Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction

The Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction offers two options: Advanced Instructor (36 semester credit hour program) or Teacher Certification (42 semester credit hours). These programs provide the student with critical knowledge to connect scholarship, research and professional practice to teach a diverse student population.

To be eligible for the Teacher Certification option, a student with a non-teaching bachelor’s degree must have 24 hours in a particular content area, 12 of which are upper level; meet the requirements and been admitted to the Graduate Educator Preparation Program; and must pass the TExES certification examination in the content area prior to enrolling in CI 5360.

Degree Requirements

Advanced Instructor Option – 36 semester credit hours (SCH)

Courses	Hours
CI 6314	3
CI 6315	3
CI 6316	3
CI 6317	3
CI 6318	3
CI 6320	3
CI 6321	3
CI 6327	3
CI 6331	3
CI 6351	3
CI 6363	3
CI 6373	3

Teacher Certification Option (SCH)

Courses	Hours
Same as the Advanced Instructor Option, with the addition of CI 5360 Teaching Internship (twice) or CI 5660 Clinical Teaching (twice)	6

CI 5360 must be taken twice for credit. To be eligible to take CI 5360, the student must have completed CI 6317, 6318, 6321, and 6327, and CI 6321 with a grade of “B” or better and have a passing score on the appropriate TExES subject area test.

As a summative requirement for the degree, the candidate must successfully complete a comprehensive program review with a committee of graduate faculty.

Courses in these degree options are offered in Web-blended format. Most classes are taught online, but some on-campus attendance will be required. Students are encouraged to enter in cohort groups, starting in the summer I term. The cohort sequence of courses is CI 6318 and CI 6321 in Summer I and CI 6317 and CI 6327 in Summer II.

Teacher Certification Only (Non-degree Program)
Students desiring a teaching certificate only (24 graduate semester credit hours) must meet the requirements of the Educator Preparation Program and have a bachelor’s degree with 24 hours in a particular content area, 12 of which are upper level. Prior to enrolling in CI 5360 or CI 5660, the student must pass the TExES certification examination in the content area and have earned no grade lower than a B in the 12 SCH summer cohort courses.

Summer Cohort

Courses	Hours
CI 6327	3
CI 6317	3
CI 6318	3
CI 6321	3

Fall

Courses	Hours
CI 5360	3
CI 6314	3

Spring

Courses	Hours
CI 5360	3
CI 6316	3

TExES Eligibility And Registration Procedures

All certification candidates must pass two certification examinations — one in the content area and one in pedagogy and professional responsibilities. Candidates with a foreign language as a content area will also be required to take the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT).

In order for candidates at Angelo State University to be approved to take the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) they must have completed the certification program requirements for each examination.

TExES Approval Procedure

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with 24 hours in the content they wish to teach (12 hours must be upper level) to take the content area exam.

• Candidates must have met the requirements and been admitted to the Educator Preparation Program.
• Candidates will be approved to take the grade-level appropriate Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities examination after their internship.

TExES Registration Procedures

Registration for the TExES examination is online. Instructions for the online registration process are located on the College of Education website. Candidates needing special testing arrangements should notify the director of certification in the College of Education for registration assistance.

Recommendation For Certification

In order for Angelo State University to recommend a candidate for certification, the candidate must have earned a 2.500 overall undergraduate grade point average, must have completed all required courses in the teacher certification areas with a grade point average of 3.000 and with no grade lower than a B. All other university requirements must be completed. The candidate must also continue to demonstrate sound physical health, sound mental health, and acceptable moral character.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to inform the College of Education that all certification requirements have been completed and to ensure that all appropriate forms and fees have been submitted.

The candidate must also present satisfactory scores on all required Texas certification test, i.e., the TExES, and the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT) for Spanish or French certification. Individuals must apply for certifications online at the State Board for Educator Certification’s website.

Required Fingerprinting Of Applicants For Certification

Applicants for educator credentials must submit to fingerprints to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) so the FBI can conduct a national criminal background check. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has a contract with a private vendor (L-1 Identity Solutions) to provide a digital fingerprinting service to those individuals that require fingerprinting for state licensing purposes in Texas. This includes applicants for educator credentials. The program is known as Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST).