Academic Catalog 2014-2015 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2014-2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


BSIS ELEM EDUC SPEC EDUC DEGREE PLAN

Elementary Education (grades EC-6) with Special Education (grades EC-12), B.S.I.S.



Elementary Teacher Certification


Students seeking elementary teacher certification should pursue the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree (B.S.I.S.). A minimum of 124 hours is required for the degree. Students who complete the requirements for the B.S.I.S. degree and who successfully pass the required state competency examinations will fulfill simultaneously all requirements for elementary teacher certification. Degree requirements include the following:

University General Education Core Curriculum - 43 hrs


The University General Education Core Curriculum is applied to all degrees at Wayland Baptist University with the exception of the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.), Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) and the Bachelor of Christian Ministry (B.C.M.) degrees. The full general education core curriculum for these degrees can be found in the degree specific general education core curriculum section.

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Specific General Education Core Course Requirements - 14 hrs


The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies Degree (B.S.I.S.) is a 124-semester hour degree designed to prepare students for a career as an elementary or middle school teacher. The degree integrates University degree requirements with the State’s teacher certification requirements. A minimum of 42 semester hours must be in upper-level credit (courses numbered 3000 and above). Because of the unique nature of the degree, additional study in mathematics and the sciences is required. Since specific science requirements change according to the academic specialization selected, students should check with their advisors concerning these courses. These are included in the degree specific general education core requirement. Degree specific general education requirements may vary from state to state based upon certification requirements. Components of the B.S.I.S. degree include:

In addition to the University Core Curriculum, students must complete the following degree specific general education core requirements for the B.S.I.S. degree:

Academic Major and Minor


Rather than a traditional major and minor, the B.S.I.S. degree includes a 36- to 38-semester hour interdisciplinary core of courses. This core includes a concentration selected from an approved list of disciplines and a combination of other subject fields selected to prepare the student for the comprehensive section of the teacher certification examination. The concentration may be selected from one of the following disciplines: elementary education, science and mathematics. Specific semester hours as well as course requirements are included in the School of Education section of the catalog.

Electives


In addition to the interdisciplinary core, the B.S.I.S. degree requires 27 semester hours in professional development courses. As a result, the number of elective hours is generally limited. When elective hours are available, students may complete degree requirements with courses which complement or extend career preparation or pursue subject fields which hold special appeal. However, before using elective semester hours, students should check with their advisor to ensure that the hours are indeed elective and that upper-level semester hour requirements for graduation are being met.

Major (Teaching Field)


Rather than a traditional major and minor, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree includes an interdisciplinary major. This major focuses on the subject matter taught in the middle school (grades 4-8) and a combination of other subject fields selected to prepare the student for the State examination in middle school social studies and language arts.

Interdisciplinary Studies in Elementary Education (grades EC-6) with All-Level Certification - Special Education (grades EC-12)


Teachers must meet applicable high-qualified requirements for the grade level and the subject area taught.

Students who choose to take the All-level Special Education TExES cannot be hired as a teacher of record in subjects beyond 8th grade but can only serve in an inclusion support role or as consultants or co-teachers in classrooms with a teacher of record.

Students who successfully complete the EC-6 Generalist/EC-12 Special Education degree program and pass the TExES examinations (EC-12 PPR/Test 160; EC-6 Generalist/Test 101; and EC-12 Special Education/Test 161) will be considered a highly qualified teacher as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 No Child Left Behind for both general and special education preschool through 6th grade. Students must pass the state content area tests special education and EC-6 generalist prior to student teaching.

Professional Education


In addition to the general education core and preparation in the teaching field, all certification programs require a professional education sequence. The professional education sequence provides students with knowledge of the learner, the teaching-learning process, and effective teaching and classroom management strategies. It also provides a structured program of field experiences, beginning with classroom observation and ending with student teaching. Students must have taken and passed the basic skills test upon completion of EDUC 3301 - Principles and Practices in Education  and before taking further professional education courses. The following courses constitute the professional education sequence required for certification. Students must pass the respective state content test prior to student teaching:

Notations:


# During student teaching it is a requirement that the student take the state test for Pedagogy and Professional Responsibility (EC-12 PPR).

