College of Education

Associate Professor Larry Hovey, Interim Dean

The College of Education is accredited by the State Board for Educator Certification, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Through this latter accreditation, Texas Tech University holds membership in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. This membership signifies that the teaching certificate earned at Texas Tech is accepted in a majority of the states in the nation through reciprocity with other members of the association.

The primary function of the College of Education is to provide degree and certification programs for both undergraduate and graduate students who plan careers in education. For many individuals, this means a future in teaching. However, a variety of other degrees and certificates are available in such areas as educational leadership, counselor education, curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, higher education, and instructional technology. Furthermore, the College of Education prepares individuals to work with a variety of special populations, and at a variety of levelselementary, secondary, two-year colleges, and senior colleges and universities.

The general curricula for undergraduate degree and certification programs are outlined in this section; graduate degree programs leading to the Master of Education degree, the Doctor of Education degree, and professional certificates are detailed in the Graduate Catalog. A descriptive list of the undergraduate courses offered by the College of Education is presented in the following pages. Any deviation from the approved curriculum for a particular degree must be approved by the student's advisor and by the office of the Dean of the College of Education.

Because of state law, majors using the term "Education" (e.g. Elementary Education, Art Education, Home Economics Education) are no longer offered at Texas Tech University. However, individuals still may be certified to teach in elementary and secondary schools, but must complete noneducation majors.

Students preparing to teach in secondary schools will generally complete an academic major in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Arts and Sciences, or Human Sciences, with additional courses in professional education required for certification. Students interested in teaching composite science (certified to teach all sciences in grades 6-12) may complete a Multidisciplinary Science major in the College of Education, or an academic major in one of the teaching fields.

Students preparing to teach in elementary schools will complete a Multidisciplinary Studies major in the College of Education. Students seeking early childhood certification may do so through a degree in the College of Human Sciences. Certification guidelines are determined by the state and may be subject to change.

Core Curriculum Requirements. The university has established Core Curriculum requirements for all students. These requirements will ensure breadth in each academic program.

Students should consult their academic advisor regarding specific course requirements. Students are urged to seek advisement prior to their first enrollment to avoid losing credit. Students may find a listing of Core Curriculum requirements in the Academic Information section of the catalog.

Advisory Program. The advisory program in the College of Education is designed to provide aid to each student in planning and completing the appropriate degree and teacher certification program. Each student is expected to have at least one individual conference each semester with an advisor during which the current semester's work will be evaluated and the next semester's plan will be developed.

The academic advisor is responsible for (1) assisting the student in planning a program and in selecting courses to be taken each semester prior to registration, (2) helping the student in selecting the proper areas of specialization and/or teaching fields, and (3) advising the student in meeting admission and retention standards of teacher education and student teaching. Either advisor or advisee may ask the Dean of the College of Education for a change in assignment.

Degree and Teacher Certification Programs. Degree and teacher certification programs are two distinct programs. Freshman or transfer students are admitted to a degree program in the College of Education that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Eligible students at the junior level are admitted to a teacher certification program that leads to a Texas teaching certificate. The certification program culminates with the state mandated ExCET exams. Students must pass all appropriate ExCET exams for certification, but not for the bachelor's degree. Language related certification also requires passage of the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT). A fee is associated with all such examinations.

Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree Program and Admission to the Teacher Certification (Education) Program. The College of Education seeks to maintain rigorous academic programs to produce outstanding educators for Texas and the nation. Admission to College of Education degree and certification programs is open to all individuals on the basis of academic preparation, ability, and availability of space in the program selected. When there are more qualified applicants than can be adequately instructed by available faculty or accommodated in available facilities, the college will control enrollment in specific programs by limiting the admission of new students. The number of students accepted into the undergraduate Early Childhood, Elementary Education All-Level, Secondary, and Vocational Education programs is limited. Therefore, admission into a teacher education program is competitive and based on GPA and other criteria. A complete description of eligibility requirements is available in the Educator Certification Office in the College of Education. (Entrance criteria may be subject to change.) Admission to a college degree program does not insure admission to an upper-division teacher certification program. Students seeking teacher certification are subject to a twice per year admission process. Application forms from the College of Education should be completed during the second semester of the sophomore year. Application deadlines are generally early February (for the fall semester), and mid-September (for the spring semester). For specific details, consult a College of Education advisor. To be considered for admission to teacher certification programs, students must meet the following minimum prerequisites:

(1) A minimum of 60 semester hours including current enrollment with an acceptable scholastic GPA. Students seeking elementary school or early childhood certification (through a degree in Human Sciences), must have a 2.70 or better overall GPA. Students seeking all other certificates (secondary, vocational agricultural science or home economics, and all-level), must have a 2.50 or better overall GPA. Note, the minimum GPA requirement may increase due to limited space availability.

