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Programs listed in this bulletin reflect current State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) standards. Minor changes may be made in these programs to meet additional certification standard adopted by SBEC.
The Title II report to the U.S. Department of Education that
documents the effectiveness of the graduates of the teacher certification programs
at TCU was not completed at the time this catalog was printed.
Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Note: Declaration of a major in Education is not synonymous with admission
to the Teacher Education Program.
Students who plan to major in education or who plan to earn a teaching certificate
must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program of the University.
To be eligible to apply for admission students must meet, or will meet
during the semester in which they apply, the following requirements:
Score levels that must be met on one of the tests of basic skills to qualify
for admission to the Teacher Education Program
| TASP | SAT | ACT |
| Reading - 245* | Composite - 1070 | Composite - 23 |
| Math - 230 | Math - 500 | Math - 19 |
| Writing - 220 | Verbal - 500 | English - 19 |
Retention in the Teacher Education Program requires that a student maintain
the following:
1.Overall grade point (TCU) average of at least 2.5
2.At least a 2.5 grade point average in education courses with a C or better
in each course. Students must repeat any education course or course in the area
of teaching responsibility in which a grade below C is earned.
3.Conduct must be consistent with the National Education Association Code
of Professional Ethics as well as the Standard Practices for Texas Educators.
If a student's behavior is inconsistent with these standards, a range of
sanctions may be imposed. Dismissal from the Teacher Education Program can occur
only by action of the Dean.
Any student unable to maintain the standards required for retention in the Teacher
Education Program will receive written notification. Further enrollment in education
courses may be restricted by the Dean of the School of Education or her/his
designate. The student may re-apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program
when standards are met.
Admission to Student Teaching
Any student who wishes to be considered for admission to student teaching must
have met the following requirements:
1.Completion of at least 90 hours of course work.
2.A minimum overall grade point average (TCU) of 2.5 and a grade point average
of at least 2.5 in education courses and in each area of specialization or teaching
field with no grade lower than a C. A student who makes grades lower than C
in an area of teaching responsibility or in an education course during the semester
immediately preceding student teaching may be permitted to enroll for student
teaching if the student's overall grade point average is at least 2.5.
Although the student may be recommended for graduation, she or he must repeat
the courses with a grade of C or better before being recommended for certification
as a teacher.
3.Completion of at least two-thirds of the course work in each area of specialization
or teaching field.
4.Submit application for student teaching by mid-term of the semester preceding
enrollment in student teaching.
Any exception to these admission and retention standards must be reviewed by
the Advisory Committee and approved by the Dean, School of Education.
Pass/No Credit Option. All education courses to be applied toward the
major in Education or required in conjunction with Teacher Certification may
not be taken on the Pass/No Credit basis.
Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP). All students must pass the Texas
Academic Skills Program (TASP) examination prior to admission to the Teacher
Education Program. The test consists of three sections, reading, writing, and
mathematics, which may be taken together or at separate test administrations.
Students are encouraged to take the TASP as early as possible, preferably during
their freshman year. Copies of the test registration bulletin may be obtained
in the School of Education. Passing scores on this test is a prerequisite to
Admission to Teacher Education Program.
Exceptions to the TASP are a combined score of 1070 or higher with at least
500 on verbal and math on the SAT or 23 on the ACT with English and math part
scores equal to or greater than 19, if taken within 5 years.
Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET). All
Teacher Education Program candidates applying for Texas Certification after
graduation must pass proficiency tests (ExCET) in their fields of certification
or endorsement and must pass a professional development test at the appropriate
level-elementary or secondary.
Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT). All individuals seeking Texas teaching
certification with a major in bilingual education or Spanish or French must
take the TOPT. This test must be taken in addition to the ExCET exams required.
Candidates who attain the TOPT's passing standard of advanced oral proficiency
or higher will be recommended for certification. Candidates who do not meet
the TOPT's passing criteria, but who have met all other course work and
certification requirements, may be recommended for a general elementary certificate
or a single secondary teaching field.
