ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ

Location: 202 Education Building, Phone: (409)880-8217

Chair: Vicky Farrow
Chair E-mail: vicky.farrow@lamar.edu 

Degree Coordinators:

  • M.Ed. – Teacher Leadership – Dr. Vicky Farrow, 880-8217, 202 Education Building, vicky.farrow@lamar.edu 
  • M.Ed. – Elementary Education and M.Ed. – Secondary Education – Dr. MaryE Wilkinson, 880-8697, 219 Education Building marye.wilkinson@lamar.edu 
  • M.Ed. – Special Education – Dr. Nancy Carlson, 880-7822, 217 Education Building, nancy.carlson@lamar.du 

Degrees Offered

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies

  • EC - 6 Generalist – 127 hours
  • 4-8 English, Language Arts and Reading – 124 hours
  • 4-8 Math – 121 hours
  • 4-8 Math/Science – 125 hours
  • 4-8 Composite Science – 125 hours
  • 4-8 Social Studies – 124 hours
  • 4-8 Generalist – 122 hours
  • EC - 12 Special Education – 121 hours

Graduate

  • Master of Education in Teacher Leadership
  • Master of Education in Elementary Education
  • Master of Education in Secondary Education
  • Master of Education in Special Education

Professional Certificates

  • Educational Diagnostician
  • Generic Special Education

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies

The Department of Professional Pedagogy offers the Interdisciplinary Studies degree plan for the following EC-6, 4-8 and EC-12 degree plans leading to teacher certification.

Secondary Education Certification

Students desiring to certify in Secondary Education earn a degree in a teaching discipline. For degree and certification advisement purposes, students should consult the major department or office listed below and the academic advisor for secondary certification in the Office of Professional Services, room 201 in the Education Building. Twelve hours must be advanced (3000-4000 level). Certification options are listed below:

  • Art (All Levels). See Department of Art.
  • Business Composite (6-12). See Dean of College of Business.
  • Chemistry (8-12). See Department of Chemistry.
  • Computer Science (8-12). See Department of Computer Science.
  • Dance (8-12). See Department of Theatre and Dance.
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing (All Levels). See Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education.
  • English, Language Arts and Reading (8-12.) See Department of English and Modern Languages.
  • Family and Consumer Sciences (6-12.) See Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
  • French (8-12). See Department of English and Modern Languages.
  • Health (All Levels). See Department of Health and Kinesiology.
  • History (8-12). See Department of History.
  • Journalism (8-12). See Department of Communication.
  • Life Science (8-12). See Department of Biology.
  • Mathematics (8-12). See Department of Mathematics.
  • Music (All Levels). See Department of Music.
  • Physical Education (All Levels). See Department of Health and Kinesiology.
  • Physical Sciences (8-12). See Department of Chemistry.
  • Science (8-12). See Dean of College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Social Studies (8-12). See Dean of College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Spanish (8-12). See Department of English and Modern Languages.
  • Special Education (All Levels). See Department of Professional Pedagogy.
  • Speech (8-12). See Department of Communication.
  • Technology Applications (8-12). See Department of Professional Pedagogy.
  • Theatre (All Levels). See Department of Theatre and Dance.

Professional Pedagogy Courses

Students completing secondary certification take a block of Professional Pedagogy courses in addition to completing required courses in their major field. These are XXXXXXXXX. Students must apply and be accepted into Teacher Education prior to enrolling in these or any other 3000- or 4000-level courses in pedagogy, special education, reading or early childhood education. For assistance, students should see the advisor in the Office of Professional Services, room 201 Education Building, (409) 880-8902. Courses in the Professional Pedagogy Department may require public school field experience hours.

Graduate Program

The Department of Professional Pedagogy offers programs leading to the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Teacher Leadership, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education. In addition, the Department offers course work leading to two different Professional Certificates. It is the goal of the Master of Education and the Professional Certificate programs to provide the academic climate and practical experience necessary to produce teachers and other specialists of superior competence in their chosen areas of specialization.

Students who wish to pursue a Master of Education and/or a Professional Certificate should contact the Graduate Coordinator well before the beginning of the semester in which they plan to enroll.

