Certificates & Degrees Offered
Certificate of Proficiency in Child Care and Development
Associate in Applied Science in Child Care and Development
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
Certificate Programs in Teacher Education
Master of Education Degrees
The programs in the School of Education and related courses are coordinated by the following departments:
Curriculum & Instruction Department
Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Reading
Alternative Certification Program
Bilingual Education and ESL Programs
Early Childhood Education
Teaching Endorsements
Kinesiology Department
Kinesiology
School Specialties Department
Early Childhood Education
Generic Special Education
Early Childhood Education
Child Care and Development
Child Care and Development
Guidance & Counseling
Educational Diagnostician/Generic Special Education
Educational Supervision
Educational Administration
Overview of Teacher Education Programs
The School of Education offers teacher education programs required for certification at the elementary, middle school, secondary, all-level and graduate levels. The teacher education program for provisional teacher certification includes Academic areas of studies and certification fields in subjects approved to be taught in the public schools of Texas as authorized by the State Board for Educator Certification. Students may elect to pursue elementary certification (EC-4 Generalist, EC-4 Bilingual Generalist) Middle School (Grades 4-8), English/Language Arts and Mathematics, Secondary (Grades 8-12) English/Language Arts, History, Math, Physical Science, Science and All Level (Pre K-12), in Kinesiology, Art, and Music Students interested in secondary education certification should contact the College of Liberal Arts, or the College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, for advisement toward a degree in the appropriate teaching area. Prospective students should also contact the Teacher Education office for advisement relating to teacher certification.
The School of Education offers an Associate in Applied Science degree and a Certificate of Proficiency program in Child Care and Development. In addition the School of Education offers two baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.
UTB/TSC provides, within the curriculum sequence degree instructional components that meet academic program requirements identified by the Commission on Standards for the Teaching Profession and approved by the State Board for Educator Certification.
The Provisional Teacher Certification within a baccalaureate program includes the following three areas:
1. General Education Curriculum (i.e., General Requirements or University College);
2. Teaching Specialty Curriculum (i.e., Secondary Academic Specialization or Elementary Interdisciplinary Studies ) designed for Texas public school instruction.
3. Pedagogy and Professional Responsibility Sequence designed for specific roles in public school teaching (i.e., elementary generalist EC-4 and elementary bilingual generalist, middle, secondary and all-level, including field-based experience and a full semester of student teaching.
Certification Requirements
Teacher certification in Texas is provided through the State Board for Educator Certification upon completion of an approved teacher education program from a Texas institution of higher education or through an approved alternative teacher certification program. There are also provisions for certification of individuals educated out of state. A State Board for Educator Certification rule requires an individual to meet the following qualifications to receive certification:
¥ Be at least 18 years of age.
¥ Be recommended by a Texas senior college
¥ Be of good moral character, and be clear of a felony or misdemeanor conviction for a crime which is directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the teaching profession.
¥ Be willing to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and Texas.
¥ Have college credit or examination credit demonstrating knowledge of the Texas and federal constitutions and United States history.
¥ Be able to speak and understand the English language sufficiently to use it easily and readily in conversation and teaching.
¥ Pass the appropriate Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET). This requirement applies to all provisional, professional, or administrative certificates and those applicants holding a valid out-of-state certificate. In addition student eligibility status to register for the various ExCET tests is dependent upon completing all state/departmental requirements, including grade point average and benchmark examinations. Additional information about benchmark requirements may be obtained by contacting each of the different academic departments.
¥ A passing score on the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT) in Spanish is required for certification in bilingual education, elementary and secondary Spanish.
¥ Completion of a minimum of 6 credit hours of field-based education courses, 3-hour lab (required weekly) per course.
The certification programs at UTB/TSC are approved by the State Board for Educator Certification and are under the ÒCenter RuleÓ and Texas Education Code, Sections 13.036-13.039.
For information on certification refer to Title 19, Part II, Texas Administrative Code and the Texas Education Code or contact the Assistant Dean/Certification Officer, Education Building, Room #9.
Teacher Certification Application Procedures
Students should satisfactorily complete the prescribed certificate program and achieve a satisfactory score on the ExCET examinations prescribed by the State Board of Education, and submit scores to the Assistant Dean/Certification Officer at the School of Eduction building, room # 9. Students should fill out the required certificate application and pay the prescribed fee. A fee of $40.00 is required for deficiency plans for undergraduate/graduate students seeking certification through the emergency certification program.
Note: In accordance with Article 6252.13c, Texas Civil Statutes, the Commissioner of Education may suspend or revoke a teaching certificate or refuse to issue a teaching certificate for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime which directly relates to the duties of the teaching profession.
