Criteria for Admission to ACU Teacher Education

In accordance with Texas state law, the ACU Teacher Education Program has established the following criteria for admission to Teacher Education. Before taking more than 6 hours of professional education courses (EDUC, SPED, EACH, or READ) a student must first be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. To be admitted to the Teacher Education Program, a student must:

• Complete and submit an application for admission into the Teacher Education Program;
• Have completed the first 45 semester hours of credit;
• Successfully complete with a C or better 12 hours in the candidate’s chosen content field;
• Have a minimum overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 and a GPA of 2.75 or higher in the content field;
• Complete 6 hours of University English requirements with no grade lower than a “C” (In order to maintain admission status the candidate must earn a C or better in all university required English courses.);
• Pass all three sections of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test, with a score on the reading section of 260 or higher, a score on the math section of 230 or higher and a score on the writing section of 240 or higher; Students may retake the THEA once if the required level is not earned in the first administration. Acceptance of scores from a third administration of the THEA are subject to review by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee;
• Successfully complete (C or better) EDUC 211 Educational Foundations and Multicultural Perspectives;
• Successfully complete the Teacher Education Dispositions Review as described in the ACU Teacher Education Student Handbook;
• Declare a major that includes certification;
• Successfully complete a Student Life review;
• Receive approval from the Teacher Education Admissions and Review Committee. An interview with the committee may be required.

Any exemptions or modification to the above requirements due to special circumstances must be requested through the chair of the Department of Teacher Education. All requests will be reviewed and must be approved by the Teacher Education Admissions and Review Committee. In addition, admission to Teacher Education is not the final step in the process. In order to remain in the program the prospective teacher must continue to meet the GPA requirement (2.75).

Note: Candidates must meet criteria for admission in place at the time of application to Teacher Education.

English Language Proficiency Assessment Requirement:

International students with primary languages other than English must demonstrate English language proficiency by an official TOEFL score of at least 600 (computer-based score of 250, iBT of 100)

Additional requirements for maintaining program admission status:

• In order to remain in the Teacher Education Program, an overall GPA of 2.75, 2.75 in the content field, and continued approval of the Teacher Education Admissions Committee must be maintained. If the GPA falls below the standard, the candidate’s admission to Teacher Education will be revoked. If the GPA later meets the standard the candidate must reapply to the program and meet the standards at the time of reapplication. If the GPA falls below criteria again, the candidate’s admission to Teacher Education will be permanently revoked and the candidate will not be eligible for readmission.
• In order to maintain eligibility, candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of teaching as outlined in the ACU Teacher Education Handbook;
• A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the candidate’s teaching field, all professional education courses, and all courses in the major.
• All professional education courses (EDUC, READ, SPED, and EACH) must be taken in residence.
• Junior and senior transfer students must take the THEA and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program during their first semester at Abilene Christian University to continue in professional education course work. Arrangements to take the THEA should be made as quickly as possible by contacting the Office of Career and Academic Development.
• Any appeals related to admission will be directed first to the chair of Teacher Education. If the candidate does not feel the issue is resolved, the appeal will be forwarded to the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services.

Note:

A candidate who does not have an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher may be admitted to the program if all other admissions criteria are met and if all of the following are true:

• An overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in the last 60 hours
• A GPA of 2.75 in the teaching content field with no grade lower than a C
• No university disciplinary actions filed – academic or otherwise
• A formal letter of request submitted to the admissions committee describing the candidate’s academic history and articulating motivations for wanting to enter the teaching profession
• An interview with the Teacher Education Admissions Committee