Director: Jeanne M. Gerlach, Ph.D., Ed.D.
5th Floor, Hammond Hall • Box 19227 • 817-272-2591

 

Mission and Philosophy

The mission of the Center for Professional Teacher Education is to provide quality programs for the preparation of professional school personnel, engage in scholarship and dissemination of knowledge related to the increased effectiveness of professional programs and/or teaching and learning in the school setting, and provide leadership and service to the University, the practicing profession, the profession at large and the community.

History and Overview

Planning for a graduate degree in professional education began at The University of Texas at Arlington in 1979-80. A growing population of teachers wanted the opportunity to extend their knowledge base in education and related fields with graduate coursework. In response to this need, the Center for Professional Teacher Education developed a unique master's degree, the Master of Education in Teaching (M.E.T.). This program has enabled students to combine graduate coursework in education with study in an academic discipline related to the their teaching fields. Its success led to the expansion of education offerings to include further professional certifications in reading and mid-management. The Master of Education (M.E.T.) degree is a broad-based program which provides an opportunity for elementary and secondary in-service teachers to continue developing effective teaching and administrative skills that are congruent with an expanding theoretical knowledge base. The degree is appropriate for teachers who seek to advance their careers in school administration, reading and other areas.

Scholastic Activity and Research Interests of the Faculty

The faculty in the Center for Professional Teacher Education strives to model the characteristics of the most competent professional educators for all students aspiring to membership in the education profession. Education faculty members have consistently been recognized for their excellence in teaching, within the unit, in the University and beyond. They have received The University of Texas System Chancellor's Council Teaching Award, election to UTA's Academy of Distinguished Teachers, and the Piper Professor award at the state level. They have served as Fulbright Scholars abroad and as guest lecturers at universities across the country. In addition, numerous faculty have received recognition for their published scholarship and contributions to the expanding knowledge base of the education profession.

Faculty scholarship is also valued by the CPTE for its potential for impact on the increased effectiveness of teaching and learning in professional education preparation programs and in the public school setting. Scholarly and research activities cover a variety of areas represented by the expertise of each individual faculty member. Research interests and publications include the areas of multicultural education, current issues in curriculum and instruction, innovations in science education, stress management in learning, gender issues in the classroom and reducing math anxiety, among other topics. Grants for expanding the knowledge base of middle school science teachers have been repeatedly funded. In the literacy field, faculty have published books, articles and book chapters on emergent literacy in young children, reading and writing across the curriculum, and on the use of literature in teaching children. Funded study on the use of literature with second language learners is currently underway.

In educational administration, research activities and publications have focused on school leadership trends, developing collaboratives between university, public, private and charter schools, fostering creativity in learning organizations, and studying school policy issues, particularly regarding the new charter school movement. A graduate level field-based educational administrator preparation program is currently under way and has received funding from multiple well-known sources. The faculty of the Center for Professional Teacher Education values scholarship and the dissemination of knowledge as a crucial variable in successful and informed university teaching.

Evidence of service to the center, the University, the community and the practicing profession is also expected of the faculty. This includes service to local constituencies such as school districts, education service centers, parent-teacher groups, professional associations, and/or other agencies and organizations dedicated to the improvement of teaching and learning, as well as involvement in outreach programs, community events, civic leadership, and the promotion of alumni support and involvement. The extensive service activities of the faculty in the Center for Professional Teacher Education have garnered additional awards for outstanding service from the university, the community, the state and a variety of professional organizations.

Special Programs and Opportunities

The Center for Professional Teacher Education offers a variety of special opportunities for learning and professional growth for graduate students. The annual Educational Symposium, an educational technology center, field experiences, visiting authors and experts, and specialized library resources are some of the resources and events which add to the richness of the student's university experience.

• Each fall, the center organizes the Education Symposium, an opportunity for educators, publishers and others involved in the business of teaching and learning to come together and learn from each other. Graduate students may even gain formal presentation experience at this event, if they so desire.

• A special technology lab designed particularly for education students offers access to computer use and training in a variety of writing, publishing and multimedia arenas.

• Several graduate courses offer links with field experiences which greatly enrich the course content. This includes regular observation and participation in early childhood education, an administrative internship for mid-management certification individualized for students and their school districts, and annual summer literacy clinics which bring children to the UTA campus to work with graduate students completing their reading specialist certificate.

• Graduate courses also routinely host authors and experts in various areas to share their experiences and insights with the class. This includes outstanding professors from other area universities, published children's authors, professional storytellers, award winning educators, etc.

• Numerous student organizations also offer graduate students leadership opportunities, such as the Student Reading Association affiliate of the International Reading Association, Kappa Delta Pi, and the Association for Childhood Education International, among others.

• Student awards, scholarships and graduate assistantships are offered within the Center for Professional Teacher Education to graduate students who qualify.

• In support of the programs of the Center for Professional Teacher Education, the UTA Library houses a Curriculum Collection and a Juvenile Collection for student use in conjunction with their education coursework.

• The Center for Professional Teacher Education also offers creative and flexible scheduling of graduate coursework to meet the needs of professional educators, including Saturday, weekend, interim and evening classes year-round.

Programs

The Center for Professional Teacher Education currently offers the Master of Education in Teaching (M.E.T.), with coursework in school administration (mid-management) and reading. Additional endorsement, certification and specialty areas also are offered, such as English as a Second Language (ESL), Early Childhood Education (ECE), and Gifted and Talented (G/T).

Teacher Education