Teacher Education

🧭 Compass Roadmap

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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 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
  • Attend faculty office hours


  • Support your peers by attending ACU's URCI Festival
  • Attend an information session about the M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning
  • Explore the Old Testament in BIBL 211

  • Engage in a faculty-mentored research or creative project
  • Participate in information literacy workshop in the library
  • Attend a Senior Teacher Education Showcase session
  • Consider applying to the ACU M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning 4+1 master's program

  • Present at URCI Festival or other conference
  • Complete 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 department chapel

  • Participate in Chapel
  • Volunteer in the Abilene community 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
  • 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 (BIBM 439: Teaching and Learning for Spiritual Formation, BIBM 434, 435 and 492)
  • Serve as a volunteer with local youth
  • Participate in Chapel
  • Engage in 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 Personally
  • Exercise in the Rec Center and/or Play Intramurals
  • Participate in a Student Organization
  • Self assess using ACU Teacher Education Dispositions Rubric and identify areas for personal growth

  • Serve in a Leadership Role on Campus
  • Lead in a Church Ministry or Local Service Organization
Grow Culturally
  • Attend Events Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
  • Explore the opportunities of Study Abroad
  • Participate in World Wide Witness Summer Internship
  • Attend Events Hosted by the International Students Association (ISA)
  • Study Abroad in Oxford, Leipzig or Montevideo
  • Explore the cultural diversity of today's classrooms in EDUC 211
  • 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
  • Support English learners in your future classroom in EDUC 476
  • Apply to Fulbright Scholar, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Intercultural Service Opportunity
  • Reflect on Personal Growth in Culturally Responsive Teaching
Grow Professionally
  • Explore career possibilities by completing PathwayU
  • Activate 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
  • Seek professional learning experiences
  • Attend the ACU Teacher Education Alumni in Action Conference
  • Attend the Morlan Award Dinner

  • Attend the ACU Teacher Education Alumni in Action Conference
  • Be in attendance of the Morlan Award Dinner
  • Participate in the interdisciplinary simulation of the special education ARD Process
  • Engage in public school classrooms
  • Experience the Teacher Education Program Completion Orientation
  • Apply for Graduate School
  • Attend the ACU Teacher Education Alumni in Action Conference
  • See you at the Morlan Dinner
  • Present your Senior Showcase
  • Earn your Google Level II Certification
  • Build your own Google Site
  • Complete the ACU August Experience
  • Complete a full semester of Clinical Teaching
  • Finalize your Resume'
  • Secure letters of Recommendation
  • Apply for Jobs
  • Apply for Teacher Certification by state

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.