College of Education

Main Office
Matthews Hall, Room 117

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #311337
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-2235
Fax: 940-565-4415

Student Advising Office
Matthews Hall, Room 105
940-565-2736

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program
Matthews Hall, Room 206

Web site: https://coe.unt.edu/teacher-certification/

Ruthanne Thompson, Interim Dean
Amanda Vickery, Associate Dean for Educator Preparation Programs
Brian McFarlin, Associate Dean for Research and Undergraduate Studies
Ruth Lowery, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Faculty Affairs
Faculty

Mission

Developing professionals who help others reach their full potential through powerful learning, social-emotional wellness, physical health and civic engagement.

Vision

The Dallas—Fort Worth region, Texas, the United States and the world will pursue increasing numbers of our graduates as informed and thoughtful practitioners.

The people our students serve will become personally committed to the processes in which our students engage them, and client/student outcomes will inspire those who know them.

The work of those practitioners, and the policies needed to support them, will be understood by the general public and by policy makers.

Our faculty research will be influential and useful to both practitioners and other researchers in their areas of inquiry; our researchers will be widely recognized for their expertise.

The College of Education will be recognized for its excellence – in rankings and in the quality of students and faculty who seek to join us.

The College of Education will be sought out for advice and partnership, across the university and by international and community organizations.

We Value

Whole people – Though our particular specializations may focus on the body, on learning or on emotional well-being, our research and practitioners serve individuals as whole people.

Wellness – Our research and practice with communities and individuals focuses on physical, emotional and intellectual wellness across the lifespan and across domains of experience.

Lifelong learning – Formal learning experiences, like school or therapy, should prepare individuals to remain inquirers and learners across their lives.

Social connectedness – Individuals live, learn and recreate in communities; our research and teaching should strengthen interpersonal bonds and social improvement.

Equity – People from all social groups should experience fairness, access, similar opportunities and satisfactory outcomes in their quests for learning and health.

Innovation – We create worlds of innovators. Our research and teaching break with past practices to expand possibilities, the practitioners and researchers we prepare learn to innovate in their own work, and the people they serve, in turn, invent and advance new practices in their spheres of influence.

The College of Education educator preparation program is accredited by the Texas Education Agency-State Board for Educator Certification https://tea.texas.gov/. The program in counselor education is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) (5999 Stevenson Avenue, 4th Floor; Alexandria, VA 22304; 703-823-4800, ext. 301 www.cacrep.org). The program in recreation and leisure studies is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association/American Association of Leisure and Recreation Council on Accreditation (22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148; 703-858-0784).

Degrees offered

The college offers these undergraduate and graduate degrees:

Bachelor of Science with majors in human development and family studies; education (teacher certification in early childhood through grade 6, bilingual education, and special education); kinesiology; health behavior and fitness; and recreation, event and sport management;
Master of Education with majors in counseling; curriculum and instruction; educational leadership; higher education; special education; and teaching;
Master of Science with majors in counseling; development and family studies; early childhood education; educational psychology; higher education; and kinesiology;
Doctor of Philosophy with majors in counseling; curriculum and instruction; educational leadership; educational psychology; higher education; human performance and movement science; and special education;

Doctor of Education with majors in educational leadership; and higher education.

General requirements for each undergraduate degree are listed in the appropriate departmental section of this catalog. Requirements for graduate degrees are listed in the UNT Graduate Catalog.

Prospective graduate students must meet all admission requirements of the Toulouse Graduate School, the College of Education and the selected graduate degree program within the college. Admission to the individual programs is done through a holistic review of the application portfolio of each candidate. Some financial support for graduate student teaching and research is available from the programs and from the College.

Programs of study

The following programs of study, organized by department, are available in the college.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Natalya Lindo, Chair
Stovall Hall, Room 155
Phone: 940-565-2910
Web site: www.coe.unt.edu/che

Program areas:

Counseling
Higher Education

Department of Educational Psychology

Anne Rinn, Chair
Matthews Hall, Room 316
Phone: 940-565-2093
Web site: www.coe.unt.edu/epsy

Program areas:

Educational Psychology
Human Development and Family Studies
Special Education

Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation

Jakob Vingren, Chair
Physical Education Building, Room 209
Phone: 940-565-2651
Web site: www.coe.unt.edu/khpr

Program areas:

Health Behavior and Fitness
Kinesiology
Recreation, Event and Sport Management

Department of Teacher Education and Administration

Angie Cartright, Chair
Matthews Hall, Room 206U
Phone: 940-565-2920
Web site: www.coe.unt.edu/tea

