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College of Education

Departmental Programs

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| Certification Programs |

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Programs

The faculty of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction endeavors to improve instructional practice in schools and other educational settings for learners three-years-old to adult. The department offers a range of graduate degrees, endorsements, and certification programs that include the following:

Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.)

Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Art Education
Bilingual Education
Early Childhood Education
Gifted and Talented Education
Instructional Technology
Mathematics Education
Reading and Language Arts Education
Science Education
Second Language Education
Social Studies Education
Teaching

Elementary (initial and professional)
Secondary (initial and professional)
All-Level Art (initial)
Reading Specialist (professional)

Bilingual Education
English as a Second Language
Gifted and Talented Education
Doctor of Education Degree (Ed.D.)
Curriculum and Instruction

Curriculum and Instruction

Degree plans leading to the Doctor of Education degree in curriculum and instruction are tailored to meet the unique needs and professional aspirations of each student admitted to the program. The program combines several supporting areas, including art education, bilingual education, curriculum, early childhood education, education of the gifted and talented, instructional technology, language arts education, literature education, mathematics education, reading education, science education, social studies education, and teacher education.

Department of Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies

Programs

The Department of Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies curriculum prepares students for leadership positions in all educational settings, emphasizing management, planning, evaluation, research, and policy analysis. The program provides an understanding of schooling in relation to society and community from political, economic, legal, sociological, historical, cultural, and philosophical perspectives.

Graduates of the department's programs work as educational leaders in public and private school systems (prekindergarten to 12th grade) and in various kinds of postsecondary institutions, government agencies, professional organizations, and industrial and corporate training programs. Departmental programs exist at the master's and doctoral levels and in specially designed sequences of courses that relate to State Board for Educator Certification's certification requirements. The department offers the following programs:

Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.)
Educational Administration and Supervision
Higher Education
Historical, Social, and Cultural Foundations
Professional Certificates
Principal
Superintendent
Doctor of Education Degree (Ed.D.)
Educational Administration and Supervision
Historical, Social, and Cultural Foundations

The Department of Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies offers graduate courses under three headings: cultural and urban studies (CUST); educational leadership and cultural studies (ELCS); and systems analysis, evaluation, and research (SAER). See the Undergraduate Studies catalog for a list of the undergraduate courses, or consult the department for additional information.

Department of Educational Psychology

Programs

The Department of Educational Psychology offers graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels that prepare students to understand the conceptual base of theories, research, and methods of psychology and to apply these fields of study to the processes of education and human development.

The department emphasizes four graduate study areas: counseling, educational psychology and individual differences, school psychology (pending approval), and special education. Though differing in focus, all three programs emphasize preparing students to be competent in the academic and professional aspects of educational psychology. Professional competence is pursued through course work, seminars and supervised research, practice, and internship experiences.

Counseling

The master's degree program in counseling brings together the theoretical and applied principles of educational psychology that are essential to the counseling relationship, and prepares students to work as professional counselors in public and private schools, community agencies, and college counseling centers.

Graduates of the master's degree program meet the academic requirements necessary for State Board for Educator Certification's certification as school counselors and typically are eligible to sit for the examination to obtain licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas Certification and licensure requirements vary by state and may change without notification. Students should ensure that their individual degree plans concur with their credentialing expectations.

The Doctor of Philosophy program in Counseling Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association and adheres to a scientist-practitioner training model. The program emphasizes the theory, research, and practice of working with normal populations from a broadly defined ecological developmental perspective. Graduates obtain faculty positions in colleges and universities; provide counseling supervision and consultation services in a variety of mental health settings; and serve as supervisors, program coordinators, and direct service providers in school districts. Students participate in a variety of training experiences including at least two semesters of practicum and a full-year, full-time, pre-doctoral internship approved by the faculty. Graduates of the Counseling Psychology program typically meet the academic requirements to apply for licensure as a psychologist in the state of Texas. Licensure requirements vary by state and may change without notifications. Students should ensure that their individual degree plans concur with their credentialing expectation.

