FasTrack
To
Teaching
Designed to help mature adults with college degrees become elementary or secondary teachers in approximately a year.
A program of the McMurry University
School of Education Abilene, Texas
What is FasTrack?
FasTrack is the teacher preparation program at McMurry University designed for those who have college degrees and want to become classroom teachers as quickly as possible. Qualified individuals may complete requirements for either a secondary (grades 8-12) or elementary (grades EC-4) certification in approximately a year. Grades 4-8 programs available upon request.
What is required for admission?
1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
2. An overall grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
3. For secondary majors, a major or minor taught in the public schools and offered as a teaching field at McMurry University.
4. THEA scores of at least 220 in math, 240 in writing, and 250 in reading. State criteria may allow an exemption for the math and writing portions of the test; however, no exemptions are allowed for the reading portion.
5. Demonstrated competency in speech/communications and computer literacy. (The computer literacy requirement may be fulfilled by successful completion of a proficiency exam.)
6. Submission of an application with copies of transcript(s) and a $50.00 application fee.
What courses will I be required to take?
ELEMENTARY (Grades EC-4) certification candidates may complete course work in one calendar year. The following courses are required for certification:
Cl 3301 Theories of Learning
Cl 3302 American Public Education
Cl 3330 Elementary Mathematics
Cl 3360 Elementary Social Studies
Cl 3370 Elementary Science
Cl 3399 Elementary Arts or substitute
Cl 4303 Elementary Methods & Mgmt.
Cl 4401 Elementary Curriculum, Planning, & Assessment
ECED 4301 Early Childhood Methods & Management
ENG 4380 Elementary Language Arts READ 3330 Intro. To Teaching Reading READ 3335 Reading Pedagogies
BIED/READ 3334 The Multilingual Classroom
Upon completion of required courses, the student may be hired by a school district as an intern teacher or may elect to student teach the next semester.
SECONDARY (Grades 8-12) certification candidates should complete the Curriculum and Instruction courses as follows:
Summer I:
Cl 3301 Theories of Learning
Cl 3302 American Public Education
Summer II:
Cl 4302 Secondary Planning,
Curriculum, & Assessment
Cl 4301 Secondary Methods & Management
Fall or Spring:
READ 3332 Content Area Reading
A secondary certification candidate may occasionally need to complete a few courses in the teaching field(s) to comply with minimum state requirements. Upon completion of the required courses, the student may be hired by a school district as an intern teacher or may student teach the next semester.
What is a Teaching Internship?
A student who has completed course work for either the elementary or sec ondary FasTrack program may be hired as an intern by a school district, receive a beginning teacher's salary, and apply for a probationary teaching certificate. When the internship year, course work, and appropriate certification tests are successfully completed, the student will be recommended by McMurry University to receive full teacher certification. Students may complete six hours of student teaching in lieu of an internship.
I'm Interested. What do I do?
1. Contact McMurry's teacher certification officer to have your undergraduate transcripts evaluated and a certification plan written.
2. Successfully complete all sections of the THEA test or apply for exemptions in math and writing. (There are no exemptions for the reading portion.)
3. Apply for admission to McMurry University and to the FasTrack Teacher Preparation Program.
4. Complete the required work.
If you are interested or
require additional information, please contact:
Secondary Program
Dr. Marla K. Banks Teacher Certification Officer
325-793-4895 email:mbanks@mcm.edu
Elementary Program
Mr. James Shelton
325-793-4892 email :jshelton@mcm.edu
McMurry University
Box 578 McMurry Station
Abilene, TX 79697
Fax 325-793-4889