Program areas:

Curriculum and Instruction
Early Childhood Education
Educational Leadership
Education (including EC-6 and secondary/all-level teacher certification)
Language and Literacy Studies

University Core Curriculum requirements and degree requirements

The University of North Texas core curriculum is listed in the University Core Curriculum requirements in the Academic policies section of this catalog. Each program within the College of Education requires specific courses to satisfy particular degree requirements. Occasionally, a course required for a degree may also satisfy a requirement of the core. In addition to taking the required course, a student may elect to take a different course from among those available to fulfill that core requirement; doing so, however, may add to the total number of hours required for the degree and may cause students to incur excess hour penalties. Students who have questions regarding degree requirements and course requirements should consult a degree program advisor in the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105.

Teacher certification

Students planning to teach in elementary early childhood-grade 6 (EC-6) must major in Education (see Department of Teacher Education and Administration ).

Students planning to teach in secondary schools (7–12) must earn a major and degree in the academic discipline in which they plan to teach and take a minor in secondary education to qualify for a teaching certificate. Students should check with the appropriate department for degree requirements.

The State of Texas Standard Teaching Certificate requires completion of an approved four-year degree program, passing of the appropriate TExES state examinations and clearance on a criminal record search. Students must meet all prerequisite requirements and apply for admission to the teacher education program prior to taking education courses. Continuation in the teacher education program is contingent upon the results of criminal background checks and successful progress in teacher education courses.

A minimum of 12 semester hours must be completed in residence before a recommendation from UNT is made for any teaching certificate. For the University of North Texas to recommend an undergraduate student for teacher certification, additional teaching field, or area of specialization, that student must have successfully (1) completed an approved teacher education program for the preparation of early childhood, secondary or all-level teachers; (2) completed clinical teaching, including attendance at required seminars; and (3) passed the TExES EC-12 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) and all required content and supplemental certification exams of the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), as applicable.

Access to register for Texas teacher certification exams (TExES) is only granted to students who have been formally admitted to the Teacher Education program at UNT. Teacher candidates (who have been admitted to TEd) must take UNT-sponsored TExES practice exams prior to the start of Block B courses.

Practice exams are free of charge The TExES Practice exams are offered four times in each long semester and twice during the summer.

Contact the TExES Success Office In Matthews Hall 119 at 940-369-8601 or COE_TSO@unt.edu for information about registering for your practice TExES Exams, TEAL account setup, and for information and study resources for your actual certification exams. Students who have completed all requirements must apply for teaching certificates online (see www.tea.state.tx.us). In some cases, teacher service records may be required.

Teaching certificates

The awarding of teaching certificates is a function of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) under the authority of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and is contingent upon a recommendation by the UNT College of Education. The College of Education is authorized to recommend students who successfully fulfill all state and program requirements for the chosen teaching certificate in the following areas:

Early Childhood through Grade Six (certifies to teach grades EC–6)

EC–6 Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading and ESL Supplemental
EC–6 Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading and Bilingual Education Supplemental – Spanish (Grades EC-12)
EC-6 Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading and EC-12 Special Education Supplemental

Standard Secondary (certifies grades 7–12) and All-Level (EC–12)

At the time this catalog went to press, UNT was authorized to recommend secondary and all-level teacher certification for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree in the following content areas:

Secondary content areas: chemistry; dance; English language arts and reading; family and consumer sciences; history; hospitality, nutrition and food sciences; human development and family studies; journalism; life science; mathematics; physical sciences; physics/mathematics; science; social studies; and speech.
All-level content areas: art; French; German; music; physical education; Spanish; and theatre.

Although teacher certification programs share many commonalities, what applies to one certificate or grade level is not necessarily applicable to another. Also, changes to existing teacher standards, content areas and certificate levels continue to be made by the State Board for Educator Certification.

Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105, or check online at www.coe.unt.edu/sao for the current information regarding specific certificate requirements and any pending changes. The SAO sees students by appointment only, except during the regular registration period each term/semester when they accept drop-in visits. Appointment times fill quickly and students are encouraged to schedule early. Appointments can be made up to two weeks in advance.

Professional (Advanced) educator certification

The College of Education is also authorized by the Texas Education Agency to offer preparation programs leading to professional certification for post-baccalaureate students. The following certifications are available:

Educational Diagnostician
Principal as Instructional Leader
Superintendent
School Counselor
School Librarian

See Graduate Catalog for details.

