Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
Elementary Teacher Certifications
Teacher Education is a valued program of study at the University of the Incarnate Word because it so directly addresses the mission to which the University is committed. The emphasis of the program incorporates a broad liberal arts education as a foundation for the more in-depth focus on academic teaching specializations and the body of knowledge associated with the teaching/learning process. The program prepares individuals for a profession in which they can affect society and mankind in significant, positive ways.
As part of the Adult degree Completion Program, the courses leading to elementary certification will be offered two nights per week in eight-week terms. Each term, a working adult will be able to complete 3 or 6 hours of credit. Depending on how many transferable hours of college credit a student brings into the program, the student may be able to complete the B.A in Interdisciplinary Studies and progress to student teaching in two or three years.
A student following this course of study will take:
- Education Core Curriculum: The academic backbone of all programs at the University of the Incarnate Word, the Core Curriculum covers a wide scope of Liberal Arts courses. Many of these courses may be transferred from a community college. Please contact an advisor for information on core requirements of Education majors.
- Interdisciplinary Studies: These courses provide the general foundation for all elementary teaching.
- Teaching Specialization: ADCaP offers Early Childhood Fourth Grade
- Professional Development in Education: These courses deal more specifically with the methods of classroom instruction and include the Student Teaching. Because of the requirement for in-school participation and mentoring by Texas certified teacher, students will be required to commit to some days observing classroom instruction during the sequence of courses. Student teaching (Apprenticeship) is done during the day for one complete semester. Students also have the option of internships to fulfill their student teaching obligations.
At the end of the completed program, and upon successful completion of applicable ExCET examinations, the student will apply to be certified. The University of the Incarnate Word offers programs approved by the State Board for Educator Certification and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. For entry into the ADCaP Education Program, all parts of the TASP must be successfully completed. No student is TASP EXEMPT in this program
