Bachelor of Science in Education (4-8 Core Subjects with Special Education)
Website: https://twu.edu/teacher-education/undergraduate-programs/
The Bachelor of Science with a major in Education leads to careers as engaged, prepared, and professional educators. Students completing this degree take courses across multiple disciplines to prepare for educational careers in a variety of settings, depending on the specific degree selected. The undergraduate program requires a minimum of 120 semester hours. The specific number of hours required is determined by the degree plan selected (i.e., grade level, additional specializations).
4-8 Core Subjects with Special Education
Students selecting this degree plan will take courses to prepare them to be educators who can teach math, science, social studies and/or English language arts in fourth through eighth-grade classrooms, as well as self-contained in grades 4-8, along with specialized coursework to prepare them for teaching students with disabilities.
Undergraduate Student Advising
College of Professional Education undergraduate students seeking a Bachelor of Science with a major in Education receive academic advising from the Office of Educator Preparation Services (OEPS). The OEPS provides advising in creating and following academic plans and supports students in their pursuit of academic success. Students should schedule regular appointments with an OEPS advisor (Stoddard Hall, Room 211) to create or edit a degree plan, to receive current information regarding specific degree or certification requirements, or to receive academic guidance and help. Because OEPS advising is by appointment only, appointment times fill quickly and students are encouraged to schedule advising appointments at least two weeks in advance. See the Office of Educator Preparation Services website for additional degree and other OEPS information.
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."
- 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.
- (For those students seeking initial educator certification) Identify, select, and implement entry-level instructional plans when serving as an instructor in the school setting.
- (For those students seeking initial educator certification) Successfully manage organizational and student behavior when teaching in the school setting.
- (For those students seeking initial educator certification) Efficiently and accurately assess student progress and use data to develop and modify instruction for K-12 students.
- (For those students seeking initial educator certification) 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;
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Completed EDUC 2003 with a C or higher;
- Completed department application for admission to the Educator Preparation Program in Tk20;
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Completed the Digital Literacy Pre-assessment;
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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;
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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): 122
Major: 80 SCH
Program Code: EDUCATION.BS.4-8SPE CIP Code: 13.0101.00
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | ||
| EDSP 3203 | Learners with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDSP 4243 | Assessment of Students with Learning and Behavioral Difficulties | 3 |
| EDSP 4253 | Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| EDSP 4263 | Behavior Management Strategies for Student with Disabilities | 3 |
| English | ||
| ENG 3203 | Advanced Grammar and Composition | 3 |
| Reading | ||
| READ 3423 | Literacy Foundations: 4-8 | 3 |
| READ 3463 | Strategic Learning through Text | 3 |
| READ 4383 | Phonological and Orthographic Principles in Literacy | 3 |
| READ 4413 | Integrated Language Arts for Grades 4-8 | 3 |
| READ 4563 | Reading Assessment and Instruction: Grades 4-8 | 3 |
| Science | ||
| BIOL 4593 | Science in the Secondary Classroom | 3 |
| Science (Life Science or Physical Science) | 3 | |
| Math | ||
| MATH 1523 | Mathematics Concepts I | 3 |
| MATH 1533 | Mathematics Concepts II | 3 |
| MATH 4003 | Mathematical Concepts in the Educational Setting | 3 |
| Social Studies | ||
| HIST 2013 | Survey of World Civilization to 1715 | 3 |
| or HIST 2023 | Survey of World Civilization Since 1715 | |
| HIST 2713 | History of Texas | 3 |
| SOCI 3273 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| Related Studies | ||
| LS 3013 | Library Materials for Children | 3 |
| HDFS 3513 | Childhood and Adolescence | 3 |
| Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities | ||
| 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 |
| Total SCHs | 80 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Global Perspectives (may be applied from core) | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 3 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| MATH 1303 | College Algebra | MATH 1314 | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| Life & Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core | 3 | ||
| Life & Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| Wellness CAO Core | 2 | ||
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| HIST 2713 | History of Texas | HIST 2301 | 3 |
| MATH 1533 | Mathematics Concepts II | MATH 1351 | 3 |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core | 3 | ||
| Science (Life Science or Physical Science) | 3 | ||
| Social/Behavioral Science Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 18 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| LS 3013 | Library Materials for Children | 3 | |
| EDSP 3203 | Learners with Exceptionalities | 3 | |
| EDUC 2003 | Schools and Society | EDUC 1301 | 3 |
| HDFS 3513 | Childhood and Adolescence | 3 | |
| MATH 1523 | Mathematics Concepts I | MATH 1350 | 3 |
| MATH 4003 | Mathematical Concepts in the Educational Setting | 3 | |
| SCHs | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| BIOL 4593 | Science in the Secondary Classroom | 3 | |
| ENG 3203 | Advanced Grammar and Composition | 3 | |
| HIST 2013 or 2023 | Survey of World Civilization to 1715 or Survey of World Civilization Since 1715 | HIST 2321 or HIST 2322 | 3 |
| READ 3423 | Literacy Foundations: 4-8 | 3 | |
| SOCI 3273 | World Regional Geography | 3 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| EDUC 3003 | Learning Theory and Development | 3 | |
| EDUC 3482 | Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration | 2 | |
| EDSP 4243 | Assessment of Students with Learning and Behavioral Difficulties | 3 | |
| READ 4383 | Phonological and Orthographic Principles in Literacy | 3 | |
| READ 3463 | Strategic Learning through Text | 3 | |
| READ 4563 | Reading Assessment and Instruction: Grades 4-8 | 3 | |
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| EDSP 4253 | Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 | |
| EDSP 4263 | Behavior Management Strategies for Student with Disabilities | 3 | |
| EDUC 4113 | Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment | 3 | |
| EDUC 4243 | Classroom Environment and Management | 3 | |
| READ 4413 | Integrated Language Arts for Grades 4-8 | 3 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| EDUC 4946 | Clinical Student Teaching | 6 | |
| SCHs | 6 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 122 | ||
