College of Education and Human Performance

Linda Villarreal, Interim Dean
Rhode Hall Room 120
361-593-2802

Nestor Sherman, Associate Dean
Linda Garza-Ortega, Assistant to the Dean
Kimberly London, Business Administrator

When the Texas Legislature enacted the original law providing for the South Texas Teachers College, which ultimately became Texas A&M University-Kingsville, one of the primary purposes was to prepare an adequate number of students for teaching and administrative positions in South Texas. Since the beginning, the university has functioned in this capacity.

Mission

The College of Education and Human Performance prepares professionals for positions of responsibility and leadership in a global society. Faculty and staff are committed to enabling students to attain high academic, professional and ethical standards that promote student achievement and lifelong learning. The programs prepare students to be successful in their professional careers by integrating technology, valuing diversity and promoting authentic applications of knowledge. The College strives to offer the highest quality in teaching, research and service.

Conceptual Framework

We, the community of learners in the College of Education and Human Performance, demonstrate professional knowledge, skills and dispositions expected of leaders in our respective fields. We are sensitive to diversity and inclusive of all learners. We design and deliver engaging, research-based, technology-integrated curricula and promote lifelong learning. We strive to be ethical, reflective, compassionate and fair when interacting with all learners, colleagues and communities.

The College houses three departments: Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling, Department of Health and Kinesiology and Department of Teacher and Bilingual Education

The Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling offers the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. Master of Science degrees are offered in Guidance and Counseling, leading to certification as a School Counselor or a Licensed Professional Counselor; and in Educational Administration, leading to certification as a Principal or Superintendent. The Master of Science in Instructional Technology and the Master of Education in Adult Education prepare students for employment in both the public and private sector.

The Department of Health and Kinesiology offers the Master of Science in Kinesiology where students may pursue a general kinesiology degree or they may pursue the degree with a formal concentration in health/exercise science, performance psychology, or sport management. The Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology can prepare students for kinesiology-related careers in either a school setting or the public sector. Students select from formal concentrations in EC-12 physical education (teacher certification), exercise science, exercise science/performance psychology, exercise science/pre-physical therapy, sport and leisure studies, or sport business.

The Department of Teacher and Bilingual Education offers a Doctor of Education in Bilingual Education, the oldest Bilingual doctorate in the United States, the Master of Science in Bilingual Education, Master of Science in Reading leading to certification as a Reading Specialist, a Master of Education in Special Education that may lead to certification as an Educational Diagnostician and a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education. The Bachelor of Science degree in Education prepares candidates for Texas Teacher Certification in Core Subjects EC-6, and Core Subjects EC-6 with a Bilingual Supplemental endorsement; also for Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and English Language/Arts and Reading in Grades 4-8; for Science and English Language Arts and Reading in grades 7-12; for Business and Finance in grades 6-12; and for certification in Technology Applications and Special Education grades EC-12. Candidates earning bachelor’s degrees in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences who want to become secondary level content teachers study pedagogy and complete their student teaching through the College of Education and Human Performance. Also, persons who hold bachelor’s degrees from accredited institutions may be able to pursue teaching credentials through the Alternative Certification Program housed in the Department of Teacher and Bilingual Education.

Academic Advising

Each undergraduate major is assigned a professional adviser upon entering the university. Students meet with their adviser on a scheduled basis to plan their program and at any time there is a need to discuss questions of concern.

Students who are interested in changing majors into any of our elementary, middle school or secondary certification programs are responsible for meeting with an adviser in the College of Education and Human Performance Advising Office prior to doing so. Advisers have available specific information regarding all program options.

Accreditation

Texas A&M University-Kingsville is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The educator preparation program is fully accredited by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), based on the combined performance of all our candidates on the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). Texas A&M University-Kingsville has received ACCREDITED status from SBEC for each year that the Texas system has been in effect.

Title II Report Card

Title II of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 requires an annual reporting from states and universities based upon the pass rates of their students on the tests required for completing programs leading to their initial teaching certificates. The pass rates for the Department of Education can be found on the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Education web site as soon as the information is released by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

NOTE: The following sections provide general information about programs in the College of Education and Human Performance. Additional regulations for educator certification may take effect during the years of this catalog and may require changes that could not be foreseen at the time of printing. Changes that become effective in response to rulings by the State Board for Educator Certification and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may apply to current and prospective students.

