Education Pathway Guide

Preparation for Transfer as an Educational Studies Major

The following sequences are suggested courses to take in your semesters prior to transferring to SMU as an educational studies major.  For students attending a Texas public community college or university, Texas Common Course Numbers (TCCNS) are listed.  If you are transferring from a college or university outside of Texas, click on the SMU course for a course description which may be used to select/compare courses at your current institution.

UC listings refer to SMU’s University Curriculum, which all undergraduates are required to complete. Refer to the University Curriculum Transfer Guide for a list of courses satisfying UC components. Interactive equivalency guides organized by transfer institution are available on the Transfer and Transition Services’ website.

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Because the education courses for the major are mostly taught at the 5000 level, lower-level education courses will not transfer. An exception is Introduction to Psychology, which can substitute for EDU 2350 - Educational Psychology .

Educational Studies

Educational Studies  majors focus on the preparation of highly-qualified teachers to meet the ever-increasing demand in public and private schools.  Outside evaluators, including the Texas Education Agency and the National Council on Teacher Quality, have validated the high academic quality of SMU’s teacher education programs, and departmental faculty are committed to regularly revising courses based on new research and best practices.

The Teaching and Learning Department  at SMU is part of Simmons School of Education and Human Development .  The department offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate studies in education.  Our tenured and clinical faculty members are engaged in academic research in a variety of fields.  The content of the courses are research based and applicable to the challenges of today’s classrooms.

The Teaching and Learning Community

Educational Studies majors are involved outside of the classroom as well.  The faculty supports student projects, such as Engaged Learning, and provides opportunities for students to participate in tutoring programs through our community enrichment partnership with The Budd Center and with faculty conducting research. 

Educational Studies Field Experiences

The Department of Teaching and Learning  requires students to complete at least three field experience courses in preparation for a successful transition into classroom teaching.  These classes are in public schools in Dallas area school districts.  Educational Studies students will experience opportunities to interact with students and teachers in various grade levels from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.  Students are supervised by SMU clinical faculty.

Majoring in Educational Studies

The Department of Teaching and Learning offers the Educational Studies Major as a second major with four degree plans: 

• Educational Studies Early Childhood (EC) - 6th Grade  
• Educational Studies 4th-8th Grades   
• Educational Studies 7th-12th Grades   
• Educational Studies Kindergarten – 12th Grades   

Degree requirements include 30-33 credit hours in education courses as well as additional content-specific courses.

Educational Studies majors EC-6 and 4-8 grades concentrate on core subjects, such as Science, Social Studies, Math, and English language arts, in addition to EC-6 fine arts.

Minoring in Educational Studies

The Minor in Educational Studies  requires 15 total credit hours.  These hours may be applied to the degree program if the student decides to pursue the Educator Preparation Program. 

Approved Teaching Fields

Educational Studies 7-12 and K-12 concentrate on an approved specific teaching field:

• 7 - 12: Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Dance, English Language Arts and Reading, History, Journalism, Life Science, Mathematics, Physics/Mathematics or Physical Science
• K - 12: Art, German, French, Music, Spanish or Theatre

Admission to Educational Studies

Once students have declared a primary major and completed 12 credit hours of content classes, they may declare an Educational Studies major.  This application includes a background check, test scores from SAT, ACT, or THEA, and a cumulative GPA of 2.5.  Grades in content classes must be a C (2.0) or better. As soon as students have earned at least 45 credit hours, they may apply for the Educator Preparation Program which coordinates with the Texas Education Agency requirements for Texas teacher certification. 

Preparing for a Smooth Transition

Following are a few important points to remember for a smooth transfer:

• The second language requirement of the University Curriculum  may be satisfied by 1) transferring two terms of college courses in the same world language, 2) placing out of four terms of world language by taking an SMU placement test or through AP or IB credit, or 3) being literate in a native language other than English.
• SMU accepts AP scores of 4 or 5.
• Work on the University Curriculum  prior to transfer is suggested.
• Because the Teaching and Learning Department courses are advanced level (5000), lower level education courses will not transfer.  It is recommended that transfer students concentrate on completing University Curriculum and content requirements prior to transfer instead.  
• Compare Course Descriptions  found in SMU’s University Catalog to course descriptions at your current institution to maximize transfer credits awarded.
• For additional information on the Education major, visit our department homepage or call 214-768-2346
• For more information about transferring to SMU, click here or call 214-768-3417.

SMU Degrees

A degree from SMU is typically comprised of:

• Courses in your primary and/or secondary major
• Courses required for the University Curriculum (UC)  
• Elective courses

The University Curriculum (UC)

The University Curriculum is required of all undergraduate students and consists of three main components: 

1. Foundations - 6 hours of Discernment and Discourse courses, 3 hours of Quantitative Foundation courses, 2 hours of Personal Responsibility and Wellness courses, proficiency in a second language and 3 hours of a Ways of Knowing course (offered only at SMU)
2. Breadth and Depth - 7 Breadth and 3 Depth courses which may double count with majors and minors
3. Proficiencies and Experiences - 6 Proficiencies and Experiences requirements, met through Breadth and Depth coursework or approved, noncredit activities.

Apply Now!

Click here for more information about transferring to SMU.