Education and Social Sciences at West Texas A&M University
Education and Social Sciences at West Texas A&M University The College of Education and Social Sciences is a student-centered learning community dedicated to educating tomorrow’s leaders through innovative academic and co-curricular programs. The College prepares professional educators who excel academically, are reflective in practice, and are committed to the intellectual empowerment of every learner in our increasingly diverse public and private school environments.

Accomplishments of the College include the preparation of school psychologists, the preparation of social work professionals through its nationally accredited programs, the preparation of students for success in nationwide graduate programs in psychology and sociology, the direct engagement with the community through its programs in criminal justice and emergency management administration, and the preparation of students to pursue legal studies and careers in public service and administration. The college is committed to ensuring that you have opportunities to succeed in your academic, extracurricular, social, and civic endeavors. As a student in the College, you will have opportunities to travel internationally, participate in meaningful service-learning programs, and develop effective leadership and critical-thinking skills. Our goal is to exceed your expectations. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or any member of our faculty or staff if you have questions or need assistance. Welcome to our college family.
Academic Departments
Department of Education Dr. Judy Williams, department head Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice Dr. Reed Welch, department head Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work Dr. Jenifer Kunz, department head
Department of Education
The purpose of teacher education at WTAMU is to prepare professional educators who are academically and technically proficient, reflective in practice, committed to intellectual empowerment of others and guided by the larger democratic purposes of American education. The teacher education program is University-wide in scope, each individual department making its contribution to the program. The director of teacher education is the administrative officer of the University who is immediately responsible for the teacher education program. The director is chairman of the Teacher Education Unit, composed of faculty members chosen from the four colleges of the University. The Unit has the responsibility for approval of the teacher education curricula of the University and approval of admissions criteria to the teacher education program. UNDERGRADUATE Degree Programs Undergraduate Teacher Certification Bachelor's Degree Students should decide on the bachelor’s degree to pursue and take appropriate courses to meet requirements as listed in the University catalog. Degree totals will vary according to choices made by the student regarding teaching specializations or teaching fields. Students in EC–6 or grades 4–8 certification will be working toward a bachelor of science degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies. All other students will be working toward a bachelor of arts, a bachelor of science, bachelor of music or bachelor of business administration degree with a major in the department. ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS PACE and Graduate Certification Post Baccalaureate Programs Alternative Certification Take your experience and passion into the classroom... Change your career path. Change the lives of young people. Gain teacher certification and earn graduate credit toward a master's degree. West Texas A&M University offers two online graduate programs that allow degreed individuals to obtain Texas teacher certification while earning credit toward a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. The Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) and Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification (P-B Cert) programs, approved by the Texas Education Agency and U.S. Department of Education, prepare quality candidates for teaching positions in Texas school districts. Need help deciding which program is best for you? View a comparison of the PACE and Post-Bacc Programs. IMPORTANT TESTING INFORMATION Individuals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or univeristy or are scheduled to receive a bachelor's degree are allowed to demonstrate content proficiency for possible admisstion into the PACE or P-B Cert program by taking the TExES content exam through the Pre-Admission Content Tests, or PACT, system. Potential candidates are encouraged to follow the PACT Test Registration procedures (choose no TEA ID) and take the content exam for the target certificate as early as possible in the process. GRADUATE Degree Programs Counseling (M.A.) Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree General Requirements Admittance to WTAMU Graduate School; Admittance to the program based on a minimum composite score of 1,500 which will be calculated by Graduate Record Exam (GRE) + (last 60 hours GPA x 200) = 1,500. Applicants not meeting these criteria may apply for conditional admission. (See the “Graduate School” section of this catalog.) Students must have a minimum GRE verbal score of 400 prior to formal admittance to the counseling program. Completion of departmental application, including three letters of recommendation Formal interviews conducted with candidates. All students are conditionally admitted for the first six hours Full admission comes after the formal interview Deadlines: August 1 (Fall), Dec. 1 (Spring), May 1 (Sum 1) To enter the counselor education program,students must: Meet all graduate admission requirements. Make application to the counseling program before completion of 6 semester hours in the counseling program. Students are not allowed to take more than 6 semester hours of counseling courses without formal interview and acceptance into the counseling program. 12 hours of psychology courses and/or 6 hours of psychology courses and 6 hours of educational courses; general psychology and abnormal psychology are requiredPSYC 2301 and 4360/5360). Official transcripts Letter of interest Resume Counseling (School) (M.Ed.) Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree Major in Counseling General Requirements Formal admittance to the counselor education program requires: Admittance to WTAMU Graduate School; Formal interviews conducted with candidates Minimum composite score of 1500, calculated by GRE + (last 60 hours GPA x 200), Completion of departmental application, including three letters of recommendation All students are conditionally admitted for the first six hours Full admission comes after the formal interview Deadlines: August 1 (Fall), Dec. 1 (Spring), May 1 (Sum 1) To enter the counselor education program, students must: Meet all graduate admission requirements Make application to the counseling program before completion of 6 semester hours in the counseling program. Students are not allowed to take more than 6 semester hours of counseling courses without formal interview and acceptance into the counseling program. 12 hours of psychology courses and/or 6 hours of psychology courses and 6 hours of educational courses; general psychology and abnormal psychology are required (PSYC 2301 and PSYC 4360 or PSYC 5360). Official transcripts Letter of interest Resume Teaching Certificate and two years of teaching experience (at time of graduation) Education Curriculum and Instruction Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. Admission Requirements A candidate must: Meet University Graduate School admission requirements; Have a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average; Have taken at least 18 hours of education courses. Educational Diagnostician Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree Major in Educational Diagnostician (Standard Professional Certificate) The Educational Diagnostician Program at West Texas A&M University has been designed to emphasize the professional standards for Diagnostic Specialists recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children with emphasis in assessment, research-based practices and interventions. All classes are online and easily accessible for students across the United States. The following 9 hours of leveling courses are required for students who do not have an undergraduate special education background or whose special education course work (with a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average) was not taken within 6 years of admission to the diagnostician program. Educational Leadership Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Educational Leadership Texas School Administrator Certification - Principal and Superintendent The WTAMU Educational Leadership Program offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in educational leadership. Additionally, certification programs for licensure as a Texas principal and superintendent are offered. Program Strengths Professors are certified and experienced Texas public school administrators (principal and superintendent). Alignment of coursework to professional TExES domains and competencies. TExES pass rates consistently exceed 90%. (Official passing rates for the principal and superintendent programs for the last academic year were 93.3% and 100% respectively!) 100% Online - Courses are offered online and/or traditional face-to-face. Degrees and certifications can be obtained 100% online if desired. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of individual students in order to prepare them as future K-12 educational leaders. To this end, the program provides a balance of practical experience, theory, and research. Our desire is to provide students the necessary tools for success in the complex and ever-changing world of school leadership. Instructional Design and Technology The program is: Program can be completed on either Windows or Apple/Mac computer Project-oriented. Build your portfolio to show future employers as you go Completely online and designed for the working professional Loaded with marketable skills to put your career into overdrive Full of creative fun with movie-making, computer graphics, and Web design Geared for the professional with little or no prior computer skills Students from 17 states and the Virgin Islands GRE not required for admission No undergraduate "leveling courses". Start your graduate studies on the first day of your program. Ride the job market with high-level business computing skills No matter what career you have or seek, every employer hopes for high-level skills with business productivity software. They want you to be able to support business decisions with data stored in a database like Microsoft Access and analyzed with a spreadsheet like Microsoft Excel. They want you to present that data in attention-grabbing presentations using tools like Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Captivate. There is a lot more to word processing with Microsoft Word than printing a letter to Grandma! Learn all this in EDT 6305 : Introduction to Computer Productivity Tools and floor the gas pedal with EDT 6384: Advanced Business Productivity Applications. Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Degree with Texas Teacher Certification The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is designed for individuals who wish to achieve initial Texas teacher certification while pursuing a graduate degree. The MAT will allow candidates in WT’s alternative certification programs to complete initial certification requirements, expand their knowledge and skills to support their effectiveness as teachers, and meet state certificate renewal requirements in their respective fields. Options are available in elementary, secondary, all-level, and special education. Admission Requirements A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution of higher learning Admission into one of WT’s alternative teacher certification programs—the Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) program or the Post-Baccalaureate Certification (PB/Cert) program; Graduation Requirements Completion of alternative certification program requirements (graduate and/or undergraduate course work, testing, training, field experience, internship or clinical teaching, etc.), Completion of course work as outlined on the official MAT Plan of Study and Initial Standard Texas Educator Certification prior to administration of the comprehensive exam, and Passing a written comprehensive exam Online Programs Master of Education Curriculum and Instruction Curriculum and Instruction Option Reading Option Special Education Option Master of Education Educational Diagnostician Master of Education Educational Leadership Master of Education Instructional Design and Technology Master of Arts in Teaching

Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice
The Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice is for students who want to examine the important questions and big issues facing society. They offer five majors that will meet your needs and career goals. If you are interested in American politics, international affairs and theories of power and its use or policy issues, such as water and health, then you will want to pursue Political Science or Public Administration. Courses in legal research, legal ethics and American constitutional development are part of the Pre-law curriculum and are specifically designed to prepare you for law school. The Criminal Justice program provides you the opportunity to make a difference in the criminal justice system. You will learn about ethics, the rights of people accused of a crime and the justice system in classroom and real-world settings. If you already work in fire and emergency services, the Emergency Management Administration program is for you. They offer an online degree that prepares you for supervisory positions in public-safety and -protection industries. Regardless of the major you choose, you will learn from top-notch faculty who are experts in their fields. UNDERGRADUATE Degree Programs Criminal Justice Emergency Management Administration The mission of the Emergency Management Administration (EMA) program is to prepare our students for advanced levels of administration and management within the emergency services professions. Designed to meet the needs of full-time and part-time students Our primary focus is upon non-traditional students who are currently working in emergency management Apply all tuition waivers and course requirements as required by the Texas State Legislature and Texas Statute 54.208 WTAMU accepts the state tuition waiver offered under this statute The program goals include Increasing administrative capabilities of emergency responders by providing a state-of-the-art online learning environment Expanding all of our students' current written and verbal skills that will enable them to present themselves and their agencies to any community before, during, and after emergency situations Creating an outstanding commitment to service with the EMA community and WTAMU Providing cutting edge curriculum from experienced faculty who support a student’s professional and intellectual development Expanding the student’s current leadership capabilities within and contributions to the EMA profession Helping communities, both large and small, to deal with and minimize the effects caused by emergencies Political Science Pre-Law Studies Public Administration Social Sciences GRADUATE Degree Programs Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Studies The 144-hour Bachelor’s to Master’s degree in criminal justice provides students the opportunity to earn degrees at an accelerated pace. In this program undergraduates with 90 or more credit hours may be allowed to enroll in graduate classes and count up to 12 graduate credit hours toward their bachelor’s degree. The same 12 graduate credit hours may also count towards a master’s degree. Students must apply to be accepted into the program after having successfully completed a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 108 credit hours, including credits earned from advanced placement and approved transfer hours. Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 24 hours as a full-time student at WTAMU. Although an overall GPA of 3.0 or better is preferred, students may be admitted on a probationary basis based on the student’s GPA on the last 60 hours. Although GPA is an important factor, it is not the only factor that will be considered in admissions. No GRE or other standardized test score is required for admission. Criminal Justice Studies

Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work
Greetings! Welcome to the Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work. The faculty and staff is student centered and committed to you--becoming the best that you can be in the real world. The programs in the department help you explore, discover, and then pursue your interests, talents and abilities in the real world. Psychology prepares and trains individuals to apply psychological principles to human conditions. The professional program in Social Work prepares and trains students in helping individuals, groups, and communities enhance or restore social functioning. Sociology trains and prepares individuals to gain a better understanding of ourselves, diversity, and our social world. As a student in the Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work you will learn the importance of developing problem-solving and research skills and learn ways of relating to issues confronting individuals and society in the real world. You will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty, conduct research in a laboratory setting, and participate in service-learning opportunities. The fields offer a range of research techniques that can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life and situation. Because psychology, sociology and social work addresses the most challenging issues of our time, they are rapidly expanding fields whose potential is increasingly tapped by those who craft policies and create programs. UNDERGRADUATE Degree Programs Psychology Social Work The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The principal educational objective of the program is to prepare students for employment as beginning, entry-level generalist practitioners. Preparation of students for graduate education is a secondary objective. Social work majors are urged to consult closely with program advisers to assure proper sequencing of courses and in selection of appropriate electives. Sociology GRADUATE Degree Programs Psychology The Psychology Program offers a master's degree leading to mental health positions, licensure for specialist in school psychology (LSSP) or psychological associate (LPA), and enhanced competitiveness to enter doctoral programs in psychology. Many graduates have entered highly competitive doctoral programs in a variety of psychological specializations - clinical, counseling, I/O, biopsychology, experimental, social, comparative, statistics, etc. Social Work The mission of the MSSW program at WTAMU is to prepare advanced generalist practitioners who are equipped with an eclectic knowledge base, professional values, and a wide range of advanced skills to assume the professional responsibilities of change agents in our rapidly changing, culturally diverse, global society. She or he should enhance the social functioning and interactions of her/his client systems, help clients develop resources, alleviate human suffering in the pursuit of the improvement of quality of life and conditions of people living in the rural Texas panhandle region, the state, the nation, and the world.