The state of the American educational system is one of the most debated topics on our national agenda. Everyone seems to have a proposal on how to best educate the young people of this country. Despite their different approaches to the problem, all proponents of educational reform agree on one thing: to keep our schools globally competitive, we need competent, dedicated teachers.

At St. Mary's University of San Antonio, we have long been committed to preparing teachers for the important role they play in our society's future. Our elementary and secondary teacher certification programs integrate rigorous academic training and supervised field experience with a well-rounded education, providing our students with the tools they need to be effective educators.

Aligned with the Mission of St. Mary's University, students in the Educator Preparation Program conduct most of their field-experience placements in schools that successfully serve at-risk and economically disadvantaged students.

The Education Preparation Program instills in our students an appreciation for the enjoyment and fulfillment derived from the teaching profession. This requires that St. Mary's teacher certification candidates be committed to a profession wherein they can make a difference in the lives of young people. If you share this passion and commitment, we invite you to consider becoming a part of our educational community.

Contact Us

Betty McClinton
(210) 436-3121
bmcclinton@stmarytx.edu

Dan Higgins, Ph.D., Chair
(210) 431-6856
dhiggins@stmarytx.edu
St. Louis Hall 307

Student teaching for undergraduates is conducted during their last semester (semester of graduation). Students who meet all requirements for student teaching must submit applications for fall semester placement by the February deadline; those seeking spring semester placement must apply by the September deadline. It is the student's responsibility to attend orientation session and meet the application deadline.

The Teacher Education Department works with the central offices, building principals, and classroom teachers in public and private schools in Bexar County to provide a comprehensive 13-week student-teaching experience. Working with the central office, the university Certification Officer requests the highest qualified certified professionals to work as supervising teachers. Each is recommended by the central office and the building principal and participates in the St. Mary's University Program Orientation.

The student teacher assumes full responsibility for the classroom early in the student-teaching experience. The supervising teacher mentors the student teacher throughout the program but allows him/her to lead the planning delivery, and assessment of instruction, according to the process established during the Orientation. At the conclusion of the experience, the student teacher evaluates the placement and the supervising teacher's role as mentor. The Certification Officer uses this information for future placements and program improvement.

Members of the department faculty serve as university supervisors and conclude each observation with a three-way debriefing that includes the university supervisor, the supervising teacher, and the student teacher. Formative evaluations during the student-teaching experience lead to the summative evaluation. The building principal contributes to the evaluation process throughout the experience. University personnel make five (5) formal visits to each student teacher's placement during the experience.

When University requirements have been fulfilled, the student must submit appropriate application form(s), fee(s), and evidence of program completion to the Teacher Education Department. The Registrar verifies degree requirements for undergraduate students. The Certification Officer verifies certification requirements for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students. Teacher Certification requires passing the appropriate sections of the Examination for Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET) or Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). Students should consult with their faculty adviser in the Teacher Education Department about the appropriate time to take credentialing exams. Upon recommendation of adviser, students must then obtain a bar code from the Certification Officer in order to register for an exam. When all credentialing exams have been passed and all program requirements completed, the student must see the Certification Officer about applying for the certificate. It is the student's responsibility to complete appropriate form(s), pay appropriate fee(s) and apply for the certificate.

The State may refuse to issue, or may suspend or revoke a teacher certificate for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime that directly relates to education and responsibilities of the teaching profession.

Teacher Education

Dr. Daniel J. Higgins, Chairperson

For specific degree plans and requirements, see the degree plans on the Registrar's website.

In recognition of the important role of the teacher in American society, St. Mary's University offers programs in teacher education which have as their primary objective the preparation of teachers of quality.

St. Mary's University's Educator Preparation Program has received the rating of "ACCREDITED" under the Accountability System for Educator Preparation. This rating is issued by the State Board for Educator Certification under the authority of Section 21.045, Texas Education Code.

St. Mary's University Title II Institutional Report Card Results:

The United States Department of Education (Title II of the Higher Education Act) Educator Preparation Program Texas State Report can be obtained at http://www.title2.org/.

Program Description

Students preparing to teach in elementary schools will pursue a B.A. in Interdisciplinary English Language Arts and Reading. Successful completion of this program will lead to Early Childhood-Grade 6 certification. Students seeking certification in Grades 4-8 or Grades 8-12 should major in the appropriate academic major.

The University's Educator Preparation Program is recognized by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) as an "accredited" educator preparation entity. Most bachelor degree programs that include teacher certification are 120-128 credit-hour programs. Therefore, students who are interested in becoming teachers can both graduate and attain teacher certification in a timely manner. Please contact the Teacher Education Department for specific information regarding approved certification programs.