Master of Education 

General Requirements
To be accepted into a program leading to a Master’s Degree in Education the student must:

  1. Fulfill the general requirements for admission and the general degree requirements as stated elsewhere in this bulletin.
  2. Meet the undergraduate prerequisites appropriate to the chosen program of study. These requirements include:
    A. The applicant in elementary education must have completed 18 semester hours in education, including 6 semester hours in elementary education methods and materials courses.
    B. The applicant in secondary education must have completed a minimum of 18 semester hours in education. At least 12 of the 18 hours must be at the 3000 level or higher.
    C. The applicant in special education must have completed a minimum of 18 semester hours in education. At least 12 of the 18 hours must be at the 3000 level or higher.
  3. The student may elect to write a thesis or completean action research project. The student is required to complete a minimum of 30 hours plus the thesis or research project.
  4. Students who complete a master’s degree plan that does not require a thesis or research project must earn a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit and are required to pass a written comprehensive examination administered during the last semester of attendance.

Step-by-Step Procedure

  1. Apply for Admission to the Graduate College of ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University.
    A. Obtain application packet from the Graduate ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Office in Room 118 of the Wimberly Building or call (409) 880-8356.
    B. Take the Graduate Record Examination and have scores sent to: Graduate ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University, P.O. Box 10078, Beaumont, Texas 77710.
    C. Have all transcripts sent to Graduate ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ as in B above.
  2. Meet with Graduate Coordinator to develop a degree plan. NOTE: No deviations from the degree plan will be permitted without written permission of the Graduate Coordinator.
  3. In consultation with the Graduate Coordinator, select members of graduate committee. (The program advisor will chair this committee.)
  4. Complete at least 12 hours of graduate-level course work in the department and apply for Admission to Candidacy. NOTE: Students must be admitted to candidacy before beginning their last nine hours of course work.
  5. Complete remaining course work.
  6. Complete requirements for graduation
    A. Apply for graduation in the Graduate College office (219 Wimberly).
    B. Defend thesis/research project.
  7. Graduate

M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership

The M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership is a non-thesis Master's Degree program designed to develop instructional leaders who can carry out a vision of learning to include designing curriculum, implementing research-based instructional strategies, motivating students, using assessment for learning, and engaging the community to support learning. The program consists of twelve courses offered in a five-week distance learning format through the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University Academic Partnerships program. The program can be completed in 18 months of continuous enrollment. More information about this program can be found at http://stateu.com/lamar/edu_tl.asp

The coursework consists of the following:

  1. Professional Core. 15 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5326 School-Community Relations
    PEDG 5310 Research for Teachers
    PEDG 5367 Diverse Learners
    PEDG 5344 School Law for Teachers
    PEDG 5327 Schools as Learning Communities
  2. Academic Support Courses. 12 semester hours must be selected from the following courses:
    PEDG 5369 Cognition and Instruction
    PEDG 5370 Public School Curriculum
    PEDG 5371 Creative Instructional Strategies
    PEDG 5366 Modification of Curriculum and Instruction for the Atypical Learner
    PEDG 5372 Using Assessment Data to Guide Instructional Decisions
    PEDG 5373 Student Expectations & Motivation
    PEDG 5376 Practicing Teacher Leadership

M.Ed. in Elementary Education

This program is delivered in traditional face-to-face manner. To meet individual needs, considerable flexibility is allowed in planning the student’s program; however, the usual pattern of course work is as follows:

  1. Professional Core. 18 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5310 Research for Teachers
    PEDG 5320 Research/Current Issues in Education
    PEDG 5370 The Public School Curriculum
    PEDG 5334 Tests, Measurements, and Evaluation
    PEDG 5350 The Learning Process
    PEDG 5344 School Law
  2. Academic Support Courses. 12 semester hours must be selected from the following courses:
    PEDG 5367 Diversity/Multi-Culturalism
    PEDG 5387 Teaching Reading in the Elementary School
    PEDG 5389 Diagnostic/Prescriptive Procedures in Reading
    PEDG 5356 The Gifted Learner
    PEDG 5366 Modification of Curriculum and Instruction for the Atypical Learner
  3. Thesis or Research Project or six additional semester hours of academic support courses approved by advisor (six semester hours)
    PEDG 5390/5391 Thesis or Research Project. Must be completed as a six-hour block. Enrollment contingent on approval of advisor. The research can be content-centered or primarily pedagogical in nature.

