Bachelor of Arts in English (7-12 Teacher Certification)
Website: https://twu.edu/english-rhetoric-spanish/undergraduate-program/
The Teacher Certification track provides students with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed as leaders of their own secondary education classrooms. Students take courses in American, British, and World literature, as well as courses in specific genres and diverse perspectives. The curriculum also includes advanced writing courses to prepare future teachers for offering instruction in a multimodal world. In addition to the Education minor that students take, courses on this track provide coverage of the content covered in 7-12 ELAR classes; they also provide opportunities to learn about and develop best practices for literature and writing instruction. While some courses for this program may be taken online, it is not an online degree.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
Degree Skills
- Communicate effectively to diverse audiences using a range of media and technology.
- Organize, synthesize, and evaluate the credibility of information, such as, but not limited to, a range of academic and non-academic sources, and use this knowledge to make ethical decisions.
- Use effective research strategies to inform argument-driven projects.
Teacher Certification Skills
- Appropriately explain the impact of effective planning and communication (within the chosen area of concentration) to relevant internal and external stakeholders in an education or community setting.
- Identify, select, and implement entry-level instructional plans when serving as an instructor in the school setting.
- Successfully manage organizational and student behavior when teaching in the school setting.
- Efficiently and accurately assess student progress and use data to develop and modify instruction for K-12 students.
- Work effectively and collaboratively with students and families from diverse backgrounds.
Admissions
Teacher Certification
Application Deadlines
There are three application periods per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Students must have their applications in by the deadline the semester before they intend to take ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only). (see schedule below).
Spring Application Deadlines* (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Summer)
- May 1 - Deadline to apply for Summer admission
- May 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement
Summer Application Deadlines (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Fall)
- July 1 - Deadline to apply for Fall admission
- July 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement
Fall Application Deadlines* (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Spring)
- December 1 - Deadline to apply for Spring admission
- December 21 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement
Guidelines
Please adhere to the following guidelines:
- We recommend preparing your application well in advance of the deadline. That way you will be able to identify and resolve any potential issues before the deadline date.
- If you intend to register early for ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only) for the Summer or Fall semesters and have met all admission requirements, it is recommended that you apply to the EPP by December 1.
- If you apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program while enrolled in EDUC 2003 or are taking coursework to increase your GPA to a 2.75, the Office of Educator Preparation Services will process your application. If the GPA requirement, along with all other admission requirements are met at the end of the semester, an admission decision will be made at that time.
- No late applications will be accepted. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or a day that TWU is closed, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on the next day that TWU is open after the deadline day.
Requirements
In addition to the general undergraduate admissions requirements, to obtain acceptance into the undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (and prior to taking ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113, EDUC 4243, READ 4223 (EC-3 only), and Clinical Student Teaching) students must have:
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 (includes all courses, whether posted to TWU transcript or used on a degree plan. Excludes developmental and repeated courses);
-
Demonstrated basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics by meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative;
-
A minimum of 12 to 15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought;
-
Completed EDUC 2003 with a C or higher;
- Completed department application for admission to the Educator Preparation Program in Tk20;
-
Completed the Digital Literacy Pre-assessment;
-
Submitted a non-refundable Texas Education Agency Fee;
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Completed a Commitment Contract acknowledging awareness and understanding of the Professional Dispositions Policy and Educators’ Code of Ethics;
-
Successfully completed a pre-admission departmental interview with an interview panel; and
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Acknowledged and accepted admission to the Educator Preparation Program.
Please note:
- All accepted students must maintain the admission requirements to remain in the TWU Education Preparation Program.
- Admission requirements are determined by Texas Education Agency policies and are subject to change without notice.
- Students seeking Bilingual certification must meet minimum proficiency in Spanish.
- Students seeking Deaf/Hard of Hearing certification must meet minimum proficiency in sign.
All admission decisions are based on the successful completion of the above requirements. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation may affect certification. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Texas Education Agency. Any previous or current issues of academic dishonesty, disruptive behavior, or professional dispositions infractions at TWU, another university, or another Educator Preparation Program may result in denial of admission. Any decision may be appealed by contacting the Office of Educator Preparation Services at 940-898-2829.
Contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services (OEPS) at copeadvising@twu.edu or 940-898-2829 with any questions.
Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Requirements
- Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(1)]
- Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(2)]
- The potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(1)]
- The right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation from TEA. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(3)]
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 125
Major: 42 SCH Minor required: 26 SCH
Program Code: ENGLISH.BA.EDUC; CIP Code: 23.0101.00
English Majors on the Teacher Certification Track must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses in the major (except ENG 3203, in which a B or better is required) and maintain an average GPA of 3.0 in the major. Students who do not meet these standards must earn at least a 3.0 in the subsequent semester of enrollment and return to a 3.0 GPA within one year. If this requirement is not met, the student will be removed from the Teacher Certification track and transitioned to another track in the English Major.
