Policies of the Lamar University Educator Preparation Program

1. Admission into the Educator Preparation Program (EPP)

If you plan to enter the educator preparation program, you will initiate the pre-admission process in PEDG 2310. Pre-admission requirements have been embedded in PEDG 2310, so that, with the successful completion of the course, those requirements should be fulfilled. Toward the end of the semester, you will complete the initial educator preparation program admission application. You will be notified via a formal acceptance email if you have been admitted to the EPP, pending completion of PEDG 2310. You are required to formally accept the admission status through the link in the official letter of acceptance email.

Transfer students who took PEDG 2310 at another institution other than Lamar University, you will need to have an admissions interview prior to being admitted into the program. Please contact educatorprep@lamar.edu for an appointment. If you have a concern or question about whether or not you have met a particular requirement, or if any, exceptions might be approved, request an appointment with the coordinator of admissions for teacher education, (409) 880-7972, or call the academic advisor for educator preparation, (409) 880-8434, as soon as possible.

You are eligible to achieve admission status and enter Phase I (PEDG 3300) of the EPP only if the requirements listed below have been satisfied:

Interdisciplinary Studies EC-6, 4-8 and EC-12 SPED

For students that are interdisciplinary studies, EC-6, 4-8 and EC-12 SPED programs the following applies:

  • Completion of an admission application
  • Completion of 45 semester hours, including PEDG 2310
  • Completion of PEDG 2310 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Completion of ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302 or ENGL 1361 and ENGL 1362 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Completion of two math courses required by your certification program with a grade of "C" or better
  • A minimum overall GPA and in the certificate field of 2.75 with no grade lower than "C" in the certificate field(s)
  • Completion of all sections of an approved basic skills test or meet exceptions of the Texas Success Initiative assessment or an acceptable alternative test
  • Approval following a criminal history review
  • Filing a signed copy of the program's professionalism agreement
  • Filing a signed copy of the program’s Code of Ethics and Fitness to Teach Professionalism Policy
  • Payment of a one-time non-refundable application fee of $75

Secondary Education Programs

If you are secondary education and all level programs, the following applies:

  • Completion of an admission application
  • Completion of 45 semester hours, including PEDG 2310
  • Completion of PEDG 2310 with a grade of "C" or better
  • A minimum overall GPA and in the certificate field of 2.75 with no grade lower than "C" in the certificate field(s)
  • Completion of all sections of an approved basic skills test or meet exceptions of the Texas Success Initiative assessment or an acceptable alternative test
  • Approval following a criminal history review
  • Filing a signed copy of the program's professionalism agreement
  • Filing a signed copy of the Code of Ethics and Fitness to Teach Professionalism Policy
  • Payment of a one-time non-refundable application fee of $75

For the concentrations listed below, the following applies:

  • Math (7-12): English 1301 required/Algebra not required
  • English (7-12): Math 1314 or above and English 1302 required
  • Life Science (7-12): Math 1314, 1316 or 2312 and English 1301 required
  • Chemistry (7-12): Math 1314 and English 1301 required
  • History (7-12) : Math 1314 and English 1301 required
  • EC-12 Art: Math 1314 or above and English 1301 required
  • EC-12 Physical Education: Math 1342 or 1314/English 1301 and English 1302 required
  • EC-12 Spanish or French: Math 1322 and English 1301 required
  • EC-12 ASL: Math 1314, English 1301 and 1302 required
  • EC-12 Music: Math 1314 or above and English 1301 required

Before applying to the program, you must earn the credit hours for the subject you would like to teach.

  • Twelve semester hours for the subject concentration
  • Fifteen semester hours for certification in mathematics or science

Transfer students should contact educatorprep@lamar.edu for an appointment to determine admission needs.  If you have a concern or question about whether or not you have met a particular requirement, or if any exceptions might be approved, request an appointment with the coordinator of admissions for teacher education, (409) 880-7972, or call the academic advisor for educator preparation, (409) 880-8434, as soon as possible.

During PEDG 2310, you are asked to review the curricula and select a certification for your degree plan. You should make a copy of your individual degree plan for your records. It is also important to print and keep a copy of the SBEC standards and sub-standards which apply to your degree plan/certification area for your reference until you have completed the program. If you desire to change your certification area, you must visit with the COEHD’s academic advisor and obtain approval from the chair of teacher education. After successfully completing PEDG 2310 and acceptance into the program, you will be given a field assignment based on the course in which you are enrolled.

A syllabus for each pedagogy course (prefixes PEDG, READ, EACH and SPED) is provided to you at the beginning of each course, and may be available through a department or faculty information website. You are accountable for the assignments, meeting Texas Education Agency standards and sub – standards and policies stated in the syllabus for each course.

When engaged in pedagogy courses, you may be directed to attach assignment artifacts (papers, lesson plans, statements, etc.) to an ePortfolio approved by the College of Education and Human Development. Education faculty may use these artifacts and the ePortfolio to assess, evaluate or monitor individual and aggregated candidate progress in mastering the knowledge and skills of the EPP.

