Middle School Language Arts (grades 4-8), B.A.S.

Middle School Certification

All middle school degree/certification programs require a minimum of 124 credit hours. Students who complete the requirements for the appropriate degree, fulfill certification requirements, and successfully pass the appropriate state examination tests will satisfy all requirements for middle school teacher certification in their area(s) of preparation. Five certification options are available to students desiring to teach at the middle school level.

Bachelor of Applied Science Degree Specific General Education Core Course Requirements - 44 hrs

The Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) is an inverted degree program which allows individuals to apply a vocational/technical field (i.e., courses, training, or work experience) as credit toward an applied associate’s degree and, in turn, to apply the associate’s degree toward a B.A.S. degree. Students in this degree program desire to enhance their knowledge, analytical abilities and critical thinking skills for upward mobility in their field. The B.A.S. exists to provide a seamless transition from technical fields to an appropriate baccalaureate program while enhancing the liberal arts component of the student’s education.

The B.A.S. degree is designed for individuals who have completed occupational/technical degrees and certificates at community, vocational, and technical colleges and schools; individuals who have completed occupational/vocational training in U.S. Armed Services Schools, the workplace, and career training centers; occupational and technical faculty at regional and local public schools; individuals who have received several years of on-the-job training; and individuals entering these technical/career paths.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree is a minimum 124-credit hour program. A minimum of 36 credit hours must be upper-level (junior/senior level) credit. Major fields of study included in the degree have specific upper-level requirements. The student may select from fourteen majors which combine non-traditional credit with a traditional liberal arts background. Majors include applied science, banking and finance, business administration, computer information systems, computer science, criminal justice administration, digital marketing, early childhood development, elementary education, environmental studies, human services, management, middle school languages arts, and mission in business. Each major consists of 36 credit hours of which 18 must be upper-level credit. The degree also requires a 24-credit hour professional development block designed to provide academic depth or breadth to the major and to provide substantive developmental knowledge for the student’s career or personal goals. The degree also includes a 12-credit hour experiential professional development block designed to provide practical experience as an integral part of the student’s career development. Finally, the degree includes electives to complete the 124-credit hour requirement.

English - 6 hrs:
ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric 3 hrs ¹ and ENGL 1302 - Composition and Reading 3 hrs¹
History - 6 hours from:
HIST 1301 - Western Civilization to 1648 3 hrs or HIST 1303 - World Civilization to 1500 3 hrs AND HIST 1302 - Western Civilization since 1648 3 hrs or HIST 1304 - World Civilization since 1500 3 hrs; or HIST 2301 - United States History to 1877 3 hrs and HIST 2302 - United States History since 1877 3 hrs
Mathematics - 3 hrs:
MATH 1303 - Mathematics for Liberal Arts 3 hrs , MATH 1304 - College Algebra 3 hrs⁵, - OR - higher
Science - 3 hrs
Science course 3 hrs
Math, Science, or Foreign Language (any combination) - 6 hrs
Math/Science/Foreign Language²3 hrs
Math/Science/Foreign Language²3 hrs
Religion - 6 hrs:
RLGN 1301 - Old Testament History 3 hrs - AND- RLGN 1302 - New Testament History 3 hrs³
Political Science - 3 hrs:
POLS 2301 - American Government 3 hrs
Communication - 3 hrs from:
COMS 1301 - Speech Communication 3 hrs , COMS 1303 - Professional Communication 3 hrs, COMS 2302 - Communication in the Classroom 3 hrs, or COMS 2303 - Public Speaking 3 hrs
Computer Applications - 3 hrs:
COSC 2311 - Computer Applications 3 hrs ⁴
Exercise & Sport Science - 3 hrs
EXSS course 1 hr
EXSS course 1 hr
EXSS course 1 hr
Additional Requirements - 2 hrs:
BASC 1201 - Best Achievement Strategies for College 2 hrs or BASC 1200 - Best Achievement Strategies for College 2 hrs
GRAD 0001 - Senior Seminar 0 hrs
NOTATIONS:
1. ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302 should be taken within first year of enrollment.
2. Developmental courses may not be used to fulfill the mathematics requirement. Equivalents to MATH 1300 may be used.
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 THST 4310 , THST 4311 , THST 4312 , THST 4313 , or THST 4320 in lieu of RLGN 1301 ; and/or take THST 4320 , THST 4321 , THST 4322 , or THST 4323 in lieu of RLGN 1302 . THST 4320 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 THST/MNST courses may substitute for either RLGN 1301 or RLGN 1302 . The Dean of the School of Christian Studies 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 Christian Studies and the Registrar.
4. Students may opt to test out of COSC 2311 ; see course description.
5. Students majoring in Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, Digital Marketing, Environmental Studies, or Mission in Business are required to take MATH 1304 .

Major

The B.A.S. degree requires a 36-credit hour major of which 18 credit hours must be upper-level credit. The major may be selected from applied science, banking and finance, business administration, computer information systems, computer science, criminal justice administration, digital marketing, early childhood development, elementary education, environmental studies, human services, management, middle school language arts, and mission in business.