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Elementary Education Certification (EC-6) with All-Level Special Education (EC-12) Recommended Sequence of Courses


Listed is the recommended rotation based on a B.S.I.S. degree program. For complete information on the general equation and graduation requirements for the B.S.I.S. degree program, please refer to the undergraduate programs section of the catalog.

Sophomore Year Fall Semester - 17 hrs:


General Certification Requirements


In addition to meeting degree requirements, individuals seeking to teach in the elementary, middle school and high schools of the state must meet specific certification requirements. These include passing an approved basic skills test, formal admission to a teacher education program, the satisfactory completion of structured field experiences, satisfactory performance on required subject area and professional competency examinations, compliance with an investigation to determine absence of a criminal history, and completion of a certification application accompanied by the required fee. Information related to these requirements follows:

Admission to Teacher Education


The student expecting to enter a program leading to teacher certification should apply for admission to the teacher education program as part of the course responsibilities for EDUC 2301  or during the first education course. This application should be filed with the School of Education. Requirements for admission to and retention in teacher education include:

  • Filing a completed application for admission to teacher education. Application for admission to teacher education is available from the education coordinator on each campus. (If denied admission, the student must reapply in order to be considered for admission when the deficiency is resolved.)
  • A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 for the last sixty hours of academic work attempted.
  • Satisfactory completion of all basic skill requirements or have an exemption as specified in state/s administrative code.
  • English and Math core requirements require a grade of C or better in each course.
  • Evidence of oral communication proficiency.
    Completion of at least 12 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought:
    1. BSIS elementary generalist, BSIS middle school generalist, and BSIS elementary generalist/all level SPED: completion of 12 hours from 3 of the following 4 content areas: English, Math, History, Science
    2. BSIS middle school, BA middle school: 6 hours from content area teaching field and 6 hours from English, Math, History, or Science with 12 hours total encompassing 3 of the 4 content areas
    3. BA, BM, BS, BBA: 12 hours in content area teaching field
  • Evidence of freedom from any incapacitating physical or emotional defects.
  • Recommendation by the Teacher Education Advisory Committee (the council is composed of faculty members from the various schools offering teacher certification). It is the function of the committee to review the student’s application and determine whether the student is admitted to the teacher education program.
  • Any conduct not in harmony with that encouraged by University standards (see University Student Handbook) may constitute grounds for dismissal from the teacher education program. State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) is responsible for disciplining educator, applicants for certification, and examinees taking certification exams for conduct indicating unsuitability to teach as well as unethical conduct. WBU and SBEC will enforce the Educator’s Code of Ethics. This code may be reviewed at www.tea.state.tx.us. The Teacher Education Advisory Committee assumes the role of determining whether the behavior is detrimental to performance as a teacher and delineating pertinent details of the alleged misconduct or of the incident. The Teacher Education Advisory Committee shall review the documentation and other pertinent information regarding the alleged misconduct or violation of university policy or Code of Ethics, and determine an appropriate action pertaining to retention, conditional retention, or dismissal from the teacher education program.

Structured Field Experiences


The teacher education field experience program begins in the student’s first professional education course and may include courses within the major. The student’s field experience progressively intensifies and increases the student’s involvement during the senior year and culminates with a full-day student teaching experience. Classroom visitation, tutoring, and lesson presentations are included as a scheduled part of teacher education classes. Successful completion of field experience is required for course credit. Below are the courses which include field experiences and the minimum number of hours required:

