Student Advising Office
Gwenn Pasco, Director
Matthews Hall, 105
(940) 565-2736
Web site: www.coe.unt.edu/sao
The college's state and nationally accredited programs combine outstanding students with nationally and internationally recognized faculty in a stimulating learning environment to prepare leaders in their professions. It is a leading Texas college of education in acquiring external contracts and grants and in preparing educators for schools, higher education, human service agencies, business and industry. The college is an international leader in a variety of program areas, and its faculty are leaders in state, national and international professional organizations.
To achieve this mission, faculty, staff and students model engaged learning in a supportive and caring environment, focused on worthwhile and appropriate knowledge and skills in their teaching, research and service. The college is flexible as it responds to a dynamic evolving world.
Specifically, the college:
The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)[2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036-1023; (202) 466-7496] and the State Board for Educator Certification. The program in counselor education is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) [5999 Stevenson Avenue; Alexandria VA 22304; (703) 823-9800, ext. 301]. The program in recreation and leisure studies is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Administration/American Association for Leisure and Recreation [22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148; (703) 858-2150].
The College of Education offers 6 bachelors, 20 master's and 15 doctoral degrees in four academic departments: Counseling, Development and Higher Education; Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation; Teacher Education and Administration; and Technology and Cognition. Some financial support for research is available from external grants and faculty research funds administered by the Office of Research and Academic Grants. The areas of research are described by each department.
The following programs of study, organized by department, are available in the college.
Program Areas:
Program Areas:
Program Areas:
Program Areas:
General requirements for each undergraduate degree are listed in the appropriate departmental section of this catalog. Requirements for graduate degrees are listed in the UNT Graduate Catalog.
* Pending final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Teacher certification requirements were under review by the State Board for Educator Certification at the time this catalog went to press. Contact the Department of Teacher Education for current information.
Students planning to teach in elementary or middle schools must major in interdisciplinary studies (see Department of Teacher Education and Administration).
Students planning to teach in secondary schools must earn a major and degree in the academic discipline in which they plan to teach, and take a minor in secondary education to qualify for a teaching certificate. Students should check with the appropriate department for degree requirements.
Due to State changes in the teacher certification deadlines, students seeking all-level teacher certification must complete all requirements by August 2003. Contact the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105, for details.
The State of Texas Standard Teaching Certificate requires completion of an approved four-year degree program and clearance on a criminal record search. Students must meet all prerequisite requirements and apply for admission to the teacher education program prior to taking education courses. Continuation in the teacher education program is contingent upon the results of criminal background checks and successful progress in teacher education courses.
A minimum of 12 semester hours must be completed in residence before a recommendation from UNT is made for any teaching certificate. As of May 1, 1986, in order for the University of North Texas to recommend a student for teacher certification, additional teaching field, area of specialization or endorsement, that student must have successfully (1) completed an approved teacher education program for the preparation of early childhood, middle grades or secondary teachers with the appropriate GPA and semester credit hour requirements; (2) completed student teaching, which includes attending appropriate seminars and passing a comprehensive teacher preparation exam, and (3) passed appropriate sections of the Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET)/Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), as applicable.
The ExCET/TExES is offered twice each long semester and once in the summer. Contact the ExCET/TExES Coordinator, Matthews Hall, Room 218, for further information [(940)565-4877]. Although a student's completion of an approved program or specialization for a degree and/or certificate should prepare the student for such proficiency tests, the College of Education cannot, and does not, guarantee that students will pass such tests.
Students who have completed all requirements must apply for teaching certificates in the College of Education. For information and application forms, contact the College of Education Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105.
Teacher certification requirements were under review by the State Board for Educator Certification at the time this catalog went to press. Contact the Department of Teacher Education for current information.
The award of teaching certificates is a function of the State Board for Educator Certification, contingent upon recommendation by the College of Education, and includes the following:
Grades Four through Eight Generalist Option (certifies grades 48)
First Teaching Field only: life/earth science.
Second Teaching Field only: generic special education, reading.
First and Second Teaching Fields: biology, chemistry, speech, communication, computer science, dance, earth science, economics, English, French, geography, German, health promotion, history, journalism, physical education (kinesiology), Latin, mathematics, physics, government, psychology, sociology, Spanish and theater arts.
Driver education, gifted and talented education, information processing technologies (I and II), learning resources, early childhood handicapped, and emotionally disturbed and autistic.
See Graduate Catalog.