Texas Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| English Core (for all tracks) | ||
| ENG 3113 | Introduction to English Studies | 3 |
| ENG 3033 | Introduction to the Study of World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 3203 | Advanced Grammar and Composition (Requires a grade of "B" or better for certification majors.) | 3 |
| Genre Studies (Select two of the following) | 6 | |
| Drama | ||
| Fiction | ||
| Poetry | ||
| Film and Literature | ||
| Genre Studies | ||
| Linguistics | 3 | |
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| Teacher Certification Track Requirements | ||
| ENG 3233 | Advanced Expository Writing | 3 |
| ENG 4363 | Digital Rhetoric | 3 |
| ENG 4483 | Methods of Teaching English (Must be taken in Spring Semester of the Junior year) | 3 |
| Surveys | ||
| ENG 3013 | British Literature to 1760 | 3 |
| ENG 3023 | British Literature from 1760 to Present | 3 |
| ENG 3283 | American Literature: Colonial through Romantic | 3 |
| ENG 3293 | American Literature: Realism to the Present | 3 |
| Diverse Perspectives (Select one of the following) | 3 | |
| Mythology | ||
| Literature by Women | ||
| Multicultural Literature | ||
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Languages Other Than English (LOTE): at least four courses. Options: 12 SCH in one LOTE, 6 SCH/6 SCH in two LOTEs (including ASL), or 9 SCH in one spoken LOTE/3 SCH in ASL. | 12 | |
| SPCH 1013 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| English Exit Portfolio. All students pursuing a B.A. in English will submit an exit portfolio and portfolio self-assessment during their last semester of course work. This is a degree requirement that students must complete in order to graduate. | ||
| Total SCHs | 15 | |
Professional Education Studies
Admission to the Educator Preparation Program is required. Students must apply for admission into the Educator Preparation Program prior to enrolling in EDUC 3003/EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113/EDUC 4243, and EDUC 4946. Information is available from the Office of Educator Preparation Services.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Pedagogical and Professional Responsibility | ||
| EDUC 2003 | Schools and Society | 3 |
| EDUC 3003 | Learning Theory and Development | 3 |
| EDUC 3482 | Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration | 2 |
| EDUC 4113 | Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment | 3 |
| EDUC 4243 | Classroom Environment and Management | 3 |
| EDUC 4946 | Clinical Student Teaching | 6 |
| Related Studies in Education | ||
| READ 3013 | Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum | 3 |
| EDSP 3203 | Learners with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 26 | |
Notes:
- EDUC 2003 may be taken at a community college. Check with the Office of Educator Preparation Services to make sure the course has the equivalent number.
- EDUC 4113 and EDUC 4243 must be taken during the same semester.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| SPCH 1013 | Oral Communication | SPCH 1311 | 3 |
| Life/Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| Multi-Cultural Women's Studies Core | 3 | ||
| Life/Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ENG 3113 | Introduction to English Studies | 3 | |
| Foreign Language I | 3 | ||
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| ENG 3203 | Advanced Grammar and Composition | 3 | |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| Wellnes CAO Core | 2 | ||
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| Foreign Language II | 3 | ||
| ENG 3363 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 | |
| Genre Course (Select 3 SCH) | 3 | ||
| Drama | |||
| Fiction | |||
| Poetry | |||
| Film and Literature | |||
| ENG 3293 | American Literature: Realism to the Present | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| EDUC 2003 | Schools and Society | EDUC 1301 | 3 |
| SCHs | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| EDUC 3482 | Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration | 2 | |
| EDUC 3003 | Learning Theory and Development | 3 | |
| Foreign Language III | 3 | ||
| ENG 3013 | British Literature to 1760 | 3 | |
| ENG 3153 or 3073 | Multicultural Literature or Literature by Women | 3 | |
| Genre Course (Select 3 SCH) | 3 | ||
| Drama | |||
| Fiction | |||
| Poetry | |||
| Film and Literature | |||
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| Foreign Language IV | 3 | ||
| EDUC 4113 | Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment | 3 | |
| EDUC 4243 | Classroom Environment and Management | 3 | |
| ENG 3033 | Introduction to the Study of World Literature | 3 | |
| ENG 4483 | Methods of Teaching English | 3 | |
| READ 3013 | Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum | 3 | |
| SCHs | 18 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| EDSP 3203 | Learners with Exceptionalities | 3 | |
| ENG 3023 | British Literature from 1760 to Present | 3 | |
| ENG 3283 | American Literature: Colonial through Romantic | 3 | |
| ENG 3233 | Advanced Expository Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 4363 | Digital Rhetoric | 3 | |
| SCHs | 18 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| EDUC 4946 | Clinical Student Teaching | 6 | |
| SCHs | 6 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 125 | ||