Teacher certification

Eligibility for Teacher Certification and Recommendation

Teaching certificates are granted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) under the authority of the State Board for Educator certification (SBEC). Completion of the bachelor’s degree and the required education courses does not guarantee certification by the TEA. In order to be recommended by UNT for a standard teaching certificate students must:

Earn the required Bachelor’s Degree.
Be admitted to the UNT Teacher Education (TEd) Program and meet all state and program requirements including coursework with acceptable grades and GPAs.
Complete and pass all clinical practice requirements including early field experiences and clinical (student) teaching and be recommended by the university field supervisor and cooperating teacher/s.
Pass all Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) teacher certification exams.
Apply to the Texas Education Agency to be certified after all requirements are met and the bachelor’s degree is posted on the transcript.
Complete fingerprinting. All first-time applicants must be fingerprinted by the TEA-authorized entity and clear a national criminal background check.

Admission to the Teacher Education (TEd) Program

To be eligible for admission, students must have:

Completed a minimum of 60 semester hours, including the University Core Curriculum. (See “General University Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog.) Programs leading to teacher certification require specific courses contained in parts of the University Core Curriculum to satisfy particular degree requirements. Students should consult degree program advisors for best choices in the core;
A 2.75 UNT GPA;
A 2.75 overall GPA (includes all courses transferred to UNT, plus all courses taken at UNT);
TSI Complete Status, or have appropriate exam scores on either the ACT or SAT. (Contact the Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105, for further information on the score requirements); and
Submit an application to the UNT Teacher Education (TEd) Program. To apply, Contact the College of Education Student Advising Office, 940-565-2736; Matthews Hall, Room 105; or visit https://coe.unt.edu/student-advising for details.

Clinical Teaching Requirement

All EC-6, secondary and all-level teacher candidates must complete Clinical Teaching (6 SCH) with a grade of P (Pass) for both courses to be recommended for their standard teaching certificate. Clinical teaching requirements include attendance at required non-credit seminars.

Clinical Teaching is a full-time, 5 days per week, supervised teaching experience in a school district. Teacher candidates must attend their placement for 100% of the school day. Clinical Teaching can only be completed during long (Fall or Spring) semesters and should be the last semester before intended graduation.

Clinical Teaching may not count as full-time status for financial aid purposes, depending on student-specific awards. Therefore, the student should plan ahead and consult UNT Student Accounting sfs.unt.edu before they intend to apply for Clinical Teaching to verify what financial aid will be available to them during the clinical teaching semester.

To be eligible for a clinical practice placement for both early field experiences and clinical teaching, students are responsible for applying the semester BEFORE by completing the Clinical Practice Application. Dates for the Clinical Practice Application are listed on the Clinical Practice Office webpage. Applications must be submitted by the designated deadline. For more information, please contact the Clinical Practice Office via email at COE-ClinicalPractice@unt.edu.

To be eligible to begin clinical teaching, students must meet the following requirements:

Have been admitted to and accepted their admission offer to the UNT Teacher Education (TEd) Program ; and
Must be in residence at UNT and have earned at least 6 semester hours of resident credit in education at UNT; and

For EC–6 clinical teachers:

Have completed all prerequisites and have a C or better in all course in the education major and any applicable certification-specific courses for bilingual and special education candidates; exclusive of student teaching and EDEE 4890 (as required for students seeking any EC–6 certification;
Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in each area: UNT core, the education major and any applicable certification-specific courses for bilingual and special education candidates. No courses taken during the clinical teaching term/semester can be used to determine eligibility to clinical teach; and
Have passed all actual TExES content and supplemental exams required for their certificate. (This does not include the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities, Science of Teaching Reading, or BTLPT exams.

For secondary and all-level clinical teachers:

Have completed all the required course work in the teaching field;
Have completed all prerequisites and have a grade of C or better in all education courses (DFST, EDCI, EDEC, EDEE, EDRE, EDUC, etc.);
Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in each area (academic major and education/pedagogy courses) and in all college work completed at UNT, as well as a cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all colleges attended; and
Have passed all actual TExES content and supplemental exams required for their certificate. (This does not include the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities.)

Admission, Review and Retention (ARR) Committee

Students not meeting eligibility requirements for admission to TEd or to Clinical Teaching may file an appeal with the Department of Teacher Education ARR Committee. To initiate an appeal, a student must complete the Admission, Retention and Review Appeal Form. The student completes the application and attaches the required materials and documents along with their appeal statement.