Procedures for Admission to Teacher Education
Students wishing to pursue a provisional undergraduate teaching certificate must apply and complete admission to the teacher education program during the sophomore year. Admission to teacher education is required of all students seeking provisional certification and is a separate procedure from admission to UTB/TSC. A student may petition to substitute experience and/or professional training directly related to the certificate being sought for part of the preparation program requirements. Upon request, a committee will be appointed by the Dean of the School of Education to review and make a recommendation concerning the petition.
Undergraduate Level
Students must submit an official Application for Admission to Teacher Education and meet the following requirements:
¥ Completion of 48 semester credit hours of the Core curriculum with a minimum 2.5 grade point average with and overall grade point average of 2.5.
¥ Passed all parts of the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) exam: 260 in reading; 230 in writing; 230 in math.
¥ Students who score lower than a 260 in reading may retake the test or elect to substitute an appropriate reading score on a departmentally approved test;
¥ Students who are TASP exempt must submit a composite score on the TAAS, ACT, or SAT at or above the level set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:
TAAS: a minimum scale score of 1770 on the writing test, a Texas Learning Index (TLI) of 86 on the mathematics test and 89 on the reading test, or
ACT: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on both the English and the mathematics test, or
SAT: combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal and the mathematics tests (recentered scale for tests taken on or after April 1995)
Note: A TAAS score is valid for three years and an ACT or SAT score is valid for five years.
¥ Completion of three semester credit hours of speech with a minimum grade of B or better or elect to substitute an appropriate score on a departmentally approved test.
¥ Completion of the Watson-Glasser Test of Critical Thinking with a minimum score of 50.
¥ A minimum score of 500 on the written or 173 on the computerized version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for foreign students.
¥ Criminal History Check: Applications are available at the Field Experience office
Students who do not meet the criteria for admission into Teacher Education may apply for provisional enrollment which:
- provides a student who does not have clear admission into the Teacher Education program the opportunity to enroll for up to six semester credit hours of pedagogy and professional responsibility courses.
- requires that the student apply and be admitted into the teacher education program in order to be registered for additional pedagogy and professional responsibility classes.
Applications are available at the School of Education reception desk.
Graduate Level
Students applying for admission to the Teacher Education program at the graduate level must hold a bachelorÕs degree in a related field. In addition to applying to the university for admission as a graduate student, an official application for admission to teacher education must be submitted to the teacher education program. Admission requirements include:
¥ A minimum grade point average of 2.5 is required for both overall and content teaching areas.
¥ Completion of three semester credit hours of speech with a minimum grade of B or better.
¥ Foreign students must submit a minimum score of 550 on the written version or 213 on the computerized version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
¥ Meet university requirements for admission into the graduate school.
¥ Criminal History Check: Application forms are available at the Field Experience office.
Unconditional Admission
Requirements for Unconditional Admission to the M.Ed. program are:
Ð an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale,
Ð a GPA of 3.0 or higher on any previous graduate work,
Ð A completed application consisting of items 1-6 found in the ÒAdmissions ApplicationÓ section,
Ð A combined score of 800 or better on the verbal and either the quantitative or the analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination.
Conditional Admission
An applicant with a verbal and quantitative score totaling 600-799 and/or less than a 3.0 GPA may be granted Conditional Admission upon approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Sponsored Programs. Special course requirements or other conditions may be imposed by the academic department. Conditions may require that additional undergraduate or graduate semester hours be taken, that a specific grade point average be maintained or some other condition be met by the student. If conditions are not met, the student may be barred from subsequent registration in the graduate program. Normally students must satisfy conditions of their probation within the first twelve hours of graduate study. A student in Conditional Admission may not hold an assistantship.
Provisional Admission
Applicants seeking an admission as a graduate student, who are unable to complete the admission file, may be granted provisional admission, upon the recommendation of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Sponsored Programs,. Provisional admission allows a student to register for up to six graduate hours without the required GRE or TOEFL scores. A complete and satisfactory admissions application file must be received by the Admissions and RegistrarÕs Office before the end of the semester. Students with provisional admission will not be permitted to enroll in graduate coursework for more than one semester. A student with provisional admission status may not hold an assistantship.
Non-degree or Transient Student
Students who wish to enroll in courses but do not plan to pursue a program leading to a graduate degree or certificate may enroll by completing an application for admission form, providing transcripts, paying the required application fee, registering for the course, and paying tuition/fees. These students are classified as non-degree seeking or transient and may receive academic credit. A transient student who registers for academic credit and later decides to become a candidate for a degree must meet all admissions criteria and may petition the graduate program for admission as a degree-seeking student. A student who decides to become a degree-seeking student may apply up to 12 semester hours of graduate credit received as a transient student if grades are a ÒBÓ or above and if the courses are relevant to the degree sought. Decisions on course relevance will be made by the studentÕs major department.
