| Summary: | This study investigates various factors related to North Texas State University graduates who were certified to teach and obtains those graduates’ appraisal of the extent to which the teacher education program is meeting their needs. The purposes of this study are to determine the extent to which North Texas State University teacher education graduates are carrying out the personal and professional activities for which they were prepared and to determine the effectiveness of selected aspects of the teacher education program. It is also the purpose of this study to solicit opinions of the graduates concerning the strengths and weaknesses of the program. The findings of the study support the following conclusions: 1. A majority of the graduates are well prepared by the teacher education program to enter the teaching profession. 2. Teacher education graduates have a positive self-concept concerning their success as teachers and they are highly satisfied with teaching as a profession. 3. Student teaching is considered by the graduates to be the strongest and most important course in their preparation for the teaching profession. It was also considered to be the most valuable course by those who are now teaching. 4. Earlier and more frequent classroom observations and experiences should be provided for teacher education students prior to their student teaching experience, especially those who are seeking secondary certification. 5. Graduates indicated a need for upgrading experiences associated with student teaching. Additional time spent in the actual student teaching experience, and more personal observation and feedback by the university student teaching coordinator were areas identified for consideration. 6. Graduates were satisfied with the overall professional education program. Early, basic required education courses drew the greatest amount of criticism from graduates. Only one upper-level professional course failed to meet an adequate mean value rating. Various courses offered composed the weakest or least desirable feature of the program, as revealed by over one-fourth of the graduates.
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