Educational Psychology and Individual Differences

The master's degree in educational psychology program emphasizes such areas as development, learning, motivation, exceptionality or disabilities, psychological and educational measurement, and research methodology. Students expand their understanding of theory and the implications for education within these areas. Flexibility within the program affords students the opportunity to develop a program of study tailored to their professional needs. Graduates of the master’s program who previously have earned a teaching certificate return to school settings more fully prepared to teach, to become department or campus leaders, or to pursue other educational career paths. Graduates also pursue careers as associate psychologists, researchers or measurement specialists, and educational support staff for health care and other institutions.

Special Education

The college offers the master's degree in special education and gives students the option of meeting Texas Education Agency requirements for certification in a) Generic Special Education and b) Educational Diagnosticians, and Severely Handicapped Education. Specializations in Severely Handicapped Education, Severe Emotional Disturbance and Autism, Special Education Supervision, and Hospital Homebound Instruction can be pursued on an individual basis. Special education counseling requires admission into both counseling and special education. Students applying for specialty certificates must first satisfy the requirements for Generic Special Education. Students who wish to work toward one or more of the endorsement/certification programs may include program requirements in the elective or required areas of their degree plans.

The Department has temporarily suspended admission to the Ed.D. program in Special Education.
The doctoral program (Ed.D.) prepares students to conduct research and to pursue scholarly activities germane to individual specializations. Program graduates currently hold leadership positions in local, regional, and state school agencies, as well as private and public colleges and universities.

Degree Programs

Programs in educational psychology include the following:

Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.)
Educational Psychology
Counseling
Special Education
Certificates
Generic Special Education (initial)
Counselor (professional)
Educational Diagnostician (professional)
Special Education Counselor (professional)
Severe/Profound Handicaps (endorsement)
Severely Emotionally Disturbed and Autistic (endorsement)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Counseling Psychology
Educational Psychology and Individual Differences
Doctor of Education Degree (Ed.D.)
Special Education
(New admission temporarily suspended)

The certification program in counseling prepares professional counselors to function in a public school setting. Formal admission to the counseling area in the department is required. Students must complete a required sequence of counseling courses and nine semester hours of electives, approved by an advisor for this certificate. Three years of acceptable teaching experience is a prerequisite for this certificate. Note: many school districts prefer completion of an M.Ed. degree in Counseling inclusive of the certificate requirements.

If students and advisors plan carefully and if the students complete the appropriate additional course work, graduates of the program may meet the academic (master's degree) requirements necessary for State Board for Educator Certification's certification as school counselors, and may be eligible to sit for the examination to obtain either certification as a Psychological Associate or licensure as a Professional Counselor.

For further information, consult the Department of Educational Psychology, 491 Farish Hall, (713) 743-9830.

Educational Diagnostician (minimum 39 semester hours)

The Educational Diagnostician Endorsement is a graduate-level program that prepares teachers to assess and evaluate the educational needs of learners with academic difficulties. Requirements for the endorsement include a master's degree; three years of successful teaching experience; and a minimum of 39 graduate-level semester hours in five specified areas, including the following: special education (nine semester hours), assessment and evaluation (15 semester hours), human growth and development (three semester hours), learning theory (six semester hours), and instructional modification (six semester hours). Students seeking this endorsement must have graduate status in the department.

For further information, consult the Department of Educational Psychology, 491 Farish, (713) 743-9830.

Special Education (39 semester hours M.Ed.)

This program prepares graduates to work at all levels with students who have learning disabilities or who have an emotional disturbance, mental retardation, or a physical disability. Completion of the program requires 39 specific semester hours, including an internship. A master's degree in special education can be obtained with certification.

For further information, consult the Department of Educational Psychology, 491 Farish Hall, (713) 743-9830.

Special Education Counselor (60 semester hours)

Individuals seeking certification as special education counselors must be formally admitted for graduate studying in both the Counseling and Special Education Programs. All the requirements for a counseling certificate as well as the requirements for a special education certificate must be completed successfully. The combined requirements for obtaining these two credentials is approximately 60 semester hours.

For further information, consult the Department of Educational Psychology, 491 Farish Hall, (713) 743-9830.

Department of Health and Human Performance

Programs

The Department of Health and Human Performance offers graduate programs in three major areas: allied health education and administration, health education, and physical education. Graduate degrees and certificates include the following:

Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.)

