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Admission and Policies

Admission to Educator Preparation Program

Formal admission to the Educator Preparation Program is required for all students seeking Texas Teacher Certification. Admission requirements include:

1)    An overall grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) and 2.75 in pedagogical and teaching field courses.

2)    Demonstrated proficiency in each of the basic skills of reading, writing, math, critical thinking and oral communication in English. A student can demonstrate proficiency of basic skills by submitting current (within the last five years) passing scores on approved standardized tests. Approved standardized tests and minimum passing scores are:

Texas Success Initiative: Math minimum of 350, Reading minimum of 351, Writing minimum of 340, Essay minimum of 4

ACT: Composite minimum of 23, Math minimum of 19, English/Reading minimum of 19

SAT: Math minimum of 530, English/Reading/Writing minimum of 480

3)     Completion of at least 12 content hours for all certification fields except Math and/or Science which requires a minimum of 15 content hours.

4)     A completed application form and essay.

5)     A degree/certification plan developed by the Department Faculty Advisor and Certification Officer.

6)     Recommendation by the Department of Education faculty.

Certification Programs

All certifications require the following:

1)    Bachelor’s Degree with an overall grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) and a 2.75 in pedagogical courses.

2)    Completion of at least 12 content hours for all certification fields except Math and/or Science certifications which requires a minimum of 15 content hours.

3)    Complete required Oral Presentation in Education.

4)    Pass appropriate TExES (Texas Examination of Educator Standards) in content and pedagogy.

5)    Complete placement file and teaching portfolio.

For specific courses required for the certification and other certification requirements, please refer to list below:

A. Core Subjects EC-6 Certification

Complete: EDU 3147, 3148, 3305, 3322, 3323 with 3102, 3324, 3325 with 3101, 3326 with 3103, 3327, 3330, 3335, 4343, 4847 or 6802 and 6806, 4149/4150 or 6147 and 6148, 5351 and 5352.

B. Middle School 4-8 Certification

Teaching Fields offered: English Language Arts and Reading, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Composite English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies and Composite Mathematics/Science.

Complete: EDU 3147 or 3148, 3305, 3322, 3324, 3323 with 3102, 3327, 3335, 4343 or 4346 and 3111, 4847 or 6802 and 6806, 4149/4150 or 6147 and 6148, 5351, 5352 and electives from 3325 with 3101, 3329 or approved EDU elective, 3330, or 5354 depending on academic emphasis.

Eighteen hours in a teaching field, 9 of which must be upper division hours. (Composite teaching field certificates require additional hours.)

C. Secondary Certification

Teaching Fields offered: Grades 7-12: Life Science (Biology), English Language Arts and Reading, History, Mathematics, Composite Social Studies (history, politics, economics and geography), Composite Physics/Mathematics and Composite Science (Biology, Chemistry, Geology and Physics). Grades 6-12: Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry)

Complete: EDU 3111, 3112, 3305, 3327 or 5377, 3335, 4346, 4848 or 6808 and 6812, 4149/4150 or 6147 and 6148, 5323, 5351, 5352 and at least one semester of Reflective Teaching (EDU 3147 or 3148). Composite teaching field certificates require additional hours.

Twenty-four hours in a teaching field, 18 are upper division hours.

D. All-Level Certification (Grades EC-12)

The University of Dallas has approved programs with EC-12 certification in Art, Theatre Arts (Drama) and Languages Other than English (LOTE) in French, German, Latin and Spanish.

Complete: EDU 3111, 3112, 3147 or 3148, 3305, 3327, 3335, 4149/4150 or 6147 and 6148, 4849 or 6808 and 6812, 5351, 5352 plus 4343 or 4346.

Twenty-four hours in a teaching field, 18 are upper division hours.

Completion of Certification and Recommendation

To be recommended to the Texas State Board for Educator Certification, a student must:

1)    Complete the baccalaureate degree or Post Baccalaureate Degree or Alternative Certification Program and meet Grade Point Average requirements (2.75) for the University of Dallas Educator Preparation Program.

2)    Complete required Oral Presentation in Education.

3)    Pass appropriate content and pedagogy Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) examinations.

4)    Earn favorable review by the Department of Education Teacher Education Review Committee.

