Education

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Faculty/Staff

Cheryl The, Chair; Heather Archer Wilson (Program Director), Tevita Tameifuna

Staff: Michelle Calagos, Administrative Assistant

Adjunct: Donna Berkner, Laura McCormick, Aaron Long, Kisha Norris, Marcel Sargeant

Mission

Southwestern Adventist University Education Department is committed to inspiring knowledge, faith, and service through Christ-centered education. Our mission is to prepare effective educators who are equipped for teaching in Seventh-day Adventist schools and/or Texas public schools.

 

The Education Department offers an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) for individuals wanting to teach in elementary and secondary classrooms.  Certification may be earned in the following areas: 

     Elementary Education

  • Early Childhood - 6th grade (State of Texas Credential)
  • Early Childhood - 8th grade (Seventh-day Adventist Credential)

     Secondary Education, 7th grade to 12th grade (State of Texas & Seventh-day Adventist Credential)

  • English 
  • History
  • Life Science
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies

     All Level Education, Kindergarten - 12th grade (State of Texas and Seventh-day Adventist Credential)

  • Music
  • Physical Education 

Candidates seeking Secondary and All-Level Certifications must complete all professional development courses in education in addition to their content area requirements.

 

Professional Development Courses for Teacher Certification   

The courses below are required for Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and All-Level Music and Physical Education Certification. These courses are required in addition to Academic Foundations and any other courses required for a specific major. Admission to the Educator Preparation Program is required to take upper-division courses.  

  • EDUC 254 Intro to Teaching (not required for Physical Education majors)
  • EDUC 312 Educational Psychology
  • EDUC 326 Learners with Exceptionalities
  • EDUC 350 Digital Literacy Proficiency
  • EDUC 386 Philosophy of Christian Education (SDA credential)
  • EDUC 418 Legal Foundations of Education
  • EDUC 434 Classroom Assessment
  • EDUC 386 Classroom Management
  • EDUC 475/485 Directed Student Teaching*
  • CERTIFICATION TEST REVIEW COURSES for State of Texas Credentials
    • EDUC 495 TExES Core Subjects EC - 6 - (Elementary Education only)
    • EDUC 496 TExES Prep Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (All State of Texas Certification levels)

Secondary and All-Level Music and Physical Education also require:

  • EDUC 322 Child and Adolescent Psychology
  • EDUC 450 Teaching Methods*

Seventh-Day Adventist Credential - all certification types also require:

  • RELT 201 Bible Study Methods
  • RELH 230 History of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church
  • EDUC 386 Philosophy of Christian Education (listed above)

*A minimum of 30 hours of field-based experience is required prior to student teaching.