Academic Catalog 2024-2025 
    
    Dec 03, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2024-2025

B.S. Chemistry/Physical Sci (7-12) degree plan

Chemistry and Physical Science Education (grades 7-12), B.S.



Secondary/High School Teacher Certification


All high 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 tests will satisfy all requirements for secondary teacher certification in their area of preparation. Additional areas of certification can be found in the Don A. Williams School of Education 

Unified General Education Core - 42-45 hrs


The Unified General Education Core is required for all bachelor degrees at Wayland.

Creative Expression for Engaging Community - 9 hrs


Critical Examination of Creation and Community - 12-14 hrs


Christian Foundations for Life in Community - 9 hrs


Notations:


  1. ENGL 1301  and ENGL 1302  should be taken within first year of enrollment.
  2. COMS requirement may differ by degree. The B.S.N. specifies COMS 1301  or higher. Students pursuing teacher certification should take COMS 2302 .
  3. Creative Arts requirements for the B.S.N. specifies ART 1301  or higher, or MUSI 1303  or higher. The B.M. degree specifies ART 1301 , ART studio course, HUMA 2300  or ENGL 3330 . The B.S.I.S. EC-6 degree can take FNAR 2401 . The B.A. Worship Studies specifies MUSI 3305 .  Students pursuing the B.S. Mathematics with minor in Engineering dual degree must choose from ART 1301 , ART Studio Course, or MUSI 1303 .
  4. Students in the B.S. Mathematics with minor in Engineering dual degree or who are seeking teacher certification must take an ENGL literature elective.
  5. HIST 1303  or HIST 1304  can be applied to either History or Multi-Cultural sections.
  6. HIST 2301  and HIST 2302  are required for teacher certification and the B.S. Mathematics with minor in Engineering dual degree.
  7. To ensure broad training, no more than 6 credit hours from Literature or History may fulfill the requirements for Cultural Perspectives within Community; however, students may use the Multi-Cultural history or literature course options to fulfill 3 hours of Literature or History requirements, and then may also complete an additional Multi-Cultural course from a different discipline.
  8. Students with two years of documented high school foreign language (minimum grade of ‘B’ or 3.0) may enroll in 2000-level courses (or higher where prerequisites allow) in that same language. Any student with significant informal background in a foreign language may contact the School of Humanities and Leadership for information about placement testing.
  9. Students pursuing the B.A.S. Banking and Finance, B.A.S. Business Administration, B.A.S. Business Analytics, B.A.S. Computer Information Systems, B.A.S. Computer Science, B.A.S. Digital Marketing, B.A.S. Environmental Sciences, B.A.S. Mission in Business, B.B.A., B.S., B.S.I.S. Middle School Core Subjects, B.S.I.S. Middle School Math, or B.S.I.S. Middle School Science degrees are required to take MATH 1304 .
  10. B.S.N. students must take BIOL 3410  to meet this requirement.
  11. Students associated primarily with the Plainview campus must take a 4-hour laboratory science course to fulfill the Unified General Education science requirement. Students not associated primarily with the Plainview campus may fulfill the science requirement through a 4-hour laboratory science course or the 3-hour non-lab version.
  12. ECON 2307  cannot be used for students pursuing the A.A.S. Business Administration, B.A.S. Business Administration, B.B.A. (all specializations), or B.C.M. Co-vocational Ministry with General Business specialization degrees.  Students in the B.S. Mathematics with minor in Engineering dual degree must take ECON 2307 PSYC 1301 , or SOCI 1301  to meet this requirement.
  13. EDUC 2307  is required for teacher certification.
  14. PSYC 1301  is required for students pursuing the B.S.N. degree.
  15. 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  and/or RLGN 1302 , 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  or RLGN 1302 , 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.
  16. Students who have served two or more years in the Armed Forces are exempt from EXSS requirements with DD-214 from basic training.
  17. Students associated primarily with the Plainview campus must take BASC 1200  and EXSS 1112 . Students not associated primarily with the Plainview campus will take BASC 1301 .
  18. GRAD 0001  not required for Associate degree.

Bachelor of Science Degree Specific General Education Course Requirements - 11-13 hrs


The Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) is a minimum 124-credit hour degree designed for students who wish to pursue a career in mathematics or one of the sciences. A minimum of 42 credit hours must be upper-level credit (courses numbered 3000 and above). Major and minor fields of study included in the degree also have upper-level requirements. As these may vary depending on the discipline selected, specific requirements are included in the discipline sections of the catalog. Because of the nature of the degree, it includes additional study in mathematics and science. These additional requirements are included in the degree specific general education. In addition to the Unified General Education Core, students must complete the following degree specific general education requirements for the B.S. degree:

Academic Major and Minor


Major fields of study approved for the B.S. degree are listed in the Academic Programs Profile . Major requirements for the degree are at least 30 credit hours. Specific credit hours as well as course requirements are included in that section of the catalog dedicated to the discipline selected.

Students pursuing the B.S. degree must select a minor from any discipline identified by the University as an approved minor field. The typical minor consists of 18 credit hours. In composite science, major and minor requirements are combined into a 48-credit hour major. Specific credit hours as well as course requirements for the minor are included in that section of the catalog dedicated to the discipline selected. A complete list of minors is included in the Academic Programs Profile  section.

Electives


Students may complete the minimum of 124 credit hours required for the degree with courses which complement or extend career preparation or pursue subject fields which 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.

Chemistry and Physical Science Education (grades 7-12) Course Requirements


The major is specifically for teacher education and requires 38 hours, of which 22 hours are upper level. Students must pass the state content area physical science (grades 6-12) test prior to clinical teaching. *MATH 1306  and MSCI 3101  are required courses for all math and science majors and can be used to fulfill general education requirements.

Professional Education - Secondary/High School Certification and All Level


In addition to the general education core and preparation in the teaching field, all secondary/high school certification programs require a professional education sequence. The professional education sequence provides students with knowledge of the learner, the teaching-learning process, effective teaching and classroom management strategies, and reading in the various content areas. It also provides a structured program of field experiences beginning with classroom observation and ending with clinical teaching. Students must have met basic skills requirements before admission to the EPP. The following courses constitute the professional education sequence. Students must pass the respective state content test prior to clinical teaching:

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 3302  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, including 9 hours of English.
  • 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:

  1. 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.)
  2. Updated certification (degree) plan on file in the School of Education office
  3. Signed Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators Statement of Affirmation
  4. FERPA Consent to Release Educational Records and Information
  5. Minimum overall GPA of 2.7 for last 60 hours of academic work attempted
  6. 2.7 minimum GPA on professional education courses with no grade below C
  7. Completion at WBU of a minimum of nine credit hours of required professional education courses at the student’s level of certification.
  8. 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.
  9. Student must have passed the state approved content test prior to the assignment of the clinical teaching experience.
  10. Completion of a criminal background check
  11. 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.