B.A./B.S. Teacher Certification, General Information

The major in Interdisciplinary Studies in Elementary Education offers two levels of certification

  • The Early Childhood Level EC-6th Grade, options are:
    EC-6 Core Subjects (Includes courses to support ESL)
    EC-6 Bilingual (Spanish)
    EC-6 Special Education
  • The Middle Level 4th - 8th Grade, options are:
    4-8 Math
    4-8 Science
    4-8 Math/Science
    4-8 English/Language Arts/Reading
    4-8 Science with English as a Second Language (ESL)
    4-8 Math with English as a Second Language (ESL)
    4-8 English/Language Arts/Reading with English as a Second Language (ESL)
    4-8 Social Studies (See History Department Advisor)
  • If you are a current Educational Aide, see your Academic Advisor
  • Students seeking a BAIS will be required to take 12 hours of a Foreign Language.

  • Professional Education and Support Courses

    Professional education is that component in the program which provides the preservice teacher with:

  • Generic teaching skills required to plan, deliver, and evaluate teaching;
  • Organization and management skills needed for large group, small group, and individual instruction
  • Methods for teaching specific subjects in the elementary curriculum; and
  • Field experiences to practice the theories and methods learned at the university and in public school classrooms.

Benchmark One: Academic Advising (TSI/Course Completion Check/GPA)

  1. Completion of a minimum of 45 semester credit hours of college coursework; COEHS Mentor Center provides course completion check.
  2. Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements met
  3. Overall GPA of 2.5 is a prerequisite to ELED 300 and RDG 350
  4. Contact the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in Sowers Education South for advising.
  5. Degree Evaluation in My Leo (Degree Works) indicates courses and requirements still to be met throughout the students program.

Benchmark Two: ADMISSION TO EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM

Students will begin the admission screening during the ELED 300 semester with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

  • Students apply through TK20 for admissions to the Teacher Education Program.  A Texas Education Agency assessment fee is applied at time of application.
  • Students enrolled in ELED 300 will complete the application, which includes a teaching disposition survey. Students will upload the survey report to the program admissions application for review by an assigned faculty member.
  • Overall GPA of 2.65, TSI complete, and 12 hours in major coursework (15 hours for Math and Science majors).

The results of the admission screening are recorded on the Teacher Education Admission Interview Form within the TK 20 system.

Benchmark Three:  Complete the coursework and benchmarks required in the junior year prior to beginning internship placement:

All requirements for Admission to Professional Development Coursework must continue to be met and an official degree plan declared.

  • Completion of a minimum of 80 semester credit hours of college coursework
  • The ESL Supplemental exam can be taken once students pass all initial teacher certification exams. Information on obtaining authorization to take the exam is provided by the Center Coordinators.
  • Bilingual Generalist candidates meeting all requirements will be granted approval to take the BTLPT and Bilingual Supplemental by the bilingual advisor.
  • Completion of all Professional Development, Interdisciplinary Core and Specialization courses that are required before Internship on Degree Evaluation.  An overall GPA of 2.75 is required with no grade below “C” in each of these areas
  • Students enrolled in RDG 370 or RDG 380 and meeting requirements determined by the Curriculum and Instruction Department will be granted approval to take the PPR.
  • EFE Observation 30 hours, lacking no more than 4 hours

Benchmark Four:  Complete the coursework and benchmarks required in the junior year prior to beginning internship placement:

All requirements for Admission to Professional Development Coursework must continue to be met and an official degree plan declared.

  • Completion of a minimum of 80 hours of college coursework met (Senior status)
  • EFE hours documented inTk20 -  (ELED 300/RDG 350)
  • C or better in English 1301 or 1302, College Algebra or (appropriate test score) 
  • GPA of 2.75 & Grade no lower than “C” in each:
    • Interdisciplinary Core, Concentration/Specialization, and Professional Development Courses
  • Lacking no more than four hours – in addition to Internship

 Based on Departmental Requirements Met

  • BLED 412:  approval to take ESL Supplemental Exam
  • Bilingual Generalist:  approval to take BTLPT and Bilingual Supplemental
  • Before participating in the field based interview sessions with ISDs, intern applicants are required to attend a general orientation (Face to face or possibly online) in which the department and certification office representatives review requirements, provide information about district interviews, and answer questions or address concerns.   Sign in sheets will be at each location and submitted to the Curriculum and Instruction Department for documentation.            

Attendance at one of the orientations is mandatory!

  • Intern/Residency applicants will be required to view and confirm the Field Based Orientation before the field based interview sessions with the ISD’s.

Benchmark Five:  Successful Interview and Field Based

  • Prospective interns are required to attend an interview session with partner school districts organized by a field-based center.
  • District interviews are held in fall for spring placement and spring for fall placement for NET CPDT Centers. An interview schedule will be posted on the application website. The purpose of this interview session is to provide prospective interns with information about the various ISDs and to provide an opportunity for ISD personnel (often a team of the principal and Mentor/Cooperating teachers), to identify prospective interns with whom they would like to work.

Benchmark Six: First Semester of Senior Year- (Internship)

  • Interns must pass the Core Subjects/Content (for 4-8) prior to beginning the clinical teaching semester.
  • Interns that are not successful passing the Core Subjects or Content exam prior to the beginning of their clinical teaching semester will be required to sit out (unable to take residency course work and be in the field) one consecutive full semester.  The intern will be able to remain a teacher candidate in the program during this time period and will not have to appeal to TEARAC.  An Intern who is not successful on the Core Subjects and/or Content exam after this time period will be deemed out of the Education Preparation Program and will be required to appeal to TEARAC for readmission.

Benchmark Seven: Residency/Official Student Teaching

  1. Student must be enrolled in appropriate residency coursework
  2. Student must successfully complete residency coursework with a “C” or better and continue to meet all previous Benchmarks.
  3. Students should take any remaining TExES exams needed for their level or subject areas of certification. Student must follow the certification exam authorization process to gain approval for registering for exams. Information about the approval process is provided by the Center Coordinators.

Retention

To be retained in the teacher education program, a student must continue to meet all admission standards. A student may be dismissed from the teacher education program following a review of the student’s admission status. This review can be requested by either TAMU-Commerce or public school personnel. A student may be withdrawn from internship or residency upon recommendation of the student’s field based instructional leadership team (ILT). This withdrawal from internship or residency will result in the student no longer being retained in the teacher education program.

Certification

After completion of all degree and/or certification requirements, students may visit http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/colleges/educationHumanServices/educatorCertificationAcademicServices/alternativecertification/filing-for-certification/default.aspx to file for certification. Before the State Board for Educator Certification issues a certificate, a criminal history background check will be conducted and can result  in the denial of certification to those persons with felony or misdemeanor convictions.

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