Created as a state normal college, the primary purpose of Sul Ross State University originally was preparing teachers for the public schools of west Texas. While the university now serves a wider purpose, the Department of Education actively seeks to prepare students for service in the educational world of the 21st century and offers a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Alpine.
The continuing mission of the Department of Education is to prepare students to be
- Successful educational leaders;
- Practicing scholars; and
- Lifelong learners.
Students interested in becoming a certified teacher in Texas public schools should contact the Department of Education early in their SRSU career. While most coursework is taken in various departments of the University, it is crucial that the appropriate courses be chosen, sequenced, and completed so students may transition to the Teacher Education Program with minimal disruption. Each teaching area has requirements for certification that must be met.
Students apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program in the middle of the junior year when you have 75 or more semester credit hours of approved college coursework.
Specific information regarding Teacher Education requirements may be found in the current University catalog.
Concentration Requirements
Early Childhood–6
Students on the EC-6 Generalist concentration will take additional classes in content subjects (English, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Sciences, Fine Arts/Health/PE), Reading, and Pedagogy to provide the in-depth knowledge needed to be a successful elementary and early middle school teacher.
English, Language Arts & Reading 4-8
Students on the ELA/R 4-8 concentration are prepared to teach these three subjects at the upper-elementary and middle school grade levels. Students will take additional English composition, literature, and structure courses from the Languages & Literature Department, in conjunction with Reading & Pedagogy courses from the Education Department, to provide the in-depth knowledge needed to be a successful middle school teacher.
Mathematics 4-8
Students on the Math 4-8 concentration are prepared to teach mathematics at the upper-elementary and middle school grade levels. Students will take additional upper level Math courses from the Computer Science and Math Department, in conjunction with Education & Pedagogy courses from the Education Department, to provide the in-depth knowledge needed to be a successful middle school teacher.
Science 4-8
Students on the Science 4-8 concentration are prepared to teach science classes at the upper-elementary and middle school grade levels. Students will take additional Sciences courses in biology, chemistry, and geology from the Biology-Geology & Physical Sciences Department, in conjunction with Education & Pedagogy courses from the Education Department. Together, these courses provide the in-depth knowledge needed to be a successful middle school teacher.
Social Studies 4-8
Students on the Social Studies concentration are prepared to teach social studies classes at the upper-elementary and middle school grade levels. Students will take additional Social Science courses in Geography, History, Political Science, and Sociology the Behavioral & Social Science Department, plus coursework in Education & Pedagogy from the Education Department. Together, the courses in this concentration provide students the in-depth knowledge needed to be a successful middle school teacher.
Students interested in becoming certified teachers in Texas public schools should contact the Department of Education early in their SRSU careers. While you will take most of your coursework in various departments of the University, it is crucial that the appropriate courses be chosen, sequenced, and completed in order to make a smooth transition to the Teacher Education Program. Each teaching area has requirements for certification that must be met.
Students must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Application should be made in the middle of the junior year once you have 75 or more semester credit hours of approved college coursework.
Admission Requirements:
- Minimum of 75 sch of coursework completed
- Cumulative (GPA) of 2.75 or higher
- Completion of 6 of the 9 hours required English courses with a “C” or higher in each class
- Completion of COMM 1311 or THEA 2304 with a “C” or higher
- No incomplete grades or grades lower than a “C” in teaching field or education courses required for certification
TSI Readiness (We use exam scores OR course grades)
Test Requirements (one of the following):
| ACT: | SAT: | TSI |
| Reading 23+ Writing 17+ Math 18+ Composite 21+ |
Reading 480+ Math 530+ |
Reading 351+ Writing 340+ Math 350+ |
Grade requirements in lieu of testing (a grade of “B” or better in the following):
Reading: Any 2000 level or upper-level literature course
Writing: English 1301 or 1302
Math: Math 1314, 1316, 1332, 1342, or 2413
Pass all sections of the THEA Exam
Application to Teacher Education Program
Undergraduate Teaching Tracks
Elementary School (EC-6): Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies emphasizing preparation for the early childhood and elementary grades
Early Childhood-Grade 6: Core Subjects
Middle School (4-8): Degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies specializing in a core academic area
Grades 4-8: English/ Language Arts/Reading
Grades 4-8: Mathematics
Grades 4-8: Science
Grades 4-8: Social Studies
Secondary Grades (6/7-12): Degrees in a specific content field-consult an advisor in the subject area.