Student teaching is to be completed during the student's senior year as a full-day assignment in a school for an entire fall or spring semester in a Professional Development School (PDS) setting. Students participating in the Professional Development School program will complete their student teaching as an extension of their early field experience. The PDS Site Coordinator will determine specific placements.
Evaluation of student teaching is on a pass/no pass basis. To be recommended for teacher certification by UNT, a student must meet the following requirements prior to student teaching.
1. A formal date of admission to the teacher education program at UNT must be obtained.
2. For early childhood and middle-level student teachers, a minimum GPA of 2.75 must be achieved in all education courses (with no grade below a C), and a minimum GPA of 2.75 must be maintained in the interdisciplinary major. No courses taken during the student teaching semester will be used to determine eligibility to student teach.
3. For secondary and all-level student teachers, a minimum GPA of 2.75 must be achieved in all education courses (with no grade below a C); a minimum GPA of 2.75 must be maintained in each teaching field and all college work completed at UNT, as well as a cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all colleges attended. No courses taken during the student teaching semester will be used to determine eligibility to student teach.
4. Secondary and all-level student teachers must be within 6 semester hours of completing the required course work in each teaching field. Elementary (EC-4 and 4-8) student teachers must be within 12 hours of completing the program, exclusive of education courses.
5. Student teachers must be in residence at UNT and have earned at least 6 semester hours of resident credit in education at UNT.
6. Approval of a faculty Admission, Review and Retention Committee must be granted in those cases in which it is the judgment of the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Administration that such committee approval should be obtained.
For information regarding student teaching please contact the PDS Coordinator, Matthews Hall, Room 218, phone (940) 565-4877.
The mission of the academy is to facilitate the dynamic involvement of College of Education faculty in research and professional development by:
A variety of centers, clinics and institutes are the focal point of many academy efforts. Below are brief descriptions of each of these organizations.
TRIO develops, implements and administers programs specifically designed to meet the educational needs of unique student populations, such as the financially and educationally disadvantaged, minorities and disabled individuals. The center currently administers five programs that provide services to students from middle school level through graduate school. Projects administered by the center have involved more than 85 school districts in North Central Texas, as well as many junior and community colleges throughout the state. These five programs provide services for in excess of 1,500 participants yearly, ranging from grade school to upper division undergraduate UNT students.
The Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Analyses offers services to graduate students and faculty members in the College of Education. Services include assistance in research design, measurements and analysis of data using either the SPSS or SAS statistical packages. Assistance also is given in the interpretation of computer output and display of data in the form of tables or charts.
The Center for the Study of Educational Reform conducts research and serves as an information clearinghouse on educational reform initiatives. Created in 1990, the center has received grants to conduct a statewide survey on education reform and to conduct research on private and public school choice programs. The center also provides doctoral students with opportunities for dissertation research.
The Child and Family Resource Clinic (CFRC) is an interdisciplinary diagnostic and remedial clinic serving children, adults and families from the North Texas area. Services offered include interdisciplinary assessment, counseling, reading instruction, speech/language therapy and parent education classes. Fees for all services are based on a sliding scale. CFRC provides clinical training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in counseling, reading and speech/language/hearing.
The Don A. Buchholz Endowed Chair in Community College Education in the Bill J. Priest Center for Community College Education began its service to two-year colleges and to the linkage between two- and four-year colleges and universities in the fall of 2000. While the chair and the center's primary function is to provide graduate education, research, and development activities for institutions, administrators and faculty in two-year colleges, the chair and center seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the linkage between two- and four-year colleges and universities in the provision of education to students in post-secondary education.
The Meadows Chair for Excellence in Education was established and funded by the Meadows Foundation to attract distinguished scholars to the College of Education to teach, interact with faculty and students, and engage in scholarly work. Involving such scholars in the academic community should enhance professional development of the faculty, improve the quality of education for students and ultimately lead to a better-prepared Texas public school student body.
The Velma Schmidt Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Development was established and fully funded as a continuing memorial to Dr. Velma Schmidt and her work on behalf of young children. The holder of the chair is responsible for teaching and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, collaboration with faculty and schools, participation in professional and scholarly activities, and providing leadership in the university and community.
Graduate course descriptions are listed in the Graduate Catalog.
Top | Undergraduate Catalog College of Education Contents | UNT Undergraduate Catalog Shortcuts | Additional Undergraduate Literature | Graduate Catalog College of Education Contents