Education Program

EDUC 254 : Introduction to the Teaching Profession

Credits: 3

This course provides students with the opportunity to explore the field of teaching and reflect on their interest in education. Students will also examine current and historical roles, expectations, stereotypes, and characterizations that define teaching as a profession. Pre-service teachers will also engage in activities designed to sharpen critical thinking as well as acquaint themselves with current trends in the discipline of teaching. Pre-service teachers will begin the process of developing their e-portfolio. Includes field experience.

Prerequisites

EDUC 275 : Multicultural Perspective

Credits: 3

A study of racial and ethnic groups in american society featuring an examination of their history, cultural heritage, contribution, struggles, and hopes for the future. Emphasis will be placed on a strength-based analysis of diverse groups. Focus will also address working with families in a classroom and counseling setting to to be best serve a multicultural society. Course content will guide students to be better informed and proactive in a multicultural society. (Also taught as PSYC 275)

EDUC 298 : Individual Study Topics

Credits: 1 - 2

A study in an area of interest under the direction of a staff member. This study may involve research, laboratory, or library work. Content and method of study must be arranged prior to registration. May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.

Prerequisites

EDUC 299 : Directed Group Study Topics

Credits: 1 - 3

Provides academic departments an opportunity to offer courses in specialized or experimental areas, either lower or upper division, not listed in the undergraduate Bulletin.  . May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.

Prerequisites

EDUC 310 : Second Language Instruction and Assessment

Credits: 3

This course will address theoretical and practical aspects of second language instruction. A variety of teaching strategies will be presented, along with ways to incorporate national and state standards into lesson planning and classroom activities. Socio-cultural issues of language and language acquisition will be covered. Formal and informal assessment procedures will be introduced and reviewed. Current trends and issues will be discussed as they related to second language learners.

Prerequisites

EDUC 312 : Educational Psychology

Credits: 3

A study of psychology as it relates to the learning processes and teaching methods. Principles and theories of learning are reviewed and individual differences and psychological concepts examined. Attention is given to exceptional learners. Includes field experience.

EDUC 322 : Adolescent Psychology

Credits: 3

An overview of the physical, mental and emotional phases of human development during the adolescent years. A study of the environmental and educational problems of the teenager. (Also taught as PSYC 322.)

EDUC 326 : Exceptional Children

Credits: 3

Provides pre-service teachers skills to include children of all abilities through appropriate arrangement of the environment. Study will include the characteristics, assessment, admission, review, and dismissal processes for special students requiring individualized or specialized programs. (Also taught as PSYC 326.) Also, included in this course is content reading strategies for secondary students including the 6 hours of Dyslexia training as required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC). (TAC RULE §228.35 (4)

Prerequisites

EDUC 350 : Educational Technology

Credits: 3

The focus of this course is examining and exploring technology integration strategies within K-12 networked computing environments. Content will include an examination of technology integration techniques using Web 2.0 applications and an in-depth study of methods for integrating the emerging technologies into specific content areas. This class is primarily project-based and will serve as checkpoint #1 for the education department e-portfolio. This course fulfills the Computer Competency requirement as specified in the Core Curriculum.

Prerequisites

EDUC 364 : Kindergarten Materials and Methods

Credits: 3

A course designed to acquaint the pre-service teachers with developmentally appropriate kindergarten curriculum, with emphasis on addressing each child's individual needs, abilities, interests, and cultural diversity. Includes topics such as language and literacy, puppets, dramatic play, art, sensory centers, music and movement, math, science, and social studies. Includes field experience. Implementation of developmentally appropriate practices.

Prerequisites

EDUC 375 : Children's Literature and the Teaching of Reading

Credits: 3

A course designed to acquaint the pre-service teachers with the many ways children benefit from literature at different times in their lives and appreciate what happens when a child is engaged by a book; to acquaint the student with the wealth of children's books that are available today and to enable them to make critical judgments about them; and to equip the student with a range of proven strategies to bring children together with books productively and pleasurably.

Prerequisites

EDUC 382 : Reading and Language Arts in the Elementary School

Credits: 3

A course designed to acquaint the pre-service teachers with the strategies to help ALL children become better readers through systematic, multimethod, multilevel instruction. The focus will be on essential components of a balanced literacy program (Guided Reading, Self-Selected Reading, and Working With Words), steps for implementation and management, and a variety of classroom activities. Includes field experience.

Prerequisites

EDUC 385 : Philosophy of Education

Credits: 3

This course is to prepare students as they gain a better understanding of their personal philosophy of education while preparing them to enter the classroom. Students will become acquainted with the history of Adventist education as they develop a critical and analytical approach to teaching including describing, analyzing and evaluating the influence of their philosophy in the Seventh-day Adventist classroom.

Prerequisites

EDUC 386 : Mathematics in the Elementary School

Credits: 3

A course designed to acquaint the pre-service teacher with concepts, methods, and available materials for effective mathematics instruction in the elementary school. Creative development of materials and lesson plans are emphasized. (This course does not apply to mathematics requirements.) Includes field experience.