Starpoint and Rise Schools
Starpoint and Rise Schools are laboratory schools for learning disabled students
and preschoolers with developmental delays located on the Texas Christian University
campus. Starpoint provides a quality educational program for a small number
of students with learning disabilities in grades 1-4 and the Rise School serves
young children aged 18 months to six years with Down Syndrome.
The mission of both schools is to serve as on campus training sites for TCU
students preparing to become educators as well as a setting for educational
research opportunities for faculty and staff. Both laboratory schools are members
of the National Association of Laboratory Schools that delineates the functions
of a laboratory school as research, experimentation, clinical teaching experience,
curriculum development and staff development. Both Starpoint and Rise provide
a variety of convenient volunteer, practicum and internship/student teaching
opportunities to TCU students.
Honors Program
Education majors who plan to pursue Departmental honors must be members of the
Honors Program and should enroll in EDUC 30003 during their junior year and
EDUC 40003 during the fall semester of their senior year.
Reading Improvement Services
EDUC 10113 is a freshman level course designed to assist students with fundamental
study skills. It is aimed primarily at incoming freshmen or transfer students
who have had difficulty in previous college classes. Criteria for enrollment
in the course are as follows:
1.Incoming Freshmen who score lower than 500 on SAT Verbal (17 on ACT English)
and whose high school GPA is less than 2.5 will be permitted to enroll.
2.Entering transfer students will be permitted to enroll only by permission
of the instructor.
3.Students with fewer than 36 hours of TCU course work will be permitted
to enroll only if they have posted an overall TCU grade point average (GPA)
below 2.25 the previous semester.
4.Students with 36 hours or more of TCU course work will be permitted to
enroll only by permission of the instructor.
5.All other students who do not meet the above criteria and wish to be admitted
to the course may do so only with permission.
School of Education Career Services
Center
The Career Services Center maintains contact with public and private schools
seeking teachers, administrators, and other types of educational personnel.
Registration with the Center entitles students to file a summary of their academic
records, together with requested recommendations from teachers and others acquainted
with their qualifications. Former students may use the Center in seeking positions.
The Center provides on-campus interviews with school districts in Texas, as
well as outside the state. Over 90 school districts conduct interviews on campus
each year.
Student Organizations
Within the School of Education, student organizations have been established
for the purposes of promoting professional goals and interests, as well as providing
recreation and fellowship among members. Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society, invites
to membership those junior, senior and graduate students or teachers who possess
high scholarship ability. TCU's chapter of the Texas Student Education
Association provides students with associate membership in the National Education
Association and the Texas State Teachers Association. TSEA provides students
with the opportunity to meet and discuss professional concerns and goals with
experienced teachers in the profession. The Student Council for Exceptional
Children is an organization that is open to all interested in Special Education.
Core Curriculum Requirements
For Majors in the School of Education Seeking Teacher Certification
l. Foundations
A.1. English 10803, English 20803 - Six semester hours.
A.2. Writing Emphasis - Six semester hours of upper division courses designated as "writing emphasis" in University Curricu-lum Requirements (UCR).
B. Mathematics - Three semester hours from MATH 10033, 10043, 10283, 10524, 20524, 20063.
II. Explorations
A. Physical and Life Sciences - Six semester hours of laboratory sciences designated 'as approved for the UCR'. Middle School Education and Secondary School Education majors are required to tak an additinal 3 semester hours of nonlab science.
B. Social Sciences - Political Science 10133, and three semesters of social sciences as approved for the UCR.
C. Cultural Heritage - Fifteen semester hours to include: three semester hours in Religion Studies; six semester hours in U. S. History (HIST 10603, 10613); three semester hours in Critical Inquiry in courses designated by the UCR; three semester hours in Fine Arts in courses designated by the UCR.
D. Language and Literature - A minimum of nine semester hours to be distributed: SPCO 10123 or 20103 or 20133, and six hours of sophomore-level English or above in courses designated UCR.
III. Physical Education
Two semester hours designated UCR: one semester hour of health and one hour of Kinesiology activity or two semester hours of health.