Allied Health Education and Administration
Health Education
Physical Education

Master of Science Degree (M.S.)

Certificates

Health (initial)
Physical Education (initial-secondary or all-level)

Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.)

Allied Health Education and Administration

The doctoral degree in Allied Health Education and Administration is a cooperative program with Baylor College of Medicine. The curriculum leading to the Ed.D. degree consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours of course work and a dissertation (minimum of six hours). The student completing this degree is prepared for employment in institutions of higher learning and health care institutions that require research, teaching, and educational administration skills. Offered since 1972, this program is open to licensed/certified registered allied health professionals preparing for positions as educators or educational administrators in schools for allied health professionals, colleges or universities, clinical settings or community health agencies.

The master's degree in Allied Health Education and Administration is part of a cooperative program with Baylor College of Medicine. Faculty at both institutions provide the course work. Offered since 1972, this program is open to licensed/certified/registered allied health professionals preparing for positions as educators or educational administrators in schools for allied health professionals, colleges or universities, clinical settings, or community health agencies. Program requirements for the M.Ed. include 36 hours of course work in foundations of education, allied health education and administration, and advisor-approved electives. A practicum/internship is also required. In addition to course requirements, students must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination covering their major field of study after 27 hours of course work.

Health Education

At the master's level, the health education concentration is designed to provide students from diverse disciplines opportunities to apply the principles of health education and health promotion in school, agency, community, worksite, and patient care settings. A total of 36 semester hours is required, with specific course work in foundations of education, health education, and advisor- approved electives. In addition to course requirements, students must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination covering their major field of study after 27 hours of course work. Graduates from this program are anticipated to meet the educational criteria to become a Certified Health Education Specialist.

Kinesiology

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Kinesiology is designed to prepare professionals with the cognitive and research skills needed to be productive scholars in the changing discipline of Kinesiology. The degree is research-oriented with a central focus on the health benefits of physical activity. The four objectives of the Ph.D. in Kinesiology are:

1. To train scholars with the capacity to understand and conduct research in kinesiology.

2. To train scholars with the capacity to develop and evaluate educational programs consistent with the national health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 2010.

3. To train scholars with the capacity to prepare fundable research and program development proposals.

4. To train teachers with the capacity to be successful in higher education and kinesiological settings in the public and private domains.

   The degree requires 66 hours including: general education (3 hours), research foundations (18 hours), departmental core (9 hours), area of emphasis (15 hours), cognate areas (6 hours), electives (6 hours), and dissertation (9 hours).

Physical Education

The master's degree is designed for physical education teachers, administrators, sport theorists, and exercise specialists. It meets the specific needs of students who are preparing to pursue an advanced degree, those who are seeking certification to teach physical education, and those who wish to continue their professional development.

Physical education teachers, athletic coaches, administrators, and curriculum specialists at the public/private school levels can benefit from this program through study beyond the bachelor's degree. The program also provides appropriate preparation for specialists working in adult fitness programs in corporate and medical settings. The master's program has four emphasis areas including physical education pedagogy, sports/fitness administration, exercise/health related fitness, motor behavior.

1. Foundations of education (nine semester hours)

2. Disciplinary foundations and applied aspects of physical education (18 semester hours)

3. Electives (nine semester hours)

Exercise Science

The master's degree (M.S.) in exercise science is designed to accomplish two objectives. First, it is to prepare students for employment in medically oriented environments that place an emphasis on research. Secondly, it is to provide students with academic and research skills needed for doctoral study in exercise science. Areas of emphasis within this program include exercise physiology, measurement and research in exercise science, and motor behavior. This degree is a 36 hour minimum program including:

1. Research core (9 semester hours)

2. Disciplinary core (6 semester hours)

3. Cognate courses outside department (6 hours)

4. Thesis required (6 hours)

5. Approved electives (9 hours)

Courses

The Department of Health and Human Performance offers graduate and undergraduate courses under five headings: health (HLT), physical education basic instructional program (PEB), physical education graduate program (PEP), kinesiology (KIN), and health, physical education and recreation (HPER). See the Undergraduate Studies catalog for a list of the undergraduate courses, or consult the department for additional information.

Endorsements

Certification Programs

• Initial Teaching Certificates

• Professional Certificates