EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Division of Social Sciences
Associate Professor Michael Kamen, PhD, Chair
Professor James W. Hunt, EdD
Professor Jacqueline E. Muir-Broaddus, PhD
Associate Professor Sherry E. Adrian, PhD
Associate Professor Sharon C. Johnson, EdD
Associate Professor Stephen Marble, PhD
Assistant Professor Alicia Moore, PhD
Instructor Patti Baran, MEd (part-time)
The Education Department at Southwestern recognizes that education is the vehicle upon which the
world's future rides and that the preparation of culturally responsive teachers for tomorrow's classrooms
is vitally important. We believe that a strong foundation in the liberal arts is critical to the preparation
of excellent teachers. Course work in Southwestern's General Education Program, and in the content
fields for secondary certification, is provided outside the Education Department.
Courses within the Education Department are designed to provide a philosophical and theoretical
basis for teaching. In addition, courses are provided which develop a knowledge of teaching methodology
that is based on current research. These courses emphasize developmental characteristics of the learner,
learning theories, diverse learners and assessment. Analytic, creative and evaluative thinking skills are
taught and modeled in courses in order to produce lifelong learners who are skilled in the problem
solving so necessary in the world of today and tomorrow. Strong, early field experiences and a closely
supervised student teaching placement are integral components of the program. After graduation, during
the first critical year of teaching, the Education Department provides assistance through the S.O.S.
(Semester of Support) program. Graduates in their first year of teaching return to campus to exchange
ideas, receive technical assistance from the department faculty, and engage in program evaluation of the
Teacher Certification Program. S.O.S. also provides on-site technical support to graduates during their
first year of teaching.
Southwestern University has received the rating of "Accredited" under the Accountability System for
Educator Preparation. This rating is issued by the State Board of Educator Certification under the authority
of Section 21.045, Texas Education Code. Accreditation ratings are based on the performance standards
established by the State Board and are issued annually to each educator preparation program in Texas. The
standards represent successful performance by the program's candidates on the examinations required for
certification as an educator. Southwestern's first-time test takers had a 98 percent pass rate in 2003-2004,
while the cumulative pass rate for 2001-2004 was above 99 percent.
Southwestern University and the local Georgetown Independent School District have a
collaborative relationship through our state recognized Center for Professional Development and
Technology (CPDT). Local schools provide classrooms for university class meetings so that students
seeking teacher certification benefit from learning in the context of public schools.
Degrees are awarded by Southwestern University, while certification is awarded by the State of
Texas. Therefore, a student may seek certification upon completion of any degree, the completion of
a state-approved teacher certification program and the receipt of a satisfactory score on the TExES
examinations. Students seeking elementary/middle school certification major in Education and choose
either Primary (Pre-K-4) or Intermediate (4-8) level teacher certification. Students who major in
Education and who are seeking the 4-8 certification must choose a content area from the following:
language arts, math, science, math/science combination or social studies. Students seeking secondary
or all-level certification major in a subject field such as history, English, mathematics, etc. Specific
information on courses required for elementary, intermediate, secondary and all-level certification
programs is listed in the following pages.
Teacher certification standards are established by the State Board for Educator Certification. Any
change in these standards must be reflected in Southwestern's certification requirements; therefore,
any modification in the state law affecting certification requirements takes precedence over statements
in this catalog.
In completing the requirements for their respective degree programs, students must meet the
requirements necessary for Texas teacher certification as well as the requirements of Southwestern.
Exemption from a University graduation requirement may not satisfy state certification requirements.
Completion of a degree with teacher certification may require an extra semester of work. In fall of
the senior year, placement in a field-based program will require students to return to Georgetown prior
to the beginning of public school, which usually precedes the start of Southwestern University classes.
The capstone experience for those majoring in Education consists of successful completion of the
student teaching requirements. The capstone for those seeking secondary certification will be in their
major area of study. In addition, they will complete student teaching requirements.
Existing certification programs include elementary/primary (pre-K-grade 4), elementary/
intermediate (grades 4-8), secondary (grades 8-12) and all-level (health, music, physical education and
generic special education). Students earning secondary certification typically complete a minimum
of a 30-hour major in their certification content area (e.g. math, biology, history, English, Spanish,
kinesiology, etc.) and 42-51 hours of professional education and supporting courses (including a full
semester of student teaching). The 42-51 hours of professional education and supporting courses may
also be used to meet the requirements for an Education minor and some of these courses may be used to
satisfy general university requirements.
FACULTY INFORMATION
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