Ferguson Building

Announcing 4 Summer Academies! 
Click here for more information.


Welcome to Midwestern State University's
Gordon T. and Ellen West College of Education

A Welcome from the Dean:

Welcome to the Gordon T. and Ellen West College of Education, one of the best small colleges of education. The West College offers undergraduate teacher education programs for elementary and secondary teachers as well as post-baccalaureate certification for persons interested in a career in teaching who already have a bachelors degree. The college offers Master of Education degrees in curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, reading, special education, school counseling, and Master of Arts degrees in counseling, human resource development, and training and development.

The West College of Education has an approved Center for the Professional Development of Teachers with seven professional development schools located in area public schools. The undergraduate teacher education program is field based with all professional development courses taught in the professional development schools. As a result, each professional education course integrates theory and practice. Our students, therefore, enter the teaching profession with considerable experience and confidence. This integration of theory and practice combined with the alignment of our curriculum with the Texas standards for teachers has resulted in our students having one of the highest success rates on the state required teacher certification examinations (ExCET). In 1999-2000, more than 96% of our students passed all required ExCET tests during their first year.

In the past sixteen years the West College of Education has received more than $3 million in grants from the West Foundation of Wichita Falls. This funding has enabled the college to attract outstanding faculty and has provided us with the highest quality teaching technology. Our small classes, close relationship with teaching professionals, the support of both the West Foundation, and the university administration result in a joyful atmosphere for teaching and learning.

Grant W. Simpson, Ph. D.
Dean, West College of Education