Grades 6-12: Agriculture, Food & Nat. Resources
Grades 7-12: English/Language Arts/Reading
Grades 7-12: History
Grades 7-12: Mathematics
Grades 7-12: Life Science
Grades 6-12: Physical Science
Grades 7-12: Science Composite
Grades 7-12: Social Studies
Grades 7-12: Speech
All Level (EC-12): Degrees in content fields-consult an advisor in the subject area chosen for study.
Art
Language Other Than English: Spanish
Music
Physical Education
Theatre
Please review the SRSU Teacher Education Program handbook for detailed information regarding specific program requirements. Contact Information:
Sul Ross State University
Department of Education
Box C-115, Alpine, TX 79832
alpineeducation@sulross.edu
MATTHEW G. MARSH | ASST. DIRECTOR & UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC ADVISOR
| Professor Diana Rodriguez Director of Teacher Education & Education Instructor 432.837.8433 drodriguez5@sulross.edu |
Dr. Jeanne Qvarnstrom Associate Professor of Education 432.837.8395 jqvarnstrom@sulross.edu |
Approval for Student Teaching
- Must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program.
- Must have submitted an Application to Student Teach by posted deadline.
- Must have completed 90 semester hours or more toward degree.
- Must have an overall grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
- Must have passed TExES Content exam.
- Must demonstrate sound physical health, sound mental health, and acceptable moral character. The Teacher Education Council may request a student to take a physical examination and/or psychological tests or inventories. Shall be of good moral character and emotionally suited for working with children.
- State requirements include a criminal background inquiry before placement in public schools.
- Must have completed 12 semester hours of professional education with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, with no grade lower than a C. Must be approved to student teach by the Coordinator of Field Experience.
Teacher Education Program Calendar of Events
Teacher Education Program Application
Field Experience Form
Student Teaching Application
Supply & Demand for Educators
Military Experience Policy
SRSU-Alpine Five-Year Performance
Complaint Procedures
Degree Plans
All undergraduates must be advised in order to register/enroll in courses in a future term.
Academic Advisors provide students with schedule planning and degree checklists, identify academic support structures (tutoring) for at-risk students, help new students transition from other institutions, and assist students in deciding on a major. Academic Advisors also provide students with one-on-one instruction on how to use Lobo Online which is the student’s portal to academic and administrative services at Sul Ross State University.
Advisors accept student inquiries by appointment (Zoom, Teams, and Skype), over the phone, or as walk-ins. Students must be advised before registration and they must receive their advisor’s final approval of schedules and official degree plans.
Visit Academic Advising to learn more.
Teaching, Early Childhood-6th Grade
Freshman Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
ENG 1301
3 credit hours
ENG 1302
3 credit hours
MATH 1314
3 credit hours
BIOL 1311 + Lab
4 credit hours
FA 1315
3 credit hours
PS 2305
3 credit hours
HIST 1301
3 credit hours
HIST 1302
3 credit hours
COMM 1311
3 credit hours
ENG 2341, 2331, or HIST 2301
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
_
_
Total: 16 sch
Total: 16 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
BIOL 1313 + Lab
4 credit hours
HIST 2302
3 credit hours
PS 2306
3 credit hours
ED 3312
3 credit hours
GEOG 1302 or ED 2303
3 credit hours
ED 3307
3 credit hours
ENG 2341, 2323, or 2331
3 credit hours
ENG 3311
3 credit hours
HIST 2309
3 credit hours
ED 3308
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Junior Year
Semester I, Spring
Semester II, Fall
MATH 2310
3 credit hours
MATH 2311
3 credit hours
BIOL 2406
4 credit hours
ED 4315
3 credit hours
GEOG 3302
3 credit hours
ED 4306
3 credit hours
PE 2303
3 credit hours
ED 3302
3 credit hours
ED 4308
3 credit hours
ED 4314
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Senior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
ENG 3312
3 credit hours
ED 3300
3 credit hours
ENG 3314
3 credit hours
ED 3301
3 credit hours
ED 4313
3 credit hours
ED 4601
6 credit hours
ED 3303
3 credit hours
–
–
ED 4322
3 credit hours
–
–
Total: 15 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Science in Teaching, EC-6: 121
All undergraduates must be advised in order to register/enroll in courses in a future term.
Academic Advisors provide students with schedule planning and degree checklists, identify academic support structures (tutoring) for at-risk students, help new students transition from other institutions, and assist students in deciding on a major. Academic Advisors also provide students with one-on-one instruction on how to use Lobo Online which is the student’s portal to academic and administrative services at Sul Ross State University.
