Education, M.Ed., (Educator Preparation)

General Information

www.smu.edu/MEd

www.smu.edu/MasterEdCert

The M.Ed. in teacher 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 (SBEC) after completing an approved educator preparation program. Teacher candidates are to pass exams called the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards. Depending on the certificate content area, two or more examinations are taken. Content exams focus on content and pedagogy. The Science of Teaching Reading Examination is required for early childhood (EC) through grade six certification and for English Language Arts and Readings grades four through eight certification. The Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 exam is required for all teacher certificates. For students applying for the teacher preparation program pursuing EC through grade six or grades four through eight, they preferably have a minimum of 24 credit hours (preferably 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, field-based experience, clinical student teaching or internship, passed the appropriate examinations, submitted fingerprints, and passed a criminal background check, they are awarded a Standard Educator 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, the TOEFL (iBT) English language proficiency test is required. TOEFL minimum scores are 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing. The TOEFL test is waived if the applicant earned an undergraduate 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.