TExES Certification Exams

TExES Practice Test requirements

Teacher candidates (students who have been admitted to TEd) must take UNT-sponsored TExES practice exams. Practice exams are free of charge. TExES Practice exams are offered four times in each long semester and twice during the summer. Visit the TExES Success Office (TSO) in Matthews Hall, Room 119, for further information about their required exams (940-369-8601) or visit the TSO webpage.

EC-6 candidates must complete all practice tests before the end of PDS Block A.
Secondary candidates must complete all practice exams prior to enrolling in EDCI 4840 .
All-Level candidates must complete all practice exams by the end of the last semester of early field observations.

Exception: A candidate may be excused from the TExES Practice Exam requirement by presenting an official TExES Test Score Report indicating passing scores on each required exam.

TExES Exam Eligibility and Passing Policies

Access to register for all actual TExES exams is granted by the UNT TExES Success Office (TSO). Students must be formally admitted to the UNT Teacher Education Program and have met any program-specific practice testing requirements prior to being granted test permission for the actual TExES exams.

EC-6 candidates must pass all content and supplemental TExES Exams to be eligible to clinical teach, with the exception of the TExES Science of Teaching Reading and BTLPT. Take the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities TExES before or during clinical teaching to be eligible for recommendation.

Secondary and All-Level candidates must pass all content and supplemental TExES exams to be eligible to clinical teach. Take the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities exam prior to or during clinical teaching to be eligible for recommendation.

A minimum of 12 semester hours must be completed in residence before a recommendation from UNT is made for any teaching certificate.

Centers and clinics

The Office for Research and Consulting offers services to graduate students and faculty members in the College of Education. Services include assistance in research design, measurements and analysis of data using either the SPSS or SAS statistical packages. Assistance is also given in the interpretation of computer output and display of data in the form of tables or charts.

The Center for the Study of Educational Reform conducts research and serves as an information clearinghouse on educational reform initiatives. Created in 1990, the center has received grants to conduct a statewide survey on education reform and to conduct research on private and public school choice programs. The center also provides doctoral students with opportunities for dissertation research.

The Child and Family Resource Clinic (CFRC) is an interdisciplinary diagnostic and remedial clinic serving children, adults and families from the North Texas area. Services offered include interdisciplinary assessment, counseling, reading instruction, speech/language therapy and parent education classes. Fees for all services are based on a sliding scale. CFRC provides clinical training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in counseling, reading and speech/language/hearing.

Center for Young Children (CYC) is an accredited preschool program for young children ages 3 through 5. In addition, it serves as a model, an observation site for undergraduate and graduate students in fields related to young children. Research related to the care and education of young children is conducted by graduate students and faculty members from across the university.

Other centers are listed under the departments with which they are associated.

Endowed chairs

The Don A. Buchholz Endowed Chair in Community College Education in the Bill J. Priest Center for Community College Education began its service to two-year colleges and to the linkage between two- and four-year colleges and universities in the fall of 2000. While the chair and the center’s primary function is to provide graduate education, research, and development activities for institutions, administrators and faculty in two-year colleges, the chair and center seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the linkage between two- and four-year colleges and universities in the provision of education to students in post-secondary education.

The Meadows Chair for Excellence in Education was established and funded by the Meadows Foundation to attract distinguished scholars to the College of Education to teach, interact with faculty and students, and engage in scholarly work. Involving such scholars in the academic community should enhance professional development of the faculty, improve the quality of education for students and ultimately lead to a better-prepared Texas public school student body.

The Dr. Mike Moses Chair in Educational Administration was established in honor of a major figure in educational administration in Texas. Dr. Moses, for whom it is named, was Commissioner of Education for Texas, Deputy Chancellor for Systems Operations at Texas Tech University System, and Superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District. The chair position supports the chair holder’s scholarship and also provides resources for building UNT’s educational administration programs and bringing increased recognition to the graduate programs.

The Velma Schmidt Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Development was established and fully funded as a continuing memorial to Dr. Velma Schmidt and her work on behalf of young children. The holder of the chair is responsible for teaching and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, collaboration with faculty and schools, participation in professional and scholarly activities, and providing leadership in the university and community.

Course listings

Independent study courses numbered 4900-4910 are open to advanced undergraduate students who are capable of developing a problem independently. A project is chosen by the student and instructor and developed through conferences and approved activities under the direction of the instructor, who may require a term paper. These courses are not open to graduate students and are offered only when other required courses are unavailable. Prerequisites include consent of instructor and consent of the appropriate authority.

Individual courses of instruction are subject to change or withdrawal at any time and may not be offered each term/semester or every year. Any course may be withdrawn from current offerings if the number of registrants is too small to justify conducting it.