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Department Highlights

Who are we and what do we do?

As one of the four academic departments in the College of Education and Human Development, the Teaching, Learning, and Culture Department (TLAC) encompasses students, faculty, and staff whose efforts and interests center on the many different aspects of academics, teaching, and classroom education. Our departmental mission statement is "to prepare educators and researchers to build inclusive democratic communities in schools and society through critical and reflective research, teaching, and service."

TLAC offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies for undergraduate students. Students may choose from three areas of specialization:

Early Childhood Education
Middle School Education (Language Arts/Social Studies)
Middle School Education (Math/Science

Graduate students may pursue their Master of Education, Master of Science, Doctor of Education, or Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction with the department. TLAC’s graduate programs are composed of four different areas of specialization:

Mathematics Education
Multicultural, Urban, ESL, International/Foundations
Reading and Language Arts Education
Science, Society, and Technology

The department also offers a Post-Baccalaureate Certification program for baccalaureate graduates whom desire initial certification to teach in Texas public schools at the secondary level.

Both undergraduate and graduate students in the department participate in inquiry, research, publication, and presentations at state, national, and international conferences. Students are also often rewarded numerous scholarships, fellowships, and awards:

(Graphics)Mindi Tipps (TLAC student), Class of 2003, received the Texas Directors of Field Experience's "Student Teacher of the Year" award …This is the third consecutive year that a Texas A&M student teacher has received the award… Tipps attributes her success to her experiences at A&M. "One of the outstanding things about the Texas A&M College of Education and Human Development is that by my second year, I was in an elementary school gaining practical experiences," Tipps said. (The Battalion, 2004)

Overall, the department produces more than 500 field-experienced classrooms teachers and over 200 masters and doctorates graduates annually. Many of the department’s educational specialty programs (including Curriculum & Instruction, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education) are highly ranked by the U.S. News & World Reports in national surveys.

In addition to an outstanding student population and excellent educational specialty programs, the department also boasts a vibrant and diverse faculty. During a typical year, the TLAC faculty can be expected to serve as principal investigators for over $3.3 million of externally funded grants and contracts associated with research, teaching, and service. In addition to honors and distinctions such as Endowed Chair faculty appointments and Distinguished Research Fellows, the department’s faculty members regularly publish articles in professional journals, as well as some of the leading professional texts in areas such as curriculum theory, children's literature, and literacy education.

The Teaching, Learning, and Culture Department is headed by Dr. Dennie Smith, who also serves as an Endowed Chair. Dr. Barbara Erwin serves as assistant department head for undergraduate studies. For more information on the TLAC department, please visit us here or call (979) 845-8384.