Academic Schools

School of Education
University of Houston – Victoria : Suite 222, University West : 3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria Texas 77901 : 361.570.4261 : Fax: 361.570.4257
Email:  education@uhv.edu

Goals

In order to achieve the mission of the School of Education, the faculty of the School of Education is committed to the following goals:

Encouragement of ethical practice

Meaningful faculty-student interactions

Promotion of learning as a life-long process

Achievement of student and faculty academic excellence

Appreciation of student diversity and a multicultural society

Support of a practical foundation through extensive field experiences

Creation of an educational environment that supports critical thinking

Innovative instruction and an understanding of the use of technology in learning

Initial undergraduate preparation of prospective elementary teachers is provided through the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. Graduate preparation of teachers, professional certification programs and preparation for specialized service in education are provided through the Master of Education degree programs. Initial preparation for prospective secondary teachers is available through courses supplementing Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from the School of Arts and Sciences and the Bachelor of Business Administration in the School of Business Administration. Appropriate certification sequences are also available for persons who have earned degrees in academic fields offered in the public school curriculum. Although there is a growing emphasis on laboratory and clinical approaches and on directed field experiences, an appropriate balance between professional and academic emphasis is sought in all programs.

One of the prime objectives of the school is to acquaint its students with various cultural subgroups that characterize the school’s area of influence. The prospective student should consequently anticipate the opportunity to work with learners in a wide variety of educational settings.

Center for Academic Excellence

The Center for Academic Excellence is a program within the School of Education with the goal of providing students with the necessary information to excel. Students are encouraged to go beyond being satisfied with meeting minimum standards.

All Texas students must pass the appropriate Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities TExES tests for teacher certification. Each student must also pass a second test that is appropriate to his/her teaching field, i.e. a first grade teacher would need to pass the Early Childhood – Grade Four Generalist test. Students may elect or be required to take additional tests for certification in other areas.  

Some of the services provided by the center are:

·     Encouraging all students to strive for excellence

·     Providing students with preparation in learning, testing, strategies, and reducing testing anxiety.

·      Working with small groups of students

·      Giving individual attention as needed

·       Providing guidance in selecting appropriate tests for chosen programs of study

·     Helping determine when to register and study for tests based on the student’s own progress

·      Supplying information about the tests

Scheduled study sessions: 

·         Focus on specific tests and the competencies covered by each

·         Concentrate on test standards, format, strategies, and even test anxiety.

Workshops held in the fall and spring semesters feature guest professors with expertise in each area of testing. Structured study periods are led in an extended session.

The center maintains a listserv to keep students informed of test dates, registration deadlines, dates and times of study sessions, etc.  For more information and the email address, please see the School of Education web page.  

Important Notice on Certification:

Students seeking teacher certification will be subject to additional and/or new requirements as set forth by legislative mandates or action taken by the State Board for Educator Certification.
In May, 2000, the State Board of Educator Certification approved new categories of certification – Early Childhood through fourth grade (EC-4) and fourth through eighth grade (4-8 grade) and eighth through twelfth grade (8-12).  These were effective September 1, 2002.  If students have not completed the program in standard elementary and secondary certification (including all state mandated tests) by August 31, 2004, they will have to meet requirements for the new certificates.
Admission to the elementary and secondary teacher certification program is admission to a professional program and is separate and apart from admission to the university.

Degree Requirements

The following requirements apply to all candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree for Early School Education:

1.  Satisfy all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree as found in the section, UNIVERSITY

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY SCHOOL EDUCATION, in this catalog.

2.  Lower Division:

a. A combined total