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Teacher Education

🧭 Compass Roadmap

ACU’s School of Education has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

School of Education
Home/ ACU Compass/ Compass Roadmaps/ Teacher Education Roadmap

ACU’s School of Education has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

School of Education

Main Content

Compass Roadmap | Teacher Education


Begin Your Journey		First Year
Pursue Community		Second Year
Pursue Hospitality		Third Year
Pursue Calling		Fourth Year
Pursue Wisdom
Grow Intellectually
  • Meet the Department of Teacher Education faculty during Wildcat Week
  • Develop research skills in Cornerstone (CORE 110)
  • Explore the life of Jesus and the New Testament church in BIBL 101 and 102


  • Support your peers by attending ACU's URCI Festival
  • Attend an information session about the M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning
  • Explore the message of the Old Testament in BIBL 211
  • Engage in a faculty-mentored research or creative project
  • Participate in information literacy workshop
  • Consider applying to the ACU M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning 4+1 master's program

  • Present at URCI Festival or other conference
  • Finish strong by completing your Capstone course
  • Present your senior teacher education showcase
  • Attend the M.Ed. in teaching and Learning Action Research presentations
Grow Spiritually
  • Experience Candlelight Devo during Wildcat Week
  • Join a local Church
  • Engage in practices of meal fellowship, testimony and breath prayer
  • Participate in chapel, including department chapel each month

  • Participate in chapel, including department chapel each month
  • Serve as a volunteer in a local children’s or youth ministry
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Reflect on how the Christian virtue of hospitality supports inclusive professional practices
  • Earn an education elective credit (EDUC 312: Practicum in Guidance and Development) by spending your summer working in an established ministry or education setting serving children
  • Engage in practices of intercessory prayer, pilgrimage and journaling
  • Participate in chapel, including department chapel each month
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Gain hands-on ministry experience on a Global Service Trip
  • Engage in practices of silence, spiritual listening and examen
  • Integrate your growing professional knowledge with Christian spiritual formation in BIBM 439: Teaching and Learning for Spiritual Formation, BIBM 434: Spiritual Formation of Children, BIBM 435: Adolescent Spiritual Formation or BIBM 492: Children and Family Ministry
  • Serve as a volunteer in a local children’s or youth ministry
  • Participate in chapel, including department chapel each month
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Receive and extend blessings to others at Senior Blessing
  • Experience Candlelight Sendoff
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment and developing a rule of life
Grow Culturally
  • Attend Events Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
  • Explore the opportunities to study abroad at a Study Abroad interest meeting
  • Participate in World Wide Witness Summer Internship
  • Attend Events Hosted by the International Students Association (ISA)
  • Study abroad for a semester in Oxford, Leipzig, or Montevideo
  • Explore the cultural diversity of today’s classrooms in EDUC 211: Introductions to Education–Culture and Contexts
  • Reflect on your current understanding of culture and the impact of diversity in today's classrooms
  • Attend Events Hosted by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Attend special Teaching as Missions Chapel presentations
  • Learn about supporting English learners in your future classroom in EDUC 476: Effective Teaching Strategies for English Language Learners
  • Apply to be a Fulbright Scholar, AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, or other international service opportunities
  • Reflect on personal growth in culturally responsive teaching
Grow Professionally
  • Explore career possibilities by completing PathwayU
  • Begin connecting with potential employers by activating your Handshake Profile
  • Participate in Creative U
  • Apply to the ACU Teacher Education Program and become an official candidate for Texas teacher certification
  • Set your personal account with the Texas Education Agency
  • Shadow a classroom teacher through the Bell-to-Bell
  • Earn professional development points through engaging through authentic professional learning experiences outside of the classroom
  • Attend the ACU Teacher Education Alumni in Action Conference
  • Attend the Morlan Award Dinner
  • Attend the ACU Teacher Education Alumni in Action Conference
  • Attend the Morlan Award Dinner
  • Participate in an interdisciplinary simulation of the special education Assessment Review and Dismissal (ARD) process
  • Engage in various public school classrooms through your multiple junior-level field experiences
  • Attend the Teacher Education Program completion orientation
  • Attend the ACU Teacher Education Alumni in Action Conference
  • Attend the Morlan Award Dinner
  • Earn your Google Educator Level II Certification
  • Create your own professional Google Site
  • Complete the ACU August Experience to learn the unique aspects of the first days of school
  • Complete Clinical Teaching with a full semester in a classroom
  • Finalize a rĂ©sumĂ©
  • Secure letters of Recommendation
  • Apply for jobs and/or graduate school
  • Apply for Texas Teacher Certification
  • Travel with faculty to professional conferences or innovative school site visits

Exploring Areas of Growth

Five Areas of Growth

  • Grow Intellectually – Sharpen your mind through critical thinking, problem solving and engaging in original research or creative projects. Build knowledge in your field and develop relevant skills through innovative and experiential assignments and activities.
  • Grow Spiritually – Grow in likeness of Christ, as the Spirit leads both individuals and communities into deeper love of God and others. Cultivate Christian community, hospitality, vocation and wisdom through reflective participation in community practices such as worship, study and service. 
  • Grow Personally – Mature as a whole person through mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships and cultivating habits that produce wellness. Discover your strengths, become a productive team member and grow as a leader.
  • Grow Culturally – Deepen intercultural knowledge and the ability to communicate with and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and geographic areas. Foster a greater respect and empathy for all peoples through building dynamic and mutually rewarding relationships in local and global contexts. 
  • Grow Professionally – Prepare for a meaningful career by exploring options, participating in career development activities, gaining relevant experiences and making purposeful connections that launch your professional life.

Integrated Spiritual Formation Themes

NOTE: Transfer students and those that surpass traditional semester cadences can progress to the next phase when appropriate for their needs.

Year 1 – Pursue Community

Connecting students to cruciform relationships with peers and adults on campus and in Abilene through compelling opportunities to invest in a variety of Christian organizations, both discovering and experiencing the distinctive nature of Christian community.

Year 2 – Pursue Hospitality

Engaging students in encounters with diverse peoples, ideas, and cultures through both local and global opportunities to extend and receive hospitality and to serve others in Christ’s name.

Year 3 – Pursue Calling

Advancing students’ understanding of vocation in a manner that integrates each student’s particular identity, career goals and vision for life with the broad calling for Christians to participate in the ongoing mission of God revealed in the pattern of Christ’s life and death.

Year 4 – Pursue Wisdom

Launching students into cruciform and purposeful living beyond the university by equipping them with tools for and experiences seeking Christian wisdom as they prepare to transition into a new season of life and career.