Professional Development

The Professional Development component consists of 24 credit hours selected to provide depth or breadth to the major and to provide substantive developmental knowledge for the student’s career or personal goals.

Experiential Professional Development

The experiential professional development component consists of 12 credit hours designed to provide practical experience as an integral part of the student’s career development. Practicums and internships may be placed in this area or up to 12 credit hours of practicum or internships may be placed in the major specialization if related to the major. Experiential learning may satisfy a portion of this requirement. Experiential learning must be evaluated and approved by the university.

Electives

The student may complete the remainder of the required 124 credit hours with courses which complement or extend career preparation or pursue subject fields that hold special appeal. However, before using elective credit hours, students should check with their advisor to ensure that the hours are indeed elective and that upper-level credit hour requirements for graduation are being met.

Middle School Language Arts (grades 4-8) - 42 hrs

Professional Development - 27 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, including observations and active application of learned content, 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 2.7 for the last sixty hours of academic work attempted.
Satisfactory completion of all basic skill requirements as specified in state administrative code.
English and Math core requirements require a grade of C or better in each course.
Evidence of oral communication proficiency as demonstrated in an interview.
Completion of at least 12 credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought:
1. BSIS elementary core subjects, BSIS middle school core subjects, and BSIS elementary core subjects/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
Recommendation by the Teacher Education Committee (the committee 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.

NOTE: If Candidates admitted to the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) in the Don A. Williams School of Education discontinue enrollment for two consecutive semesters, they will be un-enrolled from the EPP at the end of the second semester they are not enrolled. This is per policy. If candidates are un-enrolled, they will have to reapply to the EPP and follow the same procedures as they initially did to be admitted into the EPP, including completing the application, autobiography, interview, paying the $55 admission, completing TEA trainings, etc.

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 clinical teaching experience which includes the submission of the edTPA portfolio. 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.

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

The application form to clinical teaching may be obtained from the School of Education office or the department of education teacher advisor. For spring clinical teaching, students must submit application by October 15 of the previous academic semester. For fall clinical teaching, students must submit applications by April 15 of the previous semester. External campuses have established alternative dates and the student needs to check with the education advisor to find out the deadline for applying for clinical teaching. Requirements for admission to clinical teaching include:

Clinical Teaching

The clinical 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 clinical teaching assignment. As clinical teaching is an all-day, 14 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 clinical teacher’s responsibilities. Therefore, outside employment or taking coursework in addition to clinical teaching 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 Clinical Teaching Supervisor, the Director of Clinical Experiences, 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 clinical teaching block will require review by the Teacher Education Committee to determine if the student should consider clinical teaching during another term.

Enrollment for clinical teaching term will occur at the campus from which you were admitted to teacher education. Placement recommendation for clinical teaching is a function of the local campus, and no assignment greater than eighty miles from your home campus will be permitted. Clinical teaching must be completed under the supervision of a Wayland Baptist University Supervisor at a Wayland Baptist University campus.

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

Occasionally, some incompatibility may arise, thus interfering with the success of the clinical teaching experience. If this should occur, you are to notify your University Supervisor at once.

Clinical teaching requirements include:

Filing a completed application for admission to Clinical Teaching. Applications for admission are available from the School of Education or the Education advisor on each campus. (If denied admission to clinical 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 clinical teaching.)
Updated certification (degree) plan on file in the School of Education office
Signed Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators Statement of Affirmation
FERPA Consent to Release Educational Records and Information
Minimum overall GPA of 2.7 for last 60 hours of academic work attempted
2.7 minimum GPA on professional education courses with no grade below C
Completion at WBU of a minimum of nine credit hours of required professional education courses at the student’s level of certification.
2.7 GPA in student’s teaching field(s) with no grade below C (completion of all prerequisites for clinical teaching) or a passing score on a state approved and administered content area exam.
Student must have passed the state approved content test prior to the assignment of the clinical teaching experience.
Completion of a criminal background check
Recommendation by the Teacher Education Committee (TEC)

Advancement to Clinical Teaching

A student prior to clinical 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 credit 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 clinical teaching.
Completion of a criminal background check.
Recommendation by the Teacher Education Committee (TEC) which is composed of faculty members from the various schools offering teacher certification. It is the function of the TEC at each campus within the School to review the student’s application and determine whether the student is advanced to the clinical teaching phase.
Enrollment for clinical teaching term will be from the campus from which you were admitted to teacher education and earned senior status (90 credit hours).
Placement recommendation for clinical teaching is a function of the local campus teacher education committee and no assignment greater than eighty (80) miles from your home campus will be permitted.

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 clinical 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 Committee (TEC). 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 term 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, 2013, to Aug. 31, 2014. Professional knowledge pass rate was 97 percent. Content field pass rate was 99 percent. Wayland was in the first quartile for basic skills pass rate, first quartile for professional knowledge and second quartile for academic content.

Currently, all initial certifications and professional certifications are highly needed.