Course Min. Hours
EDLI 3307 - Literature in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom       5 hrs
EDLI 3308 - Emergent Literacy and Phonics  5 hrs
EDLI 4300 - Diagnosis and Investigation of Literacy Difficulties  6 hrs
EDLI 4325 - Developing Reading, Study, and Thinking Skills at the Secondary Level  8 hrs
EDLI 4345 - Teaching English as a Second Language  8 hrs
EDLI 4347 - Teaching Language Arts in the Elementary and Middle School  6 hrs 
EDLI 4348 - Literacy Processes of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations    8 hrs
EDLI 4328 - Language Acquisition    8 hrs
EDSP 2304 - Introduction to Special Education      6 hrs
EDSP 3305 - Trends, Issues, Policies and Procedures  5 hrs
EDSP 3308 - Assessment of Students with Special Needs  6 hrs
EDSP 4315 - Strategies for Management of Behavior  5 hrs
EDUC 2301 - Introduction to Teaching           5 hrs
EDUC 2307 - Child and Adolescent Development  6 hrs
EDUC 3301 - Principles and Practices in Education  12 hrs
EDUC 3302 - Instructional Strategies and Practices  8 hrs
EDUC 3313 - Educating Students from Diverse Backgrounds  6 hrs
EDUC 4301 - Teaching Science in Elementary and the Middle School  6 hrs
EDUC 4303 - Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary and Middle School  6 hrs
EDUC 4305 - Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary and Middle School  6 hrs
EDUC 4313 - Classroom Management  6 hrs
EDUC 4328 - Curriculum and Assessment for Secondary School    8 hrs
MUSI 3310 - Music Education Methods: Introduction to Teaching and Elementary Music    10 hrs
MUSI 4321 - Instructional Strategies and Practices in Secondary Instrumental Music      10 hrs
MUSI 4323 - Instructional Strategies and Practices in Secondary Choral Music  10 hrs
MUSI 4342 - Developing Choral Score Reading, Analysis, Communication Skills, and Survey of Literature  10 hrs
MUSI 4343 - Developing Instrumental Score Reading, Analysis, Communication Skills, and Survey of Literature  10 hrs

All teacher certification programs, with the exception of Trade and Industry Certification program, require student teaching. Admission to the University’s student teaching program is restricted to those students who meet the prerequisite criteria and have been admitted to teacher education and approved by the Teacher Education Advisory Committee for student teaching and have passed the respective state content test. As student teaching is an all-day, all-semester assignment, it is strongly recommended that the student take this factor into consideration before registering for additional course work during the student teaching semester. Student teaching must be completed at Wayland unless a written cooperative agreement with another university is on file with the School of Education office.

The application form to student teaching may be obtained from the School of Education office or the department of education teacher advisor. Applications must be filed by April 1 of the spring semester prior to the academic year in which the student will be doing student teaching. External campuses have established alternative dates and the student needs to check with the education advisor to find out the deadline for applying for student teaching. Requirements for admission to student teaching include:

Student Teaching


The student teaching experience is considered the beginning of a student’s professional career, and the student’s energies should be directed in making the most of the professional assignment. During this period of time, the students’ first responsibilities are to the classroom of students they teach in the student teaching assignment. As student teaching is an all-day, 12 week assignment, it is strongly recommended that students limit outside activities during this time. Outside activities include employment, sports, sororities, fraternities, and cheerleading. Outside responsibilities should not interfere with the apprentice teaching responsibilities. Therefore, outside employment or taking coursework in addition to student teaching block are not recommended actions. If students believe employment is a necessity, it should be restricted to weekends if at all possible. A conference with the student’s University Student Teaching Supervisor, the Field Experience Coordinator, the education advisor at an external campus, or the Dean of the School of Education will determine the best options for the student who must maintain employment. In the event that additional coursework is required to finish a degree, anything beyond one additional course plus the student teaching block will require review by the Teacher Education Advisory Committee to determine if the student should consider student teaching during another semester.

Enrollment for student teaching semester will occur at the campus from which you were admitted to teacher education. Placement recommendation for student teaching is a function of the local campus teacher education advisory committee, and any assignment greater than fifty miles from your home campus may have an additional student fee attached. Student teaching must be completed under the supervision of a Wayland Baptist University Supervisor at a Wayland Baptist University campus unless a written cooperative agreement with another university has been approved by the Dean of the School of Education and the agreement is on file in the School of Education office.

Student teachers are guests in the schools in which they teach and serve. Student teachers must meet all regulations established by the principal, school administration, and school district. The student teaching assignment is made with much care and attention to many factors. Adjustments in assignments are not made after the student teaching experience begins except for unusual circumstances.

