Martha Foote - Department Head
Sowers Education South Building, Room 202
903-886-5537

The Department of Elementary Education at Texas A&M University-Commerce in collaboration with the region's public schools, offers students an opportunity to learn the craft of teaching through field-based experiences. This outstanding program won the Christa McAuliffe Showcase for Excellence Award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in 1994. Students spend the second half of their sophomore year and part of their junior year in interdisciplinary major courses that prepare teachers in the content of the elementary school curriculum and specializations such as math, science, math/science, social studies, English/language arts (4-8 grades) or EC 4th Generalist or bilingual. During the junior year, students begin professional development courses that incorporate 60 hours of field experience in public schools. During the senior year, students spend extended time working with a team of public school teachers and university faculty.

The program leads to the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Students and a Texas Provisional Teaching Certificate. The department also offers teacher certification programs at the post-baccalaureate level for those with degrees in fields other than education.

Our faculty is comprised of outstanding educators who have earned doctoral degrees from universities throughout the united States. In addition to publications in academic journals and presentations at professional educational conferences, many faculty have published textbooks and other professional material. But the greatest tribute to the faculty of the Department of Elementary Education is their continuing involvement, through our field-based programs, with the public schools of Texas.