New degree name aims to attract classroom teachers

Sept. 10, 2020 – DENTON – It has never been more evident how important trained, versatile educators are for school districts adapting to a new normal with each passing day amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The College of Professional Education (COPE) at Texas Woman’s University has long set the standard for educating teachers through continuing professional education, in pursuit of graduate degrees and certifications, and, of course, in preparing them for the classroom.

Continuing to stay at the forefront of progress in education, Texas Woman’s was the first university in the state to change the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies to the Bachelor of Science in Education. The name change was aimed at bringing more prospective teachers into the profession across Texas.

“We have already seen an uptick in applications because of this move,” said Lisa Huffman, TWU’s dean of the College of Professional Education. “Our goal is to ensure that every child has a highly effective teacher ready to meet their needs, whether face-to-face or online, because Texas students deserve that.”

TWU graduates have a passing rate well over 95% across all required education certification tests, Huffman noted.

“We are very proud of our graduates who make a difference in children’s lives across Texas,” Huffman said.

For 40 years, universities had been prohibited from offering degrees in education. Instead, students focused on degrees in specific disciplines to become educators or pursued degrees in interdisciplinary studies for concentrations ranging from special education to elementary school or bilingual education.

The Texas Legislature in 2019 allowed state colleges and universities to reinstate degrees in education, and TWU moved as quickly as possible to make the change.

With more than 40,000 open teaching positions across the state and a national teacher shortage that the Economic Policy Institute predicts will reach 200,000 by 2025, the College of Professional Education is preparing future teachers through outstanding programs, many of which target areas identified by the Texas Education Agency as having the greatest shortages, including:

• Bilingual – Elementary and Secondary Levels
• English as a Second Language – Elementary and Secondary Levels
• Special Education – Elementary and Secondary Levels
• Mathematics – Secondary Levels
• Career and Technical Education – Secondary Levels

The College of Professional Education also offers a fully online degree completion program for transfer students pursuing their BS in Education.

Visit the Department of Teacher Education for more information on the BS in Education.

Page last updated 4:56 PM, September 10, 2020