2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Teaching and Learning
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www.smu.edu/teacher
Professor Ken Springer, Department Chair
Professors: Jill Allor, Stephanie Al Otaiba, Paige Ware, Paul Yovanoff
Associate Professor: Ken Springer
Assistant Professors: Doris Baker, Karla del Rosal, Diego Roman, Amy Gillespie Rouse, Candace Walkington, Anne Wilhelm
Clinical Professors: Anthony Cuevas, Abigail Pruitt
Clinical Associate Professors: Ann Batenburg, Nancy Montgomery, Dara Rossi
Clinical Assistant Professors: Sherril English, Amy Ferrell, Diane Gifford, Johnitha Johnson, Francesca Jones, Jan Mallet, Robert Rouse
Professor of Practice: Nancy Roberts
Research Associate Professor: Beverly Weiser
Research Assistant Professor: Brenna Rivas
Adjunct Faculty: Karen Vickery
Home to undergraduate, postbaccalaureate and graduate programs for both aspiring and practicing educators, the Department of Teaching and Learning offers students a comprehensive curriculum of theory, research, cross-disciplinary studies and practica. The department’s teaching and research practices are grounded in multiple perspectives that encompass behaviorist, cognitive, social constructivist and sociocultural approaches to scholarship. All programs serve to prepare educators who are scholars and leaders in professionalism, committed to high-quality teaching and practice, leaders in translating research into practice and experts in differentiated instruction.
The Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies degree program assists students in obtaining credentials for teaching in elementary, secondary or all-level (EC through grade 12) settings. At the graduate level, a student may pursue an M.Ed., an M.Ed. with a concentration in certification, a Master of Bilingual Education, an M.Ed. with a concentration in reading and writing, an M.Ed. in special education, or a Master of Music in music education, as well as other credentials in areas such as gifted education, special education, reading, mathematics, bilingual education, English as a second language and learning therapy.
Further information regarding SMU’s teacher preparation opportunities is available from the Department of Teaching and Learning, Southern Methodist University, 6401 Airline Road, Harold Hall, PO Box 750455, Dallas TX 75275-0455; phone 214-768-2346; www.smu.edu/teacher.
Field Experience and Student Teaching. The Educator Preparation Program includes extensive field experience to help students prepare for careers in teaching. A personal/criminal background check is required prior to field experience. The student progresses from observational activities in classrooms to practice teaching. Upon completion of all coursework in the Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies degree, students have the opportunity to student teach and/or apply for an internship. The student assumes responsibility for an entire classroom in a carefully managed student-teaching experience. SMU students receive mentoring from faculty members noted for their exceptional records as both master teachers and scholars. Exemplary teachers from inner city to suburban settings also act as mentors during the field experience. Part of the field experience comes in the form of either a one-term student-teaching experience or a two-term internship. During the one-term experience, students work with an experienced teacher full-time for 15 weeks in an assigned classroom in a pre-approved Dallas-area public, private or charter school. During this student-teaching term, the student-teaching experience, which is six credit hours, is regarded as full-time enrollment status at SMU for insurance purposes. Students receiving financial aid should meet with financial aid counselors in advance of the student-teaching term to determine aid status. Student teaching ensures that graduates of the SMU teacher education program are better able to enter the teaching profession ready to meet the dynamic learning needs of today’s youth.
Eligibility for Student Teaching. Before being assigned to student teaching, candidates are reviewed by the faculty to determine whether adequate progress has been made in order to assume responsibility for school-age students. Such factors as academic performance, maturity and a demonstrated sense of responsibility are considered. Students must have a 3.000 GPA in all education courses before beginning student teaching, and all qualifier exams and state tests must be passed prior to the student-teaching/internship experience.
Eligibility for Internship. Students deemed by the director of the undergraduate program to be eligible for a first-year teaching position may forego student teaching to seek an internship in an accredited school in the state of Texas. As an intern, students are enrolled in three credit hours of classes each term for the academic year and work under the supervision of an SMU instructor. As required by the Texas Education Agency, the principal will assign a mentor to work with the intern at the school level. The SMU supervisor will conduct six formal observations during the year and complete a midyear conference and an effectiveness evaluation at the end of the school year. The mentor is involved in this process.
TExES Exam. All students seeking teacher credentials are required to take and pass the two state-mandated Texas Examinations of Educator Standards tests in the desired teaching fields. Students must attend preparation debriefs and participate in an online preparation module. When a student does not pass the TExES qualifier, a faculty mentor will develop an individual plan of supplemental study to complement a retake of the TExES qualifier. The two TExES tests for grades EC through six include the EC–12 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Test and the EC through grade six Core Subjects Test. Students preparing for teaching in fourth through eighth grade middle schools must pass the EC–12 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Test and the fourth through eighth grade Core Subjects Test. Students preparing for teaching in high schools must pass the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Test for grades EC–12 and a TExES test in their content area. Music students must pass the music content test and the EC–12 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibility Test.
Recommendation to the Texas Education Agency. The Department of Teaching and Learning will recommend to TEA a student who has completed both the Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies and another degree major, taken six hours of a satisfactory student-teaching or internship experience, and passed the two Texas Examinations of Educator Standards tests.
Bachelor’s Degree. Before applying to the Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies degree program, students must declare a primary grade level/teaching field and complete at least 12 credit hours in their teaching field. After meeting the requirements below, students who wish to be admitted to the program must first meet with an education adviser.
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Required Before Applying for Admission
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Credit Hours |
| Education Courses |
6 |
| EDU 2350 , EDU 5327 |
| Desired Teaching Grade Level |
18 |
| EC–6th Grade or 4th–8th Grade: At least 3 hours in each of the following fields, with no grade lower than a C (2.000): English, math, social studies, and science |
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7th–12th Grade: At least 12 hours in the student’s teaching field, with no grade lower than a C (2.000)
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24 |
Educator Preparation Program. After completing at least 42 credit hours, educational studies students can apply for the Educator Preparation Program. At least a 3.000 cumulative GPA is required for admission. Students must submit a transcript, an essay, a letter of recommendation and appropriate standardized test results. In addition, students must interview with an adviser, complete a background check, complete the State of Texas Character and Dispositions Statement, and submit a signed copy of the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators.
ProgramsMajor(s)Minor(s)CoursesEducation
| Early Childhood–Grade 6 |
EDU 2350 , 5121–23, 5318, 5327, 5331, 5333, 5349, 5355, 5357–58, 5363–64, 5385–86 |
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Middle (Grades 4–8) and High School (Grades 7–12)
Courses and Certification Areas
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EDU 2350 , 5124–26, 5318, 5327, EDU 5327 , 5348–49, 5367, 5371, 5373–76 |
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Elective Education Courses
(These courses are not required by the state for teacher certification.)
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EDU 2355 , 3301 |
Education Policy and Leadership
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