Elementary Education
Reading Education
Matthews Hall, 218
(940) 565-2922
Educational Curriculum and Instruction
Secondary Education
Matthews Hall, 204
(940) 565-2826
Educational Administration
Matthews Hall, 218
(940) 565-2175
The teacher education programs at the University of North Texas have a long history of preparing effective teachers. As the needs of children and schools of Texas change, the programs continue to change. In 1992, the teacher education programs began to establish professional development schools, which are field-based educator preparation programs. In professional development school programs, public school teachers and administrators collaborate with faculty from the University of North Texas to prepare teachers for the challenges of the new century. Teacher education students in professional development schools learn and apply their knowledge and skills in clinical settings under the supervision of master teachers. The programs in teacher education are working toward the goal of assuring that all students recommended for certification have had experience in professional development schools.
Programs in teacher education are approved by the State Board for Educator Certification [1001 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78701] and are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) [2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036-1023; (202) 466-7496].
The department offers teacher certification programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduates seeking teacher certification in early childhood through grade four (EC-4) or grades 4-8 should enroll in the Bachelor of Science program with a major in interdisciplinary studies. Undergraduates seeking certification in secondary education receive a degree though the major department and add the required courses for teacher certification.
Students who have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited university may have their undergraduate transcript evaluated in the College of Education Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105, to develop a post-baccalaureate certification plan. Post-baccalaureate students must apply for admission and be admitted to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies prior to enrolling in any classes (see the Graduate Catalog for admission requirements).
The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:
* Pending final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
1. must have completed the University Core Curriculum. (See "University General Requirements" in the Academics section of this catalog.) Programs in teacher education require specific courses contained in parts of the University Core Curriculum to satisfy particular degree requirements. Students should consult program advisers for best choices in the core; and
2. must formally apply and be admitted to Teacher Education through the College of Education Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105; and
3. must meet all requirements for the specific certification level listed in the following table.
Teacher certification is a function of the State Board for Educator Certification. Completion of the bachelor's degree and the required education courses does not necessarily result in certification by the agency. All students seeking teacher certification through the University of North Texas must (1) successfully complete an approved teacher education program for the preparation of early childhood, middle grades, secondary or all-level teachers; (2) successfully complete student teaching, which includes attending appropriate seminars and passing a comprehensive teacher preparation examination; and (3) pass appropriate sections of the Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET) or the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), as applicable. The ExCET/TExES is offered twice each long semester and once in the summer. Contact the ExCET/TExES Coordinator in Matthews Hall, Room 218, for further information [(940) 565-4877].
Those seeking early childhood or middle grades generalist certification must present acceptable scores on the Elementary Pedagogy Professional Responsibilities (PPR) and the EC-4 Generalist or 4-8 Generalist portions of the TExES (Elementary Professional Development and Elementary Comprehensive portions of the ExCET, if applicable). Those seeking basic secondary certification must present acceptable scores on the Secondary Pedagogy Professional Responsibilities (PPR) and content area portions of the TExES (Secondary Professional Development and content area portions of the ExCET, if applicable). Additional certifications may require satisfactory scores on portions related to those areas. Students should contact the ExCET/TExES Coordinator, Matthews Hall, Room 218, to determine which exams apply to them and for other pertinent information. Students working on a certification plan for teaching (non-degree) must meet all requirements stated on their certification (deficiency) plan.
Bachelor of Science with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies (EC-4 and 4-8 Teacher Certification) Program changes consistent with State Board for Educator Certification requirements are pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Contact the Department of Teacher Education and Administration, Matthews Hall, Room 206, for current status.
Students completing the requirements for the undergraduate degree will receive the Bachelor of Science with a major in interdisciplinary studies and a minor in early childhood through grade 4 (EC-4) or grades 4 through 8 (4-8) education.
The undergraduate program typically requires a minimum of 127-139 semester hours. The specific number of hours required is determined by one's choice of EC-4 or Grades 4-8 option as described below.
1. Hours Required and General/College Requirements: A minimum of 127-139 semester hours, (depending upon teacher certification and course options selected), of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree as specified in the "General University Requirements" in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Education requirements.
The department recommends specific courses (best choices) in some categories. Students may elect to take other courses listed under the University Core Curriculum to fulfill these requirements; however, doing so may add hours to the degree.
The natural sciences (8 hours) core requirements must include BIOL 1080-1081 and PHYS 1210 in order to meet program requirements.
Students should consult with their advisers to determine best choices in the core, as well as best choices to also meet the Cross-cultural, Diversity and Global Studies core requirement (including EDUC 2000). Content of the following recommended (best choices) courses correlates with the ExCET/TExES competency requirements: ANTH 1010*+; ART 1300; COMM 2020, 2040; DANC 2800; ECON 1110*+; ENGL 2210, 2220; GEOG 1170+; MATH 1100, 3150 (EC-4 only); MUMH 2040; PHED 1000; SMHM 1450; THEA 2340.
* May be used to satisfy more than one requirement.
+ May add extra hours to the major.
