The primary purpose of teacher education is to prepare highly qualified teachers for Texas and the nation. The goal of Texas Wesleyan University’s Teacher Education Program is to develop teachers who:

• Possess the knowledge and skills required to deliver age-appropriate content;
• Possess the specialized knowledge and abilities required to deliver content specific instruction;
• Communicate effectively with students, parents, and other professionals in a range of formats;
• Apply the principles of instruction and assessment in the delivery of curriculum;
• Use effective teaching practices;
• Value and encourage critical thinking and problem solving;
• Use instructional technology to skillfully promote learning;
• Uphold the ethics of the teaching profession;
• Are committed to continued professional growth and development;
• Actively participate in the democratic process in school and community affairs.

The Teacher Education Program at Texas Wesleyan University, through the General Education Curriculum, encourages its graduates to display the following characteristics:

• A firm grounding in the liberal arts tradition;
• A familiarity with the leading ideas and texts of our civilization;
• An understanding of how ideas formulated in previous centuries and in other cultures influence current thought;
• An appreciation of the philosophical, historical, and economic heritage of the United States;
• A value of the processes that have allowed the above ideas to come to fruition;
• An ability to encourage similar values in their own students.

Notice to Applicants regarding Occupational Licensure

As a point of information required by the Texas Occupations Code, Section 1, Chapter 53, Sections 53.151 - 53.152, as amended in 2017 by HB 1508, if you are applying for admission to or currently enrolled in an educational program that may prepare an individual for an initial occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code Section 58.001 and/or if you later decide to change to an educational program that prepares you for an initial occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code Section 58.001, in accordance with state law, please be advised of the following:

1. An individual who has been convicted of an offense may be ineligible for issuance of an occupational license upon completion of the educational program.
2. Each licensing authority that may issue an occupational license to an individual who completes an educational program must establish guidelines that state the reasons a particular crime is considered to relate to a particular license and any other criterion that affects the decisions of the licensing authority.
3. Local or county licensing authorities may issue additional guidelines related to criminal history. Applicants should contact their respective local or county licensing authority for more details.
4. A person may request a criminal history evaluation letter regarding the personal eligibility for a license issued by a licensing authority under Texas Occupations Code Section 53.102.

Applicants are encouraged to review all applicable eligibility requirements related to the respective occupational license. Questions related to eligibility requirements should be directed to the applicable licensing authority.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

All students interested in entering the Teacher Education Program are responsible for reading this information and complying with the stated requirements.

University admission and admission to the undergraduate teacher education programs require different admissions criteria. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission into the undergraduate Teacher Education Program.

Admission Criteria

• Minimum 2.5 Overall GPA or current state requirement;
• Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Complete status or meeting one of the TSI exemptions listed below
• Meet TEA requirements through a screening and interview process as part of entrance to the program* (see below);
• Demonstrated proficiency in oral English by obtaining a grade of “B” or better in a fundamental speech course or by receiving a proficient score in the interview portion of the screening and interview process mentioned above;
• Completed at least 9 hours of university English or the equivalent with grades “C” or better;
• Passed EDU 2100 - Foundations of Education , with a C or better.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

To be admitted into the Teacher Education Program, a student must show evidence of TSI completion or have an approved exemption.

TSI Exemptions:

• Attending another institution prior to current enrollment and having met their readiness standards (for example, transferring from a community college);
• Holding an associate degree from another institution of higher education;
• Serving on active duty on the armed forces of the U.S. or the Texas National Guard;
• Currently and for the last three years serving as a member of the armed forces reserve;
• Having been honorably discharged from the armed forces of the U.S. or the Texas National Guard
• Scores of 3 or higher on AP credit exams; ACT (Composite 23, Math 18, English 19) SAT (Composite 1070, Math 500 and Critical Reading/Verbal 500) and STAAR EOC score of level
• The Accuplacer can serve as an alternative assessment if TSI scores are not available.

*Failure to Schedule or Attend Teacher Education Program Admission Interview

Any student, in any program that leads to an initial certification through the Teacher Education Program at Texas Wesleyan University who does not respond to faculty attempts to schedule their Teacher Education Program interview (emails or phone calls) will automatically be denied admission into the Teacher Education Program. Any student denied admission into the Teacher Education Program at Texas Wesleyan University must reapply and successfully complete the essay and interview process in a subsequent semester before further consideration for admission. Any student, in any program that leads to an initial certification through the Teacher Education Program at Texas Wesleyan University, who fails to attend a scheduled interview will not be admitted into the Teacher Education Program unless, at the discretion of the interview committee, unforeseen circumstances explain the absence. Any student who misses a scheduled interview, due to unforeseen circumstances, must contact the professor with whom the interview was scheduled, at the earliest possible opportunity, to explain the absence and to request the scheduling of a second interview.

EC-6 Candidates (including EC-6 Core Subjects with English as a Second Language Certification, EC-6 Bilingual, Liberal Studies with Core Subjects EC-6 Education):

• Provide evidence of 6 hours in each field: English, social studies, mathematics, and science.