II.  EPP PHASE I and PHASE II

As candidates complete PHASE I of the EPP (PEDG 3300 and block courses that are unique to each degree plan), all assessments for each candidate are reviewed by a Candidate Performance Review Committee, composed of three or four faculty members. If you have an "area of concern," the committee will determine a course of action. Decisions could include a letter indicating a concern by the committee, or in the case of multiple areas of concern indicated or concerns from multiple evaluators, a more serious consequence may be recommended, such as probation or removal from the program. Every effort is made to work with you and to follow your progress to ensure there is improvement in that area.

After completing requirements for Phase I of the EPP, you are approved by the CPRC to progress to PHASE II and register for courses indicated in your degree plan. As you continue through PHASE II, the review process (described in the paragraph above) is followed each semester until all PHASE II coursework has been completed, and you are approved to proceed to PHASE III (clinical teaching).

Educator preparation program candidates must maintain a minimum of 2.75 overall GPA and in certificate field(s). In pedagogy courses (courses with prefixes PEDG, READ, EACH and SPED), and in your certificate field(s), you must earn grades of “C” or better.

Once admitted to the program, you must successfully complete each Lamar Proficiency Exam during method courses. You will not be admitted to clinical teaching without successful completion of each LPE. 

You are eligible to enroll in additional courses required for certification. Unsuccessful applicants will be apprised of deficiencies and steps that should be taken if the you should desire to reapply for admission into the program. Prior to clinical teaching, you must complete a “Request for Placement Form’ and attend the mandatory first clinical teaching meeting.

III. PHASE III – Admission to Clinical Teaching 

In order to qualify for clinical teaching, you must be recommended by the CPRC Committee and have met the following requirements:
  • Completion of course work specified by your degree/certificate plan
  • A minimum GPA of 2.75: (a) all courses taken; (b)all courses taken in teaching fields or areas of specialization in interdisciplinary studies; and (c) all courses taken in pedagogy, reading, early childhood education
  • Grade of “C” or better in each pedagogy course
  • Completion of all required field experience hours required in designated pedagogy courses beginning with PEDG 2310
  • Completion of 15 hours of field experience during the semester prior to student teaching with the cooperating teachers to whom you have been assigned as a student teacher
  • A passing score on the appropriate content and LEPs 

While in required courses, computer files for artifacts, such as unit and lesson plans, a classroom management plan, proposed assessment procedures and technology strategies should be archived for a final electronic portfolio project. Assessments of knowledge, skills and dispositions will continue in didactic and field courses, using rubrics, scores and grades as appropriate. Instructors in pedagogical courses will certify if you have achieved the standards and sub-standards assigned to your courses. The chair of each teaching field will verify that you have completed certification requirements have met the standards and sub-standards of the specified courses.

IV. Review for Certification

With successful completion of clinical teaching and all required coursework, the CPRC will provide oversight to a review of each candidate’s portfolio. This portfolio will include the assessment file from clinical teaching. The assessment file will include evaluations of teaching effectiveness by the principal and teacher(s) supervising your clinical teaching. The clinical teacher supervisor and cooperating teacher will submit an evaluation of dispositions for you, along with the course grade and artifacts. An evaluation of substantial mastery of standards and sub-standards stipulated for clinical teaching will be made by the cooperating and the instructor/field supervisor.

Criminal Background Check

You must undergo a criminal background check as part of admissions to the program. If convicted of an offense, you will receive an email of the potential ineligibility for certification. According to §249.16 and §227.1(TAC), you have the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter.

General Requirements for Certification (per TAC §230.11)

An applicant for a Texas educator certificate must:
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Submit to the criminal history review required by the Texas Education Code (TEC) §22.0831, not be disqualified by the TEC, §21.058, §21.060, or other Texas statute and not be subject to administrative denial pursuant to §249.12 of this title (relating to administrative denial; appeal) or a pending proceeding under Chapter 249 of this title (relating to disciplinary proceedings, sanctions and contested cases)
  • Not be disqualified by federal law
  • Be willing to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and Texas
  • Meet the language requirements listed under "International Students" of this document
It is a requirement that you can complete field hours on a Texas Education Agency approved public or private school campus. Determine if your school is TEA approved by following this link.

Upon admissions, you will be required to sign a formal acceptance to the program at the start of the first course.

Prior Experience

According to TEA: each EPP must develop and implement specific criteria and procedures that allow:
  • Military service member or military veteran candidates to credit verified military service, training or education toward the training, education, work experience or related requirements (other than certification examinations) for educator certification requirements, provided that the military service, training or education is directly related to the certificate being sought
  • Candidates who are not military service members or military veterans to substitute prior or ongoing service, training or education, provided that the experience, education or training is not also counted as a part of the internship, clinical teaching or practicum requirements, was provided by an approved EPP or an accredited institution within the past five years and is directly related to the certificate being sought
If you qualify, you will have your experience aligned with curriculum/coursework to identify appropriate credit toward your degree and certification.

Note: If you are from out-of-country and/or have transcripts that are from institutions outside of the U.S., you are responsible to work with university admissions to secure an evaluation of the transcript and credit hours

International Students

Undergraduate and graduate-level candidates should contact International Student Admissions for the necessary documents and language requirements for admission.

International candidates must be able to communicate, listen, read, write and comprehend the English language sufficiently to use it easily and readily in daily communication and teaching. English language proficiency shall be evidenced by one of the following:
  • Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution in the United States
  • Verification of minimum scaled scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) of 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading and 21 for writing
  • If an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned at an institution in a country outside of the United States listed in Figure: 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C)