Advisors accept student inquiries by appointment (Zoom, Teams, and Skype), over the phone, or as walk-ins. Students must be advised before registration and they must receive their advisor’s final approval of schedules and official degree plans.
Visit Academic Advising to learn more.
Teaching, Grades 4-8 English, Language Arts and Reading
Freshman Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
ENG 1301
3 credit hours
ENG 1302
3 credit hours
MATH 1314
3 credit hours
BIOL 1311 + Lab
4 credit hours
FA 1315
3 credit hours
PS 2305
3 credit hours
HIST 1301
3 credit hours
HIST 1302
3 credit hours
COMM 1311
3 credit hours
ENG 2328
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
_
_
Total: 16 sch
Total: 16 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
BIOL 1313 + Lab
4 credit hours
HIST 2302
3 credit hours
PS 2306
3 credit hours
ENG 3311
3 credit hours
GEOG 1302 or ED 2303
3 credit hours
ENG 3312
3 credit hours
ENG 2341
3 credit hours
ED 3307
3 credit hours
HIST 2309
3 credit hours
ED 3308
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Junior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
MATH 2310
3 credit hours
MATH 2311
3 credit hours
BIOL 2406
4 credit hours
ED 4315
3 credit hours
GEOG 3302
3 credit hours
ED 4306
3 credit hours
ENG 3xxx or 4xxx
3 credit hours
ED 3302
3 credit hours
ED 4308
3 credit hours
ED 4314
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Senior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
ENG 3xxx or 4xxx
3 credit hours
ED 3300
3 credit hours
ED 3314
3 credit hours
ED 3301
3 credit hours
ED 4313
3 credit hours
ED 4601
6 credit hours
ED 3303
3 credit hours
–
–
ED 4322
3 credit hours
–
–
Total: 15 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Science in Teaching, English, Language Arts and Reading: 121
All undergraduates must be advised in order to register/enroll in courses in a future term.
Academic Advisors provide students with schedule planning and degree checklists, identify academic support structures (tutoring) for at-risk students, help new students transition from other institutions, and assist students in deciding on a major. Academic Advisors also provide students with one-on-one instruction on how to use Lobo Online which is the student’s portal to academic and administrative services at Sul Ross State University.
Advisors accept student inquiries by appointment (Zoom, Teams, and Skype), over the phone, or as walk-ins. Students must be advised before registration and they must receive their advisor’s final approval of schedules and official degree plans.
Visit Academic Advising to learn more.
Teaching, Grades 4-8 Mathematics
Freshman Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
ENG 1301
3 credit hours
ENG 1302
3 credit hours
MATH 1314
3 credit hours
BIOL 1311 + Lab
4 credit hours
FA 1315
3 credit hours
PS 2305
3 credit hours
HIST 1301
3 credit hours
HIST 1302
3 credit hours
COMM 1311
3 credit hours
MATH 1316
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
–
–
Total: 16 sch
Total: 16 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
BIOL 1313 + Lab
4 credit hours
ENG 2341 or 2331 or HIST 2301
3 credit hours
PS 2306
3 credit hours
HIST 2302
3 credit hours
GEOG 1302 or ED 2303
3 credit hours
ED 3307
3 credit hours
ENG 2341, 2323, or ENG 2331
3 credit hours
MATH 3301
3 credit hours
MATH 2318
3 credit hours
MATH 3340
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Junior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
MATH 2310
3 credit hours
MATH 2311
3 credit hours
BIOL 2406
4 credit hours
MATH 2414
4 credit hours
MATH 2413
4 credit hours
ED 4306
3 credit hours
MATH 3320
3 credit hours
ED 3302
3 credit hours
–
–
ED 4314
3 credit hours
Total: 14 sch
Total: 16 sch
Senior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
MATH 3350
3 credit hours
ED 3300
3 credit hours
GEOG 3302
3 credit hours
ED 3301
3 credit hours
HIST 2309
3 credit hours
ED 4601
6 credit hours
ED 3303
3 credit hours
–
–
ED 4322
3 credit hours
–
–
Total: 15 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Science in Teaching, Grade 4-8 Mathematics: 120
All undergraduates must be advised in order to register/enroll in courses in a future term.
Academic Advisors provide students with schedule planning and degree checklists, identify academic support structures (tutoring) for at-risk students, help new students transition from other institutions, and assist students in deciding on a major. Academic Advisors also provide students with one-on-one instruction on how to use Lobo Online which is the student’s portal to academic and administrative services at Sul Ross State University.