Students seeking Early Childhood-Grade 6 certification should be advised by a professor in the Teacher Education Department. Students seeking certification at the following levels (Grades 4-8, Grades 8-12, or All-Level) should schedule an advising session with a professor in the Teacher Education Department, even when their primary adviser is a professor in the department of their academic major. This will ensure that you have started a folder in the Teacher Education Department and have been informed of all requirements for teacher certification.

Teacher Education Program Admission Requirements

In order to register for the first education course (professional development), a student must meet the following requirements:

1. Follow an approved course of study.
2. Complete at least 60 semester hours (junior standing). Adviser will verify that 60 semester hours are completed prior to semester in which first education course is taken.
3. Achieve overall 2.6 grade point average (GPA) on all courses applied toward graduation.
4. Demonstrate college-level skills in reading, writing, math, oral communication, and critical thinking by meeting the following requirements:
   1. THEA reading- minimum score of 260 is required; if below 260 but at 230 or above, student must verify ongoing training in reading comprehension and improve THEA reading score to a level deemed acceptable by the Teacher Education Department.
   2. THEA writing- minimum score of 220 is required
   3. THEA math- minimum score of 240 is required; if below 240 but at 230 or above, student must verify ongoing training in math and improve THEA math score to a level deemed acceptable by the Teacher Education Department.
   4. Oral communication- student will demonstrate competency by successfully completing a departmental admissions interview
   5. Critical thinking- minimum GPA of 2.6 in Core Curriculum coursework is required
      Note: TASP is now named THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment).
5. Earn a grade of "C" or better in the following courses:
   1. EN 1311- Rhetoric and Composition
   2. MT 1303- College Algebra OR
      MT 1411- College Algebra and Trigonometry

The above requirements will be reviewed, and, if approved, students may then register for the first professional development course.

Secondary education students take ED 3302W- The American Secondary School Elementary education students take ED 3301W- The American Elementary School OR ED 3340W- Methods of Teaching Reading

In order to be admitted into the Teacher Education Program, a student must meet the following requirements:

1. Successfully complete requirements 1-5 listed above
2. Complete the first professional development course with a grade of "B-" or better:
   1. ED 3302W (for secondary students),
   2. ED 3301W or ED 3340W (for elementary students)
3. Submit completed application form for admission into the Teacher Education Program to your Teacher Education Adviser by prescribed deadline date
4. Receive formal acceptance into the Program

Once admitted into the Teacher Education Program, a student must meet prescribed standards in order to remain in good standing. A student who fails to maintain minimum standards will not be allowed to take additional education courses until such standards are met, as follows:

1. Maintain a minimum overall 2.6 GPA; this includes grades earned at St. Mary's (and applied towards graduation) and transfer courses used toward graduation
2. Maintain a minimum 2.6 GPA in all required education courses
3. Maintain a minimum 2.6 GPA in teaching field(s) or interdisciplinary field(s)
4. Earn a grade of "C" or better in EN 3300- Advanced Composition (or equivalent)
5. Successfully complete required field-experience hours

The following requirements must be met before a student will be eligible for student teaching:

1. Be admitted to the Teacher Education Program
2. Maintain a minimum overall 2.6 GPA (includes grades earned at St. Mary's and transfer grades used toward graduation)
3. Maintain a minimum 2.6 GPA in all required education courses
4. Maintain a minimum 2.6 GPA in teaching field(s) or interdisciplinary field
5. Successfully complete required field-experience hours
6. Submit completed student teaching application forms (including Criminal History Information Form and TB Test Clearance) by prescribed deadlines
7. Receive Teacher Education Departmental Recommendation
8. Receive approval for student teaching from the Faculty Committee on Teacher Education

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

1. The normal course load during the semester when one student teaches is nine (9) semester hours; this includes six (6) semester hours of Student Teaching and three (3) semester hours of Professional Development Seminar: ED 4338 (Elementary) or ED 4388 (Secondary). In order to apply for Fall or Spring student teaching, a prospective applicant must, at the end of the semester when the application is submitted, need no more than three (3) additional semester hours to graduate, (Student Teaching, Professional Development Seminar, plus three hours).
2. A student must have a minimum 2.6 GPA in all required areas at the time of application in order to be considered. Student teaching is offered only during the Fall and Spring semesters. Students are responsible for meeting all application deadlines.