The Educator Preparation Program

Rhode Hall Room 112D
361-593-2894

The Educator Preparation Program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is administered through the College of Education and Human Performance Center for Educator Preparation Services (CEPS). The program is field-based and is conducted at least 50% of the time at public or private school sites. Students interested in elementary certification may seek certification in early childhood (EC) through grade six or certification in grades four through eight in the specialization areas of mathematics, science, social studies, or English Language Arts and Reading.

The elementary program is divided into four semesters of study starting in the first semester of the junior year (60 semester hours) and upon acceptance into the teacher education program. Application packets for the educator preparation program are available in the Center for Educator Preparation Services along with a listing of assigned advisers. Field experiences include assignments for two semesters in EC-8 public and private school classrooms, according to the certification levels selected (EC-6 or 4-8). Fields experience assignments are in pre-arranged collaborating area schools. Student teaching is done the final semester and involves working full days for one semester. Student teaching begins the day school begins, spring or fall, rather than when university classes begin.

The secondary (6/7-12)/all-level (EC-12) certification program usually begins in the second semester of the junior year and is a three semester field-based program. The first semester students are placed in a middle school or high school and the second semester students are placed in a high school. During the first and second semesters, several courses are field-based approximately 60% of the time. The student teaching experience in the third semester is 100% field-based. All EDED and EDSE courses (other than student teaching) must be successfully completed before the student teaching experience.

Degree Plans

Students declaring EC-6, 4-8, 6/7-12 or EC-12 Interdisciplinary Studies as a major should schedule an appointment with a College of Education and Human Performance adviser to plan and develop a draft degree plan. After appropriate College of Education and Human Performance personnel (adviser, certification officer, and dean) sign the degree plan, it then becomes the official plan that students follow to graduation. Changes and course substitutions to the plan must be approved by the student’s adviser, certification officer, dean of education and dean of other colleges (when changes involve courses from other colleges). Changes may also occur when the State Board for Educator Certification mandates changes in the teacher preparation program or certification areas.

Other secondary/all level degree plans may be obtained from the department of the student’s major field, and students should also meet with the secondary/all level education coordinator by the sophomore year.

Educator Certification in Texas

Rhode Hall Room 112
361-593-2894

The college maintains an Educator Certification Office to assist individuals with eligibility for educator credentialing. The present certification rules in Texas became effective September 1, 1999. The Standard Certificate, issued by the State Board of Educator Certification, replaces the lifetime Provisional and Professional certificates for all certificate programs completed after September 1, 1999. It is a renewable credential which must be renewed every five years to remain valid.

The Initial Standard Certificate

The initial certificate for beginning teachers may be obtained by completion of an appropriate undergraduate program culminating in a baccalaureate degree. A student seeking initial certification is required to have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 plus a minimum 2.75 average in courses constituting the teaching field(s) and delivery system(s) (Bilingual Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education).

In order to be recommended for initial certification or for additional teaching fields or areas of specialization, or for supplemental certificates, all persons are required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). All persons seeking certification in Bilingual Education must also pass the Bilingual Supplemental Test and Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT).

Areas and Levels of Certification

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) approves subject areas and grade levels for certification. Standards describing the knowledge and skills that a beginning teacher must demonstrate prior to certification have been developed for each certificate. For the years covered by this catalog, beginning teachers will be certified under the certification structure described below.

Standard Certificates for Early Childhood-Grade 6 and Grades 4-8

An undergraduate student seeking a certificate to teach in the elementary schools must complete the work for a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Requirements include approximately two years of course work in academic foundations courses; a minimum of 12 semester hours of science, 9 semester hours of mathematics and 6 semester hours of reading; 48 semester hours in an interdisciplinary academic major consisting of subjects taught in the elementary grades with 24 semester hours in one or more subject areas or 18 semester hours in a delivery system (Bilingual Education-Spanish, Early Childhood Education, Special Education), 18 semester hours of field-based professional development courses; and 6 semester hours of student teaching.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Education for the following specializations and delivery systems:

• Early Childhood-Grade 6
  Core Subjects
  Core Subjects with Bilingual Supplemental
• Grades 4-8
  English Language Arts/Reading
  Social Studies
  Mathematics
  Science
  Core Subjects
• Grades 6-12
  Business and Finance
• Grades 7-12
  English Language Arts and Reading
  Science
• Early Childhood-Grade 12
  Technology Applications
  Special Education