Advisors accept student inquiries by appointment (Zoom, Teams, and Skype), over the phone, or as walk-ins. Students must be advised before registration and they must receive their advisor’s final approval of schedules and official degree plans.
Visit Academic Advising to learn more.
Teaching, Grades 4-8 Science
Freshman Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
ENG 1301
3 credit hours
ENG 1302
3 credit hours
BIOL 1311 + Lab
4 credit hours
BIOL 1313 + Lab
4 credit hours
MATH 1314
3 credit hours
PS 2305
3 credit hours
HIST 1301
3 credit hours
HIST 1302
3 credit hours
COMM 1311
3 credit hours
ENG 2341, 2331 or HIST 2301
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
_
_
Total: 17 sch
Total: 16 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
FA 1315
3 credit hours
BIOL 2405
4 credit hours
PS 2306
3 credit hours
CHEM 1311
3 credit hours
GEOG 1302 or ED 2303
3 credit hours
ENG 3312
3 credit hours
ENG 2341, 2323, or 2331
3 credit hours
HIST 2302
3 credit hours
HIST 2309
3 credit hours
ED 4306
3 credit hours
Total: 15 sch
Total: 16 sch
Junior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
MATH 2310
3 credit hours
MATH 2311
3 credit hours
BIOL 2301 + Lab
4 credit hours
BIOL 2302 + Lab
4 credit hours
BIOL 2406
4 credit hours
BIOL 4406
4 credit hours
GEOG 3302
3 credit hours
ED 3302
3 credit hours
GEOL 3301
3 credit hours
ED 4314
3 credit hours
Total: 17 sch
Total: 17 sch
Senior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
BIOL 3301
3 credit hours
ED 3300
3 credit hours
BIOL 3306
3 credit hours
ED 3301
3 credit hours
ED 3307
3 credit hours
ED 4601
6 credit hours
ED 3303
3 credit hours
–
–
ED 4322
3 credit hours
–
–
Total: 15 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Science in Teaching, Grades 4-8 Science: 125
All undergraduates must be advised in order to register/enroll in courses in a future term.
Academic Advisors provide students with schedule planning and degree checklists, identify academic support structures (tutoring) for at-risk students, help new students transition from other institutions, and assist students in deciding on a major. Academic Advisors also provide students with one-on-one instruction on how to use Lobo Online which is the student’s portal to academic and administrative services at Sul Ross State University.
Advisors accept student inquiries by appointment (Zoom, Teams, and Skype), over the phone, or as walk-ins. Students must be advised before registration and they must receive their advisor’s final approval of schedules and official degree plans.
Visit Academic Advising to learn more.
Teaching, Grades 4-8 Social Studies
Freshman Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
ENG 1301
3 credit hours
ENG 1302
3 credit hours
MATH 1314
3 credit hours
BIOL 1311 + Lab
4 credit hours
FA 1315
3 credit hours
PS 2305
3 credit hours
HIST 1301
3 credit hours
HIST 1302
3 credit hours
COMM 1311
3 credit hours
ENG 2341, 2331 or HIST 2301
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
_
_
Total: 16 sch
Total: 16 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
BIOL 1313 + Lab
4 credit hours
ECO 2301
3 credit hours
PS 2306
3 credit hours
SOC 2303
3 credit hours
GEOG 1302 or ED 2303
3 credit hours
ED 3307
3 credit hours
ENG 2341, 2323, or 2331
3 credit hours
ENG 3312
3 credit hours
HIST 2309
3 credit hours
HIST 3311
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Junior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
MATH 2310
3 credit hours
MATH 2311
3 credit hours
BIOL 2406
4 credit hours
PS/POLS 3xxx or 4xxx
3 credit hours
GEOG 3302
3 credit hours
ED 4306
3 credit hours
HIST 3300
3 credit hours
ED 3302
3 credit hours
PS 3308
3 credit hours
ED 4314
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Senior Year
Semester I, Fall
Semester II, Spring
HIST 3xxx or 4xxx
3 credit hours
ED 3300
3 credit hours
ED 3314
3 credit hours
ED 3301
3 credit hours
POLS 3304
3 credit hours
ED 4601
6 credit hours
ED 3303
3 credit hours
–
–
ED 4322
3 credit hours
–
–
Total: 15 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Science in Teaching, Grades 4-8 Social Studies: 121