Post-Baccalaureate (PB) Level:
Students applying for admission to Teacher Education at the post-baccalaureate level must hold a bachelorÕs degree in a related field. In addition to applying to the university for admission, the student must submit an official application for admission to teacher education. Admission requirements include:
Ð a minimum grade point average of 2.5 is required for both overall and content teaching areas.
Ð completion of three semester credit hours of speech with a minimum grade of B or better.
Ð for foreign students, a minimum score of 550 on the written version or 213 on the computerized version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Ð TASP reading score of 260; TASP writing score of 220; TASP math score of 230, or
Ð minimum 2.67 GPA on the last 60 semester credit hours, or
Ð meet university requirements for unconditional or non-degree admission into the graduate school.
Ð Criminal History Check: Application forms are available at the Field Experience office
Alternative Certification Program (ACP):
Students applying for admission to ACP must apply for admission to the university at either the graduate or post-baccalaureate level and meet the requirements for the respective level. Without a GRE score the student may apply for admission as a post-baccalaureate student and complete the application process for the graduate program within the first semester. All students must submit a current criminal history check. Application forms are available at the Alternative Certification Office
Admission to the Teacher Education Program must be completed by Alternative Certification Program applicants before registering for pedagogy and professional responsibility courses, or any of the academic courses offered in the School of Education.
Field Experiences
The teacher preparation program requires students to enroll in education courses that require a variety of training activities scheduled in area schools. These experiences include such things as classroom observations, working with mentor teachers, tutoring students, small group work and lesson presentations. Prior to initiating any field experiences students must meet the following prerequisites:
¥ Clear admittance to the Teacher Education Program.
¥ Criminal History Check. Each semester students must have a current check conducted through their local police department .
¥ TB test. Submit a current report (TB test forms are available in the Teacher Education Field Experience Office, Education Building Office # 3.) The UTB/TSC Health Services Office is available for administration of TB tests every day from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. except on Thursdays.
¥ Clear demonstration of commitment to professional standards and ethics.
All Criminal History Checks and TB tests are to be submitted to the course instructor during the first week of class and all financial charges associated with these are the responsibility of the student. Students that are clear will receive a letter of introduction to take to the school indicating their approved assignment.
Student Teaching
Student teaching is required in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a provisional certificate in Texas. Senior level student teachers are assigned regular classroom instruction with mentor teachers for one full semester. Students should be aware that no more than three hours of other coursework may be taken concurrently with student teaching. Before applying for student teaching, a student must meet the following prerequisites:
¥ Senior classification.
¥ Minimum overall GPA of 2.50
¥ Completion of required professional education courses as specified by the individual degree plan with a 2.50 GPA and no grade lower than C.
¥ Be within six semester hours of completing required coursework in each teaching field, discipline, and/or delivery system as specified by the degree plan, with a minimum 2.50 grade point average in each area.
¥ Satisfactory TB test results on file.
¥ Completion of all course practicums.
¥ Completion of all Reading/Literacy courses as required by the individual degree plan.
¥ Criminal history search. Students must have a current check conducted through the Department of Public Safety Office.
¥ Clear demonstration of commitment to professional standards and ethics.
Application Procedure: For student teaching the following application procedure must be completed before approval for student teaching. Students need to be aware that the application process for Student Teaching is separate from the application for admission to Teacher Education.
¥ File an official student teaching application form which is available in the Teacher Education Field Experience Office. (Education Building, Room # 3)
¥ Attach an up-to-date UTB/TSC transcript.
¥ Attach a copy of the official degree plan.
¥ Submit an application to the Teacher Education Field Experience Office (Education Building, Room 3) by March 19 for the fall semester or by October 15 for the spring semester.
Assignments to student teaching are based on the following:
Elementary Education
¥ Students seeking an Early Childhood-4th grade generalist certificate will be given a one half semester, all-day assignment in Early Childhood and one half semester all day assignment in grades 1-4.
¥ Students seeking Early Childhood-4th grade bilingual generalist will be given a one half semester all day placement in a bilingual early childhood Pre K or K classroom and a one half semester all day placement in an elementary bilingual classroom (grades 1-4)
¥ Students seeking an elementary certificate with a delivery system in Generic Special Education will be assigned an all-day, one-half semester placement in an elementary classroom and an additional all-day, one-half semester placement in the delivery system.
Secondary Education
¥ Secondary students seeking a certificate in a single Academic major will receive an all-day one-semester placement in the specified major.
¥ Students seeking certification in two 24-hour fields will be assigned an all-day, one-half semester placement for each of the two fields. Each additional field will require an all day placement in each field.
All-Level
¥ All-level majors will receive an all-day, half semester placement at both the elementary and secondary levels. Each additional teaching field will require an all-day placement.