(2) A satisfactory level of performance on the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP).

(3) Good character and high ethical standards. All applicants for Texas certification are screened for a record of felony or misdemeanor convictions through the Texas Department of Public Safety. All potential certificate applicants with criminal felony or misdemeanor convictions should immediately contact the Texas Tech Certification Office to seek clarification of their certification status.

(4) Possess the ability to speak and understand the English language sufficiently to use it easily and readily in conversation and teaching.

(5) Possess such personal and social qualities, and physical and mental health to indicate a fitness for the education profession.

(6) Evidence of critical thinking.

(7) Admission to upper division teacher education programs will be subject to additional entrance criteria depending on availability of space in the program selected.

No otherwise qualified student will be denied admission to a degree program, certification program, or student teaching because of race, religion, national origin, age, gender, or disability.

Under some circumstances a student may be requested to leave a certification program. Such a request can be initiated by the college or by the student. Due process will be observed during this time.

Individuals who lack the minimum GPA or have not passed the TASP examination due to extenuating circumstances may also apply for admission to teacher education. The Admission Committee will review each such request.

Students in other colleges may complete the requirements for teacher certification when these are taken together with an appropriate teaching major or specialization. Generally, all persons seeking early childhood certification will enroll in the College of Human Sciences; students seeking certification at the elementary school level will enroll in the College of Education; those interested in secondary school level may enroll in the College of Education or in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, or the College of Human Sciences, depending upon the teaching field desired. Students planning to teach vocational agricultural science or family and consumer sciences will enroll in the appropriate respective college.

Academic Foundations. During the freshman and sophomore years the student normally completes the general degree requirements for both the Bachelor of Science degree and a teaching certificate. The work in professional education and the advanced courses in the academic specialization or teaching fields are usually taken in the junior and senior years.

Academic Specialization (Elementary Level) and Teaching Fields (Secondary Level). The student pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree with a Multidisciplinary Studies major leading to elementary certification may begin an academic specialization in the freshman year. The student seeking the bachelor degree in the secondary or all-level curriculum may also begin work in the teaching field(s) during the freshman year. A majority of the work (60 percent) in the academic specialization (elementary) and the teaching field (secondary, all-level) must be completed prior to admission into student teaching. Required teaching field and areas of specialization courses are listed in this catalog by academic departments (e.g. Art, English, Mathematics).

Professional Education. The standards for admission to a program leading to teacher certification are described in the section of the catalog entitled "Admission to the Teacher Certification Program."

Methods courses for initial certification programs include field experience in schools and are offered only when the elementary and secondary schools are in session.

Student Load. The maximum load for a student in the College of Education is 18 semester hours. No student will be permitted to enroll in more than 18 semester hours, including work taken by correspondence, without written approval from the division chairperson or associate dean. During the student teaching semester, the maximum load is 12 semester hours­­9-12 hours of student teaching plus any required corequisite education course. Requests to take more than 12 hours must be approved by the certification officer.

Length of Degree Program. The Bachelor of Science degree can be completed in approximately eight semesters. The Multidisciplinary Studies major requires 133 hours, and the Multidisciplinary Science major requires 126 hours. A student may be required to attend either one summer term or a ninth semester due to failure to meet the admission standards into teacher education and student teaching, poor planning or scheduling, or for other reasons. Students should complete a degree and certification plan no later than the first semester of the freshman year. Assistance in completing the degree and certification plan is found in the office of the Dean of the College of Education. An Intent to Graduate form should be filed in the office of the Dean of the College of Education the first week of the semester of graduation.

Pass-Fail Option. Courses used to meet stated degree plan requirements may not be taken pass-fail. Up to 13 hours of courses that are taken as free electives to total 133 hours, and are not used to meet any other degree requirement, may be taken pass-fail. Courses that are designated pass-fail by departmental policy rather than student choice do not count in the 13 hour limit on elective courses that may be taken pass-fail. No student on probation is allowed the pass-fail option.

Transferability. Developmental courses (e.g. basic or introductory reading and math courses) and vocational courses (auto mechanics, nursing) will not transfer for degree or certification programs. Courses with "D" grades may or may not transfer depending on Coordinating Board, university, and College of Education guidelines.

Please see the university Teacher Education section of this catalog for information on recommendation for teacher certification and admission to student teaching.


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Page Administrator: Gale Richardson

LAST UPDATE: 6-1-00


Jan 21, 2020