Requirements for Post-Baccalaureate Students

1. All post-baccalaureate students must:
   1. Have earned a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.6 from an accredited institution
   2. Have a minimum 2.6 GPA in course work applicable to teaching field(s)
   3. Pass all sections of the THEA (reading, writing, and math) prior to taking first professional development course;
      Note: For THEA reading, a minimum score of 260 is required; if below 260 but at 230 or above, must verify ongoing training in reading comprehension. For THEA math, a minimum score of 240 is required; if below 240 but at 230 or above, must verify ongoing training in reading comprehension.
   4. Earn a minimum 2.6 GPA in all required teacher education courses taken during first semester enrolled
   5. Submit completed application form for admission into the Teacher Education Program to your Teacher Education Adviser
   6. Receive formal acceptance into the Program
2. Students who earn their undergraduate degree from St. Mary's more than five (5) years prior to the date of application will have to successfully complete a minimum of three (3) semester hours in their teaching field(s) as prescribed by the Certification Officer.
3. Students who earned their undergraduate degree from an institution other than St. Mary's will have to successfully complete a minimum of three-to-nine (3-9) semester hours in their teaching field(s) as prescribed by the Certification Officer.

Note: All post-baccalaureate students must meet the same requirements that apply to undergraduate students before being eligible for student teaching.

Certification of Teachers

When all University requirements have been fulfilled, the student must submit application form, fee, and evidence of program completion to the St. Mary's University Education Department.

Certification requires passing the appropriate Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). Students should consult with their adviser in the Education Department as to the appropriate time to register for their credentialing exams. In addition, students should consult with the Certification Officer as to the appropriate time to apply for their teaching certificate. It should be noted that it is the student's responsibility to apply for the teaching certificate and pay attendant application fees. Upon successful completion of all requirements (including student teaching, graduation and applying for the certificate), the Certification Officer will recommend students for certification.

The Registrar verifies that all degree requirements have been met, and the Certification Officer verifies that all certification requirements have been met.

The State may refuse to issue, may suspend or revoke a teacher certificate for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime which directly relates to education and responsibilities of the teaching profession.

Program Offerings

St. Mary's University offers a wide range of initial teacher certificates through its undergraduate programs. Certification is available at the following levels:



The following chart illustrates the various teacher certificates that can be attained at St. Mary's and the corresponding subject areas in which students would major.

Certificate Level

Early Childhood-Grade 6

Major or Minor	Certificate
Interdisciplinary English Language Arts & Reading	EC-6 Generalist

Grades 4-8

Major or Minor	Certificate
Interdisciplinary Eng. Lang. Arts & Reading (or) English Language Arts & Reading	ELA & Reading 4-8
Interdisciplinary Life/Earth Science	Science 4-8
Interdisciplinary Mathematics (or) Mathematics	Mathematics 4-8
Interdisciplinary Social Studies (or) History	Social Studies 4-8

Note: Students concentrating on Grades 4 and 5 should choose an interdisciplinary major; Students concentrating on Grades 6-8 should major in the specific content area.

Beginning Fall 2010:
1. Freshmen entering St. Mary's will have newly adopted core curriculum requirements reflected in their degree plans. Please see samples of degree plans reflecting new core requirements in the Undergraduate Catalogue. For Early Childhood - Grade 6 teacher certification, please see Interdisciplinary English/Language Arts and Reading degree plan. For Grades 4-8 or Grades 8-12 teacher certification, please see English/Language Arts and Reading degree plan.

2. Students pursuing secondary teacher certification (Grades 4-8 or Grades 8-12) will major in an academic area; no interdisciplinary majors will be offered for secondary teacher certification

Grades 8-12

Major or Minor	Certificate
Computer Science	Comp. Science 8-12
English Language Arts & Reading	ELA & Reading 8-12
History	History 8-12
Mathematics	Mathematics 8-12
Biology	Life Science 8-12
Political Science (with coursework in related fields–History, Economics, and Sociology)	Social Studies 8-12
Chemistry or Physics	Phys. Science 8-12
Chemistry	Chemistry 8-12
Speech Communication	Speech 8-12
Minor: Business Education	Business Admin.

Early Childhood-Grade 12 (All-Level)

Major or Minor	Certificate
Exercise & Sport Science	P.E. All-Level/EC-12
Music	Music All-Level/EC-12
Spanish	Spanish All-Level/EC-12
Art Education	Art All-Level/EC-12

Note: St. Mary's University offers programs for the following professional certificates:

Master

Faculty