Education, M.Ed., (Educator Preparation)

General Information

www.smu.edu/MEd

www.smu.edu/MasterEdCert

The M.Ed. in educator preparation allows individuals with baccalaureate degrees to earn a master’s degree while completing teacher certification requirements in early childhood through grade six, middle school or high school. Core courses expand participants’ understandings of the psychological, social and cultural contexts of education. Individuals are admitted to the program as part of a cohort group; a new cohort begins each summer. Students must complete 36 hours of graduate study.

In Texas, individuals are certified to teach by the State Board for Educator Certification by passing two examinations: one that focuses on content/pedagogy and one that focuses on pedagogy and professional responsibilities. Together, the content exam and PPR exam are called the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards. For early childhood through grade six certification, the content test is the EC–6 Core Subjects Examination along with the Science of Teaching Reading; for certification in grades four through eight, the test is the 4–8 Core Subjects Examination and the Science of Teaching Reading.

Students seeking certification in EC through grade six or grades four through eight must take a minimum of 24 credit hours (six hours in each of English, math, science and social studies), all with a grade no lower than C (2.000 out of 4.000) according to the State Board for Educator Certification. All candidates for high school (grades seven through 12) certification must complete at least 24 credit hours in the subject they want to teach with at least half of those credits in upper-division courses. In all certification areas, there can be no final grade lower than a C (2.000) in any content course.

Once an individual has completed certification coursework, completed clinical student teaching or an internship, and passed the appropriate examinations, she or he submits fingerprints, passes a criminal background check and is awarded a standard teaching certificate by SBEC. General information about teacher certification in Texas is available from the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

Admission Requirements

Before enrolling in the M.Ed. Educator Preparation program, all students must provide the following:

1. An official sealed transcript of academic work that reflects a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.000 overall GPA. Transcripts from countries outside the U.S. must be accompanied by an official evaluation of the transcript by an SMU-recognized evaluation agency. No copies will be accepted. Applicants not meeting the 3.000 GPA requirement must request an exemption in writing and provide proof of other qualifications, such as long-term experience or expertise in a related specialized field, as a justification for admission.
2. For applicants from countries where the predominant language is not English, or prior coursework was not delivered in English, official scores (earned within the previous five years) on the TOEFL English language proficiency test administered by the Educational Testing Service or the IELTS English competency test. The minimum TOEFL score for admission is 550 on a pencil-and-paper test or 92 on the Internet-based test. The IELTS minimum score is 6.5. Students pursuing a Masters of Education with Educator Preparation must have a minimum TOEFL (IBT) score of 92 with a minimum score of 26 on the speaking portion of the TOEFL exam. International students pursuing the Master of Education with Educator Preparation must have a minimum TOEFL (IBT) score of 92 with a minimum score of 26 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing. A TOEFL or IELTS waiver may be granted on the basis of 1) the student applicant has lived and worked full time in the US or another country where English is the official language for at least 3 of the past 5 years; or 2) the applicant holds an undergraduate and/or prior graduate degree from a college or university where English is the official language of instruction.
3. As evidence of financial support, international students (who are not receiving scholarships) must provide a Certification of Finance Form/Letter of Financial Backing that testifies that sufficient money will be available to the applicant to cover all expenses while at the University. This letter may be signed by a parent or sponsor but must be certified by a bank. The document must be notarized and on file before the process for visas and passport can proceed.
4. A completed application and a $40 nonrefundable application fee payable to SMU: Department of Teaching and Learning.
5. Letters of recommendation and written essays may be required for admission to particular programs of study. Visit the Teaching and Learning website at www.smu.edu/teacher for specific admission requirements.