Occasionally, some incompatibility may arise, thus interfering with the success of the student teaching experience. If this should occur, you are to notify your University Supervisor at once. Requirements for advancement to student teaching are to be submitted no later than 2 terms prior to student teaching, and only in extreme circumstances will students be concurrently admitted to teacher education and student teaching. Student teaching requirements include:

  1. Filing a completed application for admission to Student Teaching. Applications for admission are available from the School of Education or the Education advisor on each campus. (If denied admission to student teaching, the student may reapply when the deficiency is corrected, and the student is required to submit documentation of deficiency removal and initiate a new application for student teaching.)
  2. Updated certification (degree) plan on file in the School of Education office
  3. Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 for last 60 hours of academic work attempted
  4. 2.75 minimum GPA on professional education courses with no grade below C
  5. Completion at WBU of a minimum of nine semester hours of required professional education courses at the student’s level of certification.
  6. 2.75 GPA in student’s teaching field(s) with no grade below C (completion of all prerequisites for student teaching) or a passing score on a state approved and administered content area exam.
  7. Student must have passed the state approved content test prior to the assignment of the student teaching experience.
  8. Completion of a criminal background check
  9. Recommendation by the Teacher Education Advisory Council (TEAC)

Advancement to Student Teaching


A student prior to student teaching must pass the state’s content test in the area which certification is sought.

  • Degree plan on file in the School of Education office.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.75 on last 60 hours of college work attempted.
  • Completion of the general education core.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.75 on all courses in the professional education sequence with no grade below C. Completion at Wayland of a minimum of nine semester hours of required professional education courses at the student’s level of certification.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.75 on all college work taken in the student’s teaching field with no grade below C. Completion of the requirements for the student’s teaching field including any courses specified as prerequisites for student teaching.
  • Completion of a criminal background check.
  • Recommendation by the Teacher Education Advisory Committee (TEAC) which is composed of faculty members from the various schools offering teacher certification. It is the function of the TEAC to review the student’s application and determine whether the student is advanced to the student teaching phase.
  • Enrollment for student teaching semester will be from the campus from which you were admitted to teacher education and earned senior status (90 semester hours).
  • Placement recommendation for student teaching is a function of the local campus teacher education committee and any assignment greater than fifty (50) miles from your home campus may have an additional student fee attached.

Recommendation for Teacher Certification/License


The State, not the university, certifies an individual to teach. The university makes the recommendation that students take the state certification tests. To receive recommendation from the university to take the certification tests, students must maintain all requirements for the teacher education program and student teaching program through the degree. Certification is not automatic with the completion of an approved program of study and requires the recommendation of the teacher education advisory committee (TEAC). Upon completion of the required program of study and passing the appropriate state licensure test, a student may apply for certification through the state certification entity. Students should make application for the appropriate certificate during the last semester in which they complete all requirements for a certificate. The application and required fee is to be sent to the state certification entity which has authority for the issuance of certificates/licenses. Every applicant must be investigated for a record of a felony or misdemeanor conviction. As well, the student must submit fingerprints as a part of the background investigation. Students who have completed the teacher education program and have not met the state license standard the year following the completion of the program may be required to do additional work or review to obtain permission to take the state test.

Accountability


The Texas State Board for Educator Certification has assigned Wayland Baptist University teacher preparation program a rating of “Accredited” under the Accountability System for Educators Preparation Programs. Educator preparation programs are held accountable for the performance of teacher candidates on the statewide certification tests. Programs must achieve a minimum pass rate on the test by disaggregated subgroups to receive a rate of “Accredited.”

According to the most recent federal Title II report, students who completed Wayland Baptist University teacher preparation program earned a summary pass rate of 99 percent for the assessment year Sept. 1, 2012, to Aug. 31, 2013. Professional knowledge pass rate was 100 percent. Content field pass rate was 97 percent. Wayland was in the first quartile for basic skills pass rate, first quartile for professional knowledge and second quartile for academic content.