EC-6 Bilingual Candidates are required to demonstrate Spanish language proficiency. For the purpose of program admissions, Spanish proficiency is defined as:

• Grades of A or B in SPN 1341 - Elementary Spanish I , SPN 1342 - Elementary Spanish II , SPN 2313 - Intermediate Spanish I , and SPN 2314 - Intermediate Spanish II  or equivalent credit;
  and
• Passing Score (700 or above) on the Web Based WebCape Exam, Spanish Version. Students are only allowed to take the WebCape exam once. Students who do not receive a passing score on the WebCape Exam are required to take SPN 2321 ;
• Students must receive a grade of A or B in SPN 2321  or waiver of the class in order to be admitted into the EC-6 Bilingual Program. SPN 2321 can be retaken once.
• Once admitted into the program or in the case of a change of major to EC-6 Bilingual, students must make a grade of “C” or better in the upper-level required Spanish courses related to the EC-6 Bilingual degree, SPN 3328 - Advanced Spanish Grammar  and SPN 3340 - Advanced Spanish Writing . The classes can be repeated once each.

Secondary Education and All Level Certification:

• Provide evidence of 12 hours with a GPA of 2.5 or better in their content area (area of specialization) for English, History, Music, EC-12 Physical Education and Spanish;
• Provide evidence of 15 hours with a GPA of 2.5 or better in their content area (area of specialization) for mathematics and science.

Continued Enrollment in the Teacher Education Program

Admission to the Teacher Education Program is granted for five years provided the student maintains a 2.5 grade point average or current state standard** while in the program, both overall and in major program course work. A student requiring longer than five years to complete certification requirements will be required to reapply for admission to teacher education through the Teacher Certification Officer and meet current admissions requirements.

Students must obtain a grade of “C” or better in all education and reading courses in order to continue enrollment in all undergraduate education programs. The Teacher Education Program will not accept for transfer credit any reading or education course in which the student’s grade is below a “C.”

**Admission and continuance in the Teacher Education Program is contingent on state mandated GPA requirements.

Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) Requirements

To be admitted into the Teacher Education Program, a student must pass all sections of the THEA or have an approved exemption.

THEA–PASSING STANDARDS:

Reading: 260

Mathematics: 230

Writing: 220

THEA scores must not be more than five years old. Students may retake the THEA as many times as needed. The test is administered in a computer-based format at various sites throughout the state, including Texas Wesleyan University. THEA registration booklets are available online at www.thea.nesinc.com.

THEA Exemptions: Students may be exempt from the math and writing sections under certain conditions. There are no exemptions from the reading portion of the THEA.

• American College Test (ACT)–Composite score of 23 or higher, with English and mathematics scores of 19 or higher.
• Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT)–For tests taken after April 1995, a combined score of 1070 or higher, with verbal and mathematics scores of 500 or higher. College Board concordance tables are used to compare scores on the redesigned SAT with those that predate it.
• Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exit level–English language arts score of 2200 or higher, mathematics score of 2200 or higher, and writing score of 3 or higher.
• State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR)–Algebra II level 2 exempt from math, English II Level 2, exempt from writing.

Note: Scores on the ACT and SAT must have been achieved no more than five years prior to, and TAKS and STAAR scores no more than three years prior to, the time the individual applies for admission to the Teacher Education Program.

THEA Exemptions Based on University Level Coursework

Writing–

Students may also be exempt from the writing section of THEA by earning a grade of “B” or higher in one of the following related courses:

• English Composition and Rhetoric;
• English Composition and Literature;
• A 2000 level Literature course (English Delivery); or
• A 3000 level Writing course (ex. English 3310).

Mathematics– Students may also be exempt from the math section of THEA by earning a grade of “B” or higher in one of the following related courses:

• College Algebra (or a course for which College Algebra is a prerequisite);
• Plane Trigonometry (or a course for which Plane Trigonometry is a prerequisite.)

EDU 2100 Foundations of Education

To be admitted to the Teacher Education Program, a student must successfully complete EDU 2100 - Foundations of Education . This course should be completed during the second semester of the sophomore year for students applying for freshman admission, or during the first semester at Texas Wesleyan University for students applying for transfer admission.

Formal application to the Teacher Education Program is made while students are enrolled in EDU 2100 . Students may be admitted to the Teacher Education Program at any semester after successful completion of EDU 2100  and completion of all other admissions requirements.

To enroll for EDU 2100  or any Education or Reading (except RAM Success reading) course, a student must have a 2.5 GPA or current state requirement and have a minimum of 36 hours of coursework posted to their transcript. Passing scores on the THEA are not required to enroll in EDU 2100 . To receive a grade in EDU 2100 , students must pass all sections of the THEA or have an approved exemption. Students who do not pass all sections of the THEA prior to the end of the semester in which they are taking EDU 2100  will receive a grade of a “T”.

A student who receives a grade of a ‘T’ in EDU 2100  will not be allowed to register for any Education and/or Reading course until the ‘T’ is removed. This includes the courses listed as concurrent enrollment with EDU 2100  and EDU 2341 .

Students who are dropped from EDU 2100  for non-attendance may remain in other EDU and RDG courses but will receive a grade of “T”. If students are in good standing, they can re-register to take EDU 2100 . Upon successful completion of EDU 2100  requirements, all affected Education and Reading grades will be changed to the grade earned.

Students must pass EDU 2100  and EDU 2341  with a grade of C or better before taking any Education or Reading courses that require Teacher Education Program admission. (refer to the Admissions to the Teachers Education Program section listed above.)

‘T’ grades apply to all Education or Reading courses until Teacher Education Program admission requirements are met.