Life Science (grades 7-12), B.S.

Fine Art course

Three hours from:

• ART 1301 - Art Appreciation 3 hrs
• ART 2301 - Visual Arts for the School Teacher 3 hrs or studio course
• MUSI 1301 - Fundamentals of Music 3 hrs
• MUSI 1303 - Music Appreciation 3 hrs
• MUSI 3304 - World Music 3 hrs
• MUSI 3305 - American Music 3 hrs
• MUSI 3306 - Jazz 3 hrs
• Performing ensembles
• THEA 1303 - Introduction to Theatre 3 hrs

One hour from:

• UNIV 1100 - Foundations of University Life 1 hrs
• UNIV 1101 - Foundations of University Life 1 hrs

Total: 43 Hours

Notations:

1. ENGL 1301  and ENGL 1302  should be taken within first year of enrollment.
2. HIST 2301  and HIST 2302  are required for teacher certification.
3. Wayland Baptist University will not accept RLGN 1301 - Old Testament History  or RLGN 1302 - New Testament History , or their equivalents, from any institution except other Baptist institutions to meet the core requirement in any Wayland degree. If a student has taken RLGN 1301 - Old Testament History  and/or RLGN 1302 - New Testament History , or their equivalents, at any institution except other Baptist institutions, then the student has two options to meet the core requirement: (1) take RLGN 1301  and/or RLGN 1302  at Wayland or (2) take RLGN 4306 , RLGN 4316 , RLGN 4317 , or RLGN 4318  in lieu of RLGN 1301 ; and/or take RLGN 4306 , RLGN 4320 , RLGN 4322 , or RLGN 4324  in lieu of RLGN 1302 . RLGN 4306  may be an option for either RLGN 1301  or RLGN 1302  as stated above, but may not count for both on the same degree plan. No other RLGN/RLED courses may substitute for either RLGN 1301  or RLGN 1302 . The Dean of the School of Religion & Philosophy must approve any exception to this policy. RLGN 1301 - Old Testament History  or RLGN 1302 - New Testament History , or their equivalents, taken at non-Baptist institutions, may be transferred as elective credit with approval of the Dean of the School of Religion and Philosophy and the Registrar.
4. B.S. degree requires EXSS 1112 and one activity course. Courses marked with an * in the course description section maybe used to fulfill this requirement. Students who have served two or more years in the Armed Forces are exempt from EXSS requirements with DD-214 from basic training.

Four hours from:

• An additional lab science
• POLS 3411 - Research Methods and Data Analysis 4 hrs
• PSYC 3411 - Research Methods and Data Analysis 4 hrs
• SOCI 3411 - Research Methods and Data Analysis 4 hrs

Three hours from:

• EDIT 2310 - Technology in the Classroom 3 hrs ¹
• MSCI 2311 - Scientific Computing 3 hrs ¹

Notations:

1. EDIT 2310  is required for teacher certification programs. MSCI 2311  is required for math or science majors.

Six hours from:

• EDUC 4663 - Secondary Student Teaching 6 hrs
• EDUC 4664 - All Level Student Teaching 6 hrs #

Three hours from:

• EDLI 4345 - Teaching English as a Second Language 3 hrs or
• ENGL 4345 - Teaching English as a Second Language 3 hrs

•  

• EDLI 4328 - Language Acquisition 3 hrs
• EDSP 2304 - Introduction to Special Education 3 hrs

Notations:

*Students seeking the dual major in chemistry and physical science education are not required to take EDUC 4328  to meet graduation or certification requirements.

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

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 fi nish 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 fi le 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 2.7 for last 60 hours of academic work attempted
4. 2.7 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. 2.7 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 2.7 on last 60 hours of college work attempted.
• Completion of the general education core.
• A minimum GPA of 2.7 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 2.7 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, 2009, to Aug. 31, 2010. Professional knowledge pass rate was 99 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.