Standard Certificate for Grades 6/7-12

A student seeking a certificate to teach in the secondary schools of Texas must earn a bachelor’s degree in a recognized major. Majors that lead to secondary certification can be found in the colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education and Engineering. The introduction to the College of Arts and Sciences has a list of majors offered in that college which lead to teaching certification. To be eligible for certification, the student must spend approximately two years in academic foundations courses; approximately 48 semester hours in selected teaching fields; 18 semester hours in professional development courses; 3 hours in reading and 6 semester hours in student teaching. For further information, students should contact the appropriate chairs of departments offering majors that lead to certification, as well as the coordinator for secondary instruction in the Department of Teacher and Bilingual Education.

Standard Certificate for Grades EC-12

A student seeking a certificate to teach a special subject at all grade levels in Texas schools must complete the work for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree consisting of approximately two years of course work in academic foundations courses; the required course work in the subject area, including specific courses at both the elementary and secondary levels; and the required professional education courses at the elementary and secondary levels. Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers the all-level certificate in Art, Special Education, Physical Education, Music and Technology Applications. For further information students should contact the chair of the appropriate department, as well as the coordinator for secondary instruction in the Department of Teacher and Bilingual Education.

Standard Certificate for Grades 6-12

A student seeking a certificate to teach vocational education must earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers the vocational certificates for Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences. Students should contact the appropriate adviser.

Post-Baccalaureate Initial Standard Certificate

Students possessing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution may be admitted to a special program for initial certification as a teacher. A post-baccalaureate student seeking initial certification is required to have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 plus a minimum 2.75 average in courses constituting the teaching field(s) and delivery system(s) (Bilingual Education-Spanish, Special Education). In addition, all requirements for admission to professional education courses (listed below) apply. Students interested in post-baccalaureate certification should make an appointment with the program coordinator to have a certification plan developed based on evaluation of the undergraduate transcript.

Supplemental Certificates

Supplemental certificates are designed to attach to the grade level and subject area of a base certificate, and are available in the following areas:

• English as a Second Language
• Special Education
• Bilingual Education

Non-certification Degrees: Kinesiology (Exercise Science), Kinesiology (Exercise Science/Performance Psychology), Kinesiology (Exercise Science/Pre-Physical Therapy), Kinesiology (Sport and Leisure Studies), Kinesiology (Sport Business)

The Department of Health and Kinesiology offers undergraduate degrees that do not prepare recipients to sit for teacher certification. The Bachelor of Science degrees in Kinesiology (Exercise Science), Kinesiology (Exercise Science/Performance Psychology), Kinesiology (Exercise Science/Pre-Physical Therapy), Kinesiology (Sport and Leisure Studies) and Kinesiology (Sport Business) are designed for students wishing to pursue health-, exercise-, therapy-, movement- or sport-related careers outside of the public school setting. Students should consult the Department of Health and Kinesiology section of the catalog for more information.

Admission to Education

Rhode Hall Room 112
361-593-2894

(NOTE: State requirements sometimes cause changes in university requirements. Please see your academic adviser for the latest updates to the admission requirements.)

Requirements for admission are subject to change pending ruling made by State Board for Educator Certification.

Students admitted to the university may declare their interest in becoming teachers and initiate a general academic program preparatory to this objective. In addition to applying and being accepted to the university, after successfully completing 60 or more semester hours of study with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75/4.0 (transfer and Texas A&M University-Kingsville course work), the student should request an application to the Educator Preparation Program in the Center for Educator Preparation Services, Rhode Hall 117. Students may not register for 3000 or 4000 level education courses until the application is submitted and approved with a formal offer of admittance. To be admitted to the Educator Preparation Program a student must:

1. have completed 60 semester hours including at least 30 semester hours of academic foundations.
2. have completed the following or higher:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Semester Credit Hours
   ENGL 1301	Rhetoric and Composition (with a C or better)	3
   ENGL 1302	Rhetoric and Composition (with a C or better)	3
   HIST 1301	American History to 1877	3
   HIST 1302	American History since 1877	3
   MATH 1314	College Algebra (or higher)	3