5)    The State of Texas requires completion of fingerprinting and background check, along with payment of all state fees, prior to issuing the teaching certificate.

6)    Complete state mandated training.

Other Information Regarding Certification

The Department of Education complies with the certification requirements as set by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). At the time of this publication, the requirements are accurate; however, they may change to reflect new state regulations.

Transfer Students/Transfer of Courses

Students transferring from other accredited institutions must submit original transcripts and other documentation to an academic dean for evaluation before completing departmental admission requirements. Decisions regarding Education courses taken at other universities are made by the Department Chair.

Retention

The academic progress of each student admitted to the teacher certification program is reviewed each semester. Students who fail to do satisfactory work are placed on departmental probation. Continued unsatisfactory work results in dismissal from the program. Grades below C- in upper division (numbered 3000 or higher) Education and teaching field courses may not be used.

Field Based Experience (FBE)

The preservice teacher has the opportunity to observe and aid students in the learning process through: Education 3101, 3102, 3103 elementary; Education 3111, 3112, secondary. Under the guidance of university faculty, the preservice teacher observes and aids the classroom teacher who functions as stimulator, diagnostician, prescriber and model. Courses related directly to principles and approaches are designed to balance theory and application. The FBE experience is conducted off campus in a local school district. Students must provide their own transportation to the FBE experience as well as for Clinical Teaching.

Clinical Teaching Requirements

Successful completion of Clinical Teaching is required of students who seek certification. It is taken in the final year. Students who have received a "D" or "F" in required Education or academic emphasis (teaching field) courses may not take Clinical Teaching until the course has been repeated and a grade of "C" or higher obtained. Applications and supporting documents for Clinical Teaching must be filed with the Certification Officer by required deadlines. Before a Clinical Teaching assignment will be made, a students must meet the following requirements:

1)    Submit a Clinical Teaching Application.

2)    Achieve an overall grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) and a 2.75 in teaching field and pedagogical courses; no incompletes allowed.

3)    Complete three-fourths of the courses in the academic emphasis or teaching field(s) and 12 credits in Education for secondary teachers and 27 credits in Education for elementary and middle school teachers.

4)    Pass the appropriate TExES content test for the certification area sought prior to the start of Clinical Teaching.

5)    Submit two academic recommendations.

6)    Demonstrate professional conduct consistent with the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics.

7)    Receive favorable recommendations from all members of the teacher Education faculty.*

*If any faculty member judges a student to exhibit behavioral characteristics or communication skills that indicate potential problems in school settings, he may refer the student to the Teacher Education Review Committee (TERC) for review and evaluation. The TERC may recommend specific courses of action to the student and/or the faculty member.

Register for no more than 15 credits, including Clinical Teaching, may be taken during the semester of Clinical Teaching.

Comprehensive Examination

All Interdisciplinary Studies majors must pass a written comprehensive examination. Students who are seeking Texas teacher certification may satisfy the requirement by passing both the content and pedagogy Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES). Students who are not seeking certification or who are not yet eligible to take both TExES must pass a written examination developed by the Department of Education. The department examination comprehensive and consists of questions in the history and philosophy of education and in principles and approaches of education. It is administered during the student’s final semester at the university. The Department of Education Certification Officer distributes preparation materials for the examination and notifies individual students of the examination date, time and place.

State Certification Examination

Texas Senate Bill 50 requires that persons seeking certification in Texas perform satisfactorily on criterion-referenced examinations administered by the State. The purpose of these examinations is to ensure that each educator has the necessary content and professional knowledge required to teach. The content TExES (Texas Examination of Educator Standards) must be passed prior to Clinical Teaching. The pedagogy TExES is taken generally during the Clinical Teaching semester however it must be completed before recommendation to TEA for certification. Registration and study guides for the TExES are available from the Department. Several states require additional tests for certification. Details about these tests may be obtained from the Certification Officer.

Residency Requirements

Candidates for certification must complete the equivalent of one semester’s work (12 credits minimum) before the Department considers their recommendation for certification. Residency begins after formal acceptance to the Educator Preparation Program. The courses required are decided by the Department upon recommendation of the Certification Officer.

Credentials and Placement

Each candidate must complete certification forms and a placement file with the Department Certification Officer. The officer represents the Department in recommending candidates to the State Board.