Middle Grades, Secondary, and All-Level Certification

Middle grades (4^th to 8^th grade), secondary (8^th to 12^th grade), and all-level (early childhood to 12^th grade) certification programs are based on degrees earned from colleges within The University with academic majors in the student's chosen teaching field. Certification requirements for undergraduate students seeking middle grades, secondary, and all-level school teacher certification include all the courses required for the major the student is pursuing in the College of Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, or Education, as well as the pre-professional and professional education courses.

Natural Sciences

Students pursuing middle grades or secondary teacher certification in mathematics, computer science, or science must follow the curriculum prescribed by the UTeach Natural Sciences program, a collaborative between the College of Education and the College of Natural Sciences. Program advising is available in Painter Hall 4.02, or by calling (512) 232-2770. There are post-baccalaureate programs for the certification fields housed in the College of Natural Sciences.

Liberal Arts

Students pursuing middle grades or secondary teacher certification in English language arts and reading, history, languages other than English, or social studies must follow the curriculum prescribed by the UTeach Liberal Arts program, a collaborative program between the College of Education and the College of Liberal Arts. Program advising is housed in the College of Liberal Arts. Information is available from the College of Liberal Arts Office of Special Projects, Gebauer Building 4.316, or by calling 232-3480. There are post-baccalaureate programs for the certification fields housed in the college of Liberal Arts.

Fine Arts

Program advising for students seeking all-level certification in art, music, or theatre arts is provided in the specific department in the College of Fine Arts, and in the College of Education Student Division, Office of the Dean, George I. Sanchez Building 216, (512) 471-3223.

Kinesiology

Program advising for students seeking all-level certification in kinesiology is provided in the Department of Kinesiology, Bellmont Hall 222, and in the College of Education Student Division, Office of the Dean, George I. Sanchez Building 216, (512) 471-3223.

Program advising for students seeking all-level certification in generic special education is provided in the Department of Special Education, Sanchez 306, and in the College of Education Student Division, Office of the Dean, George I. Sanchez Building 216, (512) 471-3223.

Minimum Scholastic Requirements

In addition to meeting the minimum coursework and scholastic requirements, students seeking middle grades, secondary, and all-level certification must also meet other requirements in order to take the prescribed professional development coursework. Admission to the Professional Development Sequence is restricted. The application must be submitted online through the Field Experiences office, SZB 294. Information about admissions requirements is available in the Student Division, Office of the Dean, George I. Sanchez Building 216, (512) 471-3223.

Teaching Fields

All candidates for middle grades, secondary, and all-level teaching certificates must earn a degree in their primary teaching field by meeting all of the requirements for the appropriate major. While completing these requirements, the certification student must take a core of courses in the major that fulfills certification requirements. This certification core includes at least twenty-four semester hours in a single teaching field and forty-eight semester hours in a composite teaching field, and incorporates the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) needed for successful teaching in the field. Often, the student's major department requires more than these twenty-four semester hours, but the certification core in the major field must be covered.

Students seeking middle grades certification may choose from the following teaching fields:

• computer science
• English language arts and reading
• mathematics
• science
• social studies

Students seeking secondary certification may choose from the following teaching fields:

• computer science
• English language arts and reading
• history
• languages other than English (until 8/31/06)
• mathematics
• science
• social studies

Students seeking all-level teacher certification may choose from the following teaching fields:

• art
• kinesiology (physical education)
• languages other than English (starting 9/1/06)
• music
• special education
• theatre arts

For more information please call (512) 471-3223