3. have an official degree plan on file in the College of Education and Human Performance or submit a copy of the signed degree plan from another college.
4. have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better (including all transfer work).
5. Submit TSI documentation for TSI Complete or Exemption/Waiver.
6. have passed the Nelson-Denny Reading Test.
7. have signed disclosure and consent forms required for participation in field experiences and student teaching. Schools participating in the field-based program may require criminal record checks on persons interacting on a daily basis with students. Applications for a Texas teaching certificate must report any previous arrest, indictment, conviction and/or deferred adjudication to the Texas Board for Educator Certification. SBEC requires fingerprinting to verify a nationwide criminal history background check. An applicant with a criminal history may be denied certification.
8. have completed critical thinking requirements (EDED 1301 or approved substitute).
9. have completed an interview or other screening instrument to determine if the applicant’s knowledge, experience, skills, and aptitude are appropriate for the certificate sought.
10. have a minimum of 12 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought, or if seeking Math or Science certification, have a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in Math or Science.

Student must maintain a 2.75/4.0 grade point average to remain in the teacher preparation program. No education course (prefixes EDBL, EDED, EDRG, EDSE) may be counted toward any degree leading to teacher certification unless the grade is at least a C.

Admission to Student Teaching

Students are expected to plan their programs, if possible, so they are registered for not more than a maximum of 12 semester hours (6 hours are student teaching) when taking student teaching. Any exception must be approved by a student's department chair or the dean of the College of Education and Human Performance. To be eligible to register for student teaching a student must:

1. be in good standing with the educator preparation program;
2. have successfully completed all course work required field experiences
3. have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75/4.0 overall (transfer and TAMUK work) and at least a 2.75 average or above in the teaching field(s) and/or delivery systems (bilingual, special education).
4. have completed all education courses (except EDED 4613 and EDED 4623)
   Exceptions:
   1. Secondary/All-level students may take EDRG 4314 during student teaching.
   2. Students with financial aid may take enough courses to maintain aid funding.
   3. For other circumstances, call the Center for Educator Preparation Services and make an appointment for advising
5. passing score on TExES content area exam
6. passing score on TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 exam
7. submit an application for student teaching (available in the CEPS, Rhode Hall 117.)
8. have submitted the results of a tuberculin test (within 180 days of student teaching).

Communication Skills

Effective September 1, 1992, all freshmen and transfer students entering Texas A&M University-Kingsville must demonstrate minimum communication skills. Students in the College of Education and Human Performance must pass ENGL 1302 with a grade of C or better to meet the requirement. Students in other colleges should contact their advisers for specific communication requirements.

Laboratory Fee

For each laboratory course a fee of $2 to $30 is charged depending upon cost of materials used in the course.

Support Units and Special Resources

The Education Materials Center

The Education Materials Center located on the second floor of the James C. Jernigan Library houses a Curriculum Collection and a Bilingual Collection of print and nonprint materials. The collections include elementary and secondary state-adopted textbooks, curriculum materials and juvenile literature with special emphasis on award winning books, multicultural books and thematic units.

Human Performance Laboratory

The Department of Health and Kinesiology operates the Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) which is located in the Health and Recreation Building. The HPL is designed for instruction and research in the evaluation of human performance and health-related fitness variables in both competitive athletes and the general public.

Marc Cisneros Center for Young Children

Marisol Loredo, Director
Marc Cisneros Center for Young Children. MSC 138. Extension 2219.

The Marc Cisneros Center for Young Children is the laboratory in which students observe and gain practical experience working with young children and their parents. Several courses in the Department of Human Sciences require observation and/or participation at the Center. Students from other disciplines, such as early childhood education, psychology, speech communications and kinesiology, are also provided opportunities to observe and interact with young children.

The Marc Cisneros Center for Young Children was established in 1941 and is housed on the corner of University Boulevard and Santa Gertrudis Avenue. It meets the needs of 60 children ages three months through five years. Fenced playgrounds provide a large assortment of play structures and equipment, shade and sun areas and open play space. Learning centers are provided in each room to stimulate and encourage exploration and discovery. The philosophy that young children learn through creative play is evident in planned activities that enhance the children's emotional, social, physical and cognitive development.

A highly qualified staff works with the children. The school's close proximity to campus and its high quality program make it especially attractive to the university community. Parents are encouraged to register their children early since there is a waiting list. Prospective parents are welcome to visit at any time.