People and Programs

In the fall of 2007, a total of 3,359 undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled in the College of Education. Another 1,000 students from across the University of Texas campus were pursuing degrees in their academic discipline and secondary teacher certification in the College of Education. They were taught by a faculty of over 150, many of whom are nationally recognized for their research productivity and professional leadership.

Degrees offered: B.S., M.A., M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.

Degrees Granted: In the 2006 - 2007 academic year, 977 degrees were granted by the College of Education: 516 Bachelors, and 305 Masters and 156 Doctoral degrees.

Certifications: In the 2006 -2007 academic year, 519 individuals were recommended for Texas educator certification.

Undergraduate Programs

In recent years, UT's teacher education program has been redesigned and strengthened to reflect new educational research and to emphasize the students' academic knowledge base. Future elementary teachers major in Applied Learning and Development, a bachelors program which includes interdisciplinary course work, an academic specialization, and extensive field experience in area schools. Future secondary teachers major in an academic discipline and receive their degrees from the college offering that major. Beginning in the junior year, they take 18 hours of professional development courses in education, including student teaching. Bachelors degrees not involving teacher certification are offered in health promotion and fitness, kinesiology, and youth and community studies.

Two important trends in teacher education at UT Austin are the application of technology to instruction and collaborative programs with schools. The College of Education is committed to preparing teachers who can use new technologies to promote learning for children. Thus, emphasis is placed on integrating technological knowledge and skills into the curriculum and on maintaining state-of-the-art computer resources. At the same time, the College has become increasingly committed to collaboration with practitioners through Professional Development Schools (PDS), where theory and practice come together in the education of future teachers. PDSs are real schools which serve a broad cross-section of youngsters while also providing centers for observation and participation by teacher candidates. At the PDS, university faculty and school practitioners work together to plan internship experiences for future teachers, who also take some of their college classes at the school site. As of spring, 2000, nine elementary and middle schools in Austin's inner-city neighborhoods were allied with the College of Education as PDS sites, successfully combining exemplary practices and a real-world focus in the preparation of effective teachers.

Graduate Programs

Master's and doctoral degrees are offered through all departments in the College. Excellent programs in curriculum and instruction, educational administration, educational psychology, special education, foreign language education, instructional technology, health education, kinesiology, mathematics education, and science education prepare counselors, administrators, curriculum specialists, and faculty for institutions of higher education. The College also trains professionals for a variety of other roles -- for example, recreation specialists, sports management professionals, and specialists in a variety of youth service agencies.