M.Ed. in Secondary Education

This traditional program meets individual needs and allows considerable flexibility in developing the student’s plan; however, the usual pattern of course work is as follows:

  1. Professional Core. 18 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5310 Research for Teachers
    PEDG 5320 Research/Current Issues in Education
    PEDG 5370 The Public School Curriculum
    PEDG 5334 Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation
    PEDG 5350 The Learning Process
    PEDG 5344 School Law
  2. Academic Content Discipline. 12 semester hours of graduate work must be completed in one of the approved disciplines. Specific courses will be determined by the program advisor. Specialization areas are available in the following disciplines:
    Biology Mathematics
    Chemistry Physics
    English Political Science
    Earth Science Reading
    History Speech
    Kinesiology
  3. Thesis or Research Project or six additional semester hours of academic support courses approved by advisor (six semester hours)
    PEDG 5390/5391 Thesis or Research Project. Must be completed as a six-hour block. Enrollment contingent on approval of advisor. The research can be content-centered or primarily pedagogical in nature.

M.Ed. in Special Education

To meet individual needs in this traditional program, some flexibility is allowed in planning the student’s program; however, the usual pattern of course work is indicated below. If a student desires, he/she may complete requirements for a standard five-year renewable Certificate as an Educational Diagnostician. In addition, the student may complete requirements for a Certificate in Special Education-Generic as part of the degree plan. This degree, if the student is pursuing one of the described certifications, is planned as a 36 semester hour non-thesis program. A student not seeking a certificate within the degree hours may complete a degree with a minimum of 30 semester hours plus a thesis.

The student should secure information concerning requirements for certification from the Graduate Coordinator. General information concerning Professional Certificates is presented in another portion of the College of Education and Human Development section of this bulletin.

M.Ed. in Special Education (Generic Certification)

  1. Professional Development Area. 9 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5310 Research for Teachers
    PEDG 5340 Normal Human Growth and Development
    PEDG 5350 The Learning Process
  2. Resource Area. 12 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5334 Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation
    PEDG 5361 Survey of Learning Potentials of Exceptional Children
    PEDG 5370 Public School Curriculum
    PEDG 5388 Reading/Language Arts for the Exceptional Learner
  3. Specialization Area. 15 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5362 Psychoeducational Evaluation of Exceptional Children
    PEDG 5364 Behavior Modification and Contingency Management of Disabled Learners
    PEDG 5365 Instructional Processes with Exceptional Children
    PEDG 5366 Modification of Curriculum and Instruction for the Atypical Learner
    PEDG 5375 Content Area Reading

M.Ed. in Special Education (Educational Diagnostician Certification)

  1. Professional Development Area. 9 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5310 Research for Teachers
    PEDG 5340 Normal Human Growth and Development
    PEDG 5350 The Learning Process
  2. Resource Area.9 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5361 Survey of Learning Potentials of Exceptional Children (Req)
    PEDG 5388 Reading/Language Arts for the Exceptional Learner
    PEDG 5375 Content Area Reading
    PEDG 5344 School Law
    PEDG 5365 Instructional Processes with Exceptional Children (Req)
  3. Specialization Area. 18 semester hours are required:
    PEDG 5334 Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation
    PEDG 5362 Psychoeducational Evaluation of Exceptional Children
    CNDV 5321 Test Administration and Interpretation
    PEDG 5363 Practicum in Psychoeducational Procedures
    PEDG 5364 Behavior Modification and Contingency Management of Disabled Learners
    PEDG 5366 Modification of Curriculum and Instruction for the Atypical Learner

General Information Concerning Professional Certificates

The Professional Certificate is a standard five-year renewable certificate, and gives the holder legal authority to perform duties in the public schools of Texas in the specialized areas designated on the face of the certificate. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the process of applying for certification by contacting the College Certification Officer.