Prerequisites

EDUC 414 : Science and Health in the Elementary School

Credits: 3

Pre-service candidates study how to design, implement, and evaluate standards-based science lessons including integrating content from the Texas TEKS for science and health into the science curriculum in meaningful ways. SDA ByDesign science curriculum will be addressed in the areas of healthy lifestyle choices and disease prevention. Students will have opportunities to develop teaching lessons and instruct local area elementary students in a laboratory setting. (This course does not apply to General Education science requirements.) Includes field experience.

Prerequisites

EDUC 418 : Legal Foundations of Education

Credits: 3

A study of the legal aspects of education, with emphasis on the responsibilities, duties, and existing constitutional statutory rights of agencies and individuals, including the handicapped, and those from minority groups.

Prerequisites

EDUC 419 : Social Studies in the Elementary School

Credits: 3

An overview of the multicultural elementary school social studies program which incorporates proven teaching strategies such as models of teaching, cooperative learning, learning styles, and dimensions of learning. Students will have opportunity to develop thematic lesson plans in an active-learning environment. (This course does not apply to social studies requirements.) Includes field experience.

Prerequisites

EDUC 424 : Language Arts Essential Skills in the Elementary School

Credits: 3

Designed to acquaint the pre-service teacher with the principles that underlie the writing workshop and the major components that make it work.

Prerequisites

EDUC 433 : Classroom Management for Secondary Teachers

Credits: 2

This class helps develop systematic strategies and techniques for organizing and managing classroom activities. Class involves 2 hours of instruction and 1 hour of field experience that will be determined by instructor and is open only to secondary majors.

Prerequisites

EDUC 434 : Classroom Assessment

Credits: 3

This class prepares pre-service teacher to have a better understanding of classroom learning and assessment. Attention will be given to test construction and evaluation of test results.

Prerequisites

EDUC 435 : Classroom Management for the Secondary School

Credits: 2

The purpose of this course is to help pre-service teachers develop systematic strategies and techniques for organizing and managing classroom activities and students. Research and practitioner-based models for classroom management will be reviewed and explored. Emphasis will be based upon real-world solutions that prepare pre-service teachers to be effective managers of their classrooms so that student learning is maximized.

Prerequisites

EDUC 436 : Classroom Management

Credits: 3

The purpose of this course is to help pre-service teachers develop systematic strategies and techniques for organizing and managing classroom activities and students. Research and practitioner-based models for classroom management will be reviewed and explored. Emphasis will be based upon real-world solutions that prepare pre-service teachers to be effective managers of their classrooms so that student learning is maximized.  Students pursuing secondary certification take EDUC 435.

Prerequisites

EDUC 450 : Teaching in the Secondary School

Credits: 3

A study of the teacher's role, teaching techniques, classroom management and evaluation of learning experiences in the secondary school as these affect all students, including the those with special needs and minorities. This course also addresses reading in the content area. Includes field experience. Also, included in this course is content reading strategies for secondary students including the 6 hours of Dyslexia training as required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC). (TAC RULE §228.35 (4)

Prerequisites

EDUC 460 : Differentiated Instruction for the Elementary Classroom

Credits: 3

This course focuses on preparing pre-service teachers for the inclusive classroom setting. Emphasis is placed on understanding how to better meet the needs of the many different learners in classrooms and schools. It provides opportunities to examine the characteristics of a differentiated classroom; how to frame instruction around concepts; and some techniques for differentiating content, process, and product. Special emphasis is given to collaboration, inclusion, exceptionality (including gifted and talented), multi-grade classrooms, individual education, transition plans, effective assessment and instructional procedures and student diversity.

Prerequisites

EDUC 475 : Directed Teaching in Elementary School

Credits: 3 - 6

This course is open only to pre-service teachers seeking certification in Elementary Education. It requires full-day observations and student teaching in an approved elementary school for fourteen weeks under the direction of supervising teachers. Pass/no pass course. *Depends on certification emphasis.

Prerequisites

EDUC 485 : Directed Teaching in Secondary School

Credits: 6

This course is open only to pre-service teachers seeking certification in Secondary Education. It requires full-day observations and student teaching in an approved secondary school for fourteen weeks under the direction of supervising teachers. Pass/no pass course.

Prerequisites

EDUC 495 : TExES Prep #1 - Core Content EC-6

Credits: 0

This course assists students in understanding the state and federal standards for their chosen certification areas. Students complete intensive reviews for their Pedagogy and Professionalism (PPR) certification exams. They must attend review classes and successfully complete PPR EC-12 practice exams with an 80% or higher as a prerequisite for permission to register with ETS to take the state exam.

EDUC 496 : TExES Prep #2 - Pedagogy and Professionalism Responsibilities EC-12

Credits: 0

This course assists students in understanding the state and federal standards for their chosen certification areas. Students complete intensive reviews for Core Content EC-6 certification exams. Students must attend review classes and successfully complete Core Content EC-6 practice exams with an 80% or higher as a prerequisite for permission to register with ETS to take the state exam.

EDUC 498 : Individual Study Topics

Credits: 1 - 2

A study in an area of interest under the direction of a staff member. This study may involve research, laboratory, or library work. Content and method of study must be arranged prior to registration. May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.

Prerequisites

EDUC 499 : Directed Group Study

Credits: 2 - 3

A study in an area of student interest under the direction of a staff member. This study may involve research, laboratory, or library work. Content and method of study must be arranged prior to registration. May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.

Prerequisites