses, prior to the clinical teaching semester. On a case-by-case basis, the Director of Teacher Education may give approval for registration in one three-credit course concurrent with the clinical teaching semester. Students must request this consideration in advance.

Applications for the Clinical Teaching Cohort are accepted each fall and spring semester. Students must apply to the clinical teaching cohort specific to the semester in which they will clinical teach. Students planning to complete the clinical teaching in the fall semester should apply the previous spring; students planning to clinical teach in the spring semester should apply the previous fall.

Specific application dates are announced at the beginning of each semester. Applicants are responsible for adhering to all deadlines. Application requirements are subject to change in accordance with TEA regulations. As of August 2021 the application requirements include:

• Verification of full acceptance and continued good standing in the Teacher Education Program (verified by the Dreeben School of Education).
• Demonstration of content area proficiency documented with a passing score on the state content area TExES exam.
• A current transcript (dated within three months of the application) issued by each college or university attended verifying:

• All coursework on degree plan has been completed or is in progress, with the exception of the clinical teaching coursework.

• The student has a cumulative grade point average of a 2.75 or greater at the time of application. Students are responsible for maintaining a minimum GPA until program completion. All courses taken at all institutions will be calculated to determine the cumulative grade point average. In the event courses are repeated at the same institution, only the highest earned grade will be included in the calculation (in agreement with UIW policy).

• For undergraduates, a grade of “C” or better must have been earned for every course taken toward the major and supporting coursework. IDS majors must earn a “C” or higher in all coursework included in the full IDS degree. A minimum grade of B- is required for all professional development coursework. If a lower than required grade is earned, the course must be repeated.

NOTE: Additional data regarding fitness for teaching - maturity, independence, responsibility, interpersonal relations, etc., - are solicited from UIW members of the community who have come in contact with the applicant; this data will be considered in the application review as described below. This information is of great significance to the decisions made by both the Dreeben School of Education and the university-wide Teacher Education Advisory Council regarding acceptance into the Clinical Teaching Cohort. Additional information about Professional Disposition guidelines and procedures can be found in the Teacher Education Handbook and the Clinical Teaching Handbook.

• An updated degree plan verifying the completion of all courses other than the clinical teaching coursework.
• Submission of the applicant's philosophy of teaching. This essay must be typed and must reflect the applicant's experiences and attitudes toward individual teaching style, methods, and goals.
• Applicants will participate in a group interview to assess effective and professional oral communication skills.

After all application requirements are submitted, interviews are scheduled. These interviews usually consist of one hour sessions with five to eight applicants in each session. Members of the Dreeben School of Education faculty and administration, as well as university faculty and administration from other disciplines, will comprise the interview teams. Recommendations from the interview teams will then be presented as a component of the application packet. Both the Teacher Education faculty and the Teacher Education Advisory Council will review the applications in their entirety and make recommendations for program admission. A formal letter of acceptance or denial will be mailed to each applicant by the end of the semester. The committees may also decide to "hold" an application in the event an application requirement is lacking but in progress. The Dreeben School of Education Office will not make any announcements as to the status of any applicant until such letters are sent.

In addition to the successful completion of clinical teaching, candidates must also complete additional requirements of the Texas Education Agency State Board for Educator Certification. The Teacher Education Program will provide needed information to candidates regarding application to SBEC and TEA requirements.

Candidates must meet all clinical teaching requirements applicable to the semester to which they apply. Requirements will be noted in the associated semester's clinical teaching handbook and are subject to change to reflect current Texas Education Agency and UIW Teacher Education Program standards. Candidates may reapply to a future clinical teaching cohort if they are denied or choose to defer clinical teaching; however, they must complete clinical teaching within three semesters (fall/spring) following completion of the professional development course sequence.

Application and Approval for State Certification

Application for Texas certification is the candidate's responsibility and is facilitated by the DSE Teacher Education Department. Application for certification takes place under the direction of the DSE Certification Officer, near the end of the clinical teaching placement. Before recommendation for certification can be provided, all coursework must be complete, the clinical teaching placement must have been successfully completed, required state administered TExES certification examinations must be passed, and the application and fingerprinting must have been submitted.

Students seeking certification approval from the University of the Incarnate Word are subject to any additional or new requirements set forth by legislative mandates or by the State Board for Educator Certification.