2. Major Requirements:
Early Childhood Through Grade Four Generalist Teacher Certification Option
a. Field of Study (12 hours): DFEC 1013 (also may satisfy the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement of the University Core Curriculum), DFEC 2033 (also may satisfy the Cross-cultural, Diversity and Global Studies requirement of the University Core Curriculum), DFEC 3613; HLTH 1900.
b. Interdisciplinary Academic Major (54 hours):
c. Technology (3 hours): CECS 4100.
d. Fine and Performing Arts (3 hours): ART 3800; MUED 1130, MUED 1140; THEA 3400.
e. Pedagogy (24 hours): EDEE 3320, 3380 (must be taken prior to the PDS internship year); EDEE 4330, 4340, 4350, DFEC 4233 (all must be taken during the first semester of the PDS internship year) (requires two days/week course work and two days/week internship at the PDS site); EDEE 4101-4102 (requires 15 weeks of student teaching internship plus attendance at a one hour per week seminar; all must be taken during the second semester of the PDS internship year).
b. Academic Major (51 hours):
c. Technology (3 hours): CECS 4100
d. Fine and Performing Arts (3 hours): ART 3800; MUED 1130, MUED 1140; THEA 3400.
e. Pedagogy (24 hours): EDEE 3320, 3380 (must be taken prior to the PDS internship year); EDEE 4330, 4340, 4350, EDRE 4860 (also counts toward academic major). (Requires two days/week course work and two days/week internship at the PDS site.) (All must be taken during the first semester of the PDS internship year); EDEE 4103-4104 (requires 15 weeks of student teaching internship plus attendance at a one hour per week seminar) and EDSP 4680 (both must be taken during the second semester of the PDS internship year).
3. Minor Requirements: a minor is not required for this degree.
4. Other Course Requirements:
5. Electives: See individual degree plan.
6. Other Requirements:
a. Admission to Teacher Education: prior to enrolling in any teacher preparation course (except EDUC 2000 or EDSP 3210), students must have:
b. Eligibility for Teacher Certification: Teacher certification is a function of the State Board for Educator Certification. Completion of the bachelor's degree and the required education courses does not necessarily result in certification by the agency. In order to receive recommendation for teacher certification through the University of North Texas, students must have:
The programs in elementary and reading education have eight scholarships available to undergraduate students.
The Rena Mae Matthews, Mary Carlisle Webb, Bessie Cowan, Violet and Eunice Garrish, Mina Stroup and Mary Wells scholarship funds provide for grants each year to junior and senior students seeking elementary certification who have been admitted to teacher education.
The Phillip and Margaret Walker Memorial Scholarship and Reva Sykes Friedsam Scholarship are available each year to a senior student seeking certification in teacher education.
Information on these scholarships may be obtained in the Elementary Education Office in Matthews Hall, Room 218.
All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.
Undergraduate professional development courses in secondary education constitute a minor for bachelor's degree programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration or the School of Community Service. The program of studies offered through Secondary Education meets all professional development requirements for Texas teacher certification.
The State of Texas Teacher's Certificate requires completion of an approved four-year degree program. Completion of the bachelor's degree with Option I, II, III or IV teaching fields (see explanation of options below) and the professional development sequence meets the requirements of the State Board for Educator Certification for the Provisional Secondary Teachers Certificate for grades eight through 12.
Students are encouraged to visit the College of Education web site (www.coe.unt.edu/excet) for ExCET/TExES information. Students are encouraged to see their adviser each semester for help with program decisions and enrollment.
1. Hours Required and General/College Requirements: A minimum of 127 semester hours, of which 42 hours must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree as specified in the "General University Requirements" in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Education requirements. Students seeking teacher certification in secondary education must also meet all requirements of the college responsible for awarding the degree program for their selected major.
2. Major Requirements: See individual degree plan.
Approved Teaching Fields in Secondary Education
Requires a major of at least 30 hours in one discipline for a first teaching field and at least 24 hours in a second teaching field. Some disciplines require more than these minimums.
English as a Second Language (12 hours): LING 4040 or 5040; 4080 or 5080; 5320 (second language acquisition) and 5360 (sociolinguistics).
Traffic Safety Endorsement (15 hours): DRED 4400, 4410, 4420, 4430 and 5400.
Information Processing Technology (IPT) EndorsementFor undergraduate students, Level One IPT requires a total of 9 hours: CECS 1100, 3440 and 4100. Level Two IPT requires 15 hours: CECS 1100, 3440, 4100, 4900 and 3 hours of additional CECS course work.
Learning Resource Endorsement (19 Hours):
SLIS 4090/5090, 4420/5420, 4430/5430, 4720/5720, 5000, 5340, 5960.
Learning Resource Specialist (34 Hours): Take courses for Learning Resources Endorsement (above) plus
Gifted and Talented Endorsement, (12-15 Hours): EDSP 5150, 5160, 5170, 5180, 5430.
3. Other Course Requirements: See individual degree plan.
4. Minor Requirements: See individual degree plan.
5. Electives: See individual degree plan.
6. Other Requirements:
a. Admission to Teacher Education: Prior to enrolling in the first education course, students must have:
b. Professional Education Requirements (21 hours):
c. Eligibility for Teacher Certification and Endorsements: Teacher certification is a function of the State Board for Educator Certification. Completion of the bachelor's degree and the required education courses does not necessarily result in certification by the agency. In order to receive recommendation for teacher certification through the University of North Texas, students must have:
Advising should be sought in the Student Advising Office. The student, with advisement, makes decisions relating to the program of study. The degree/certification plan is subsequently prepared in the College of Education Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105. Degree/certification plan processing takes four to six weeks. Students must make an appointment to review completed degree/certification plans in Matthews Hall, Room 105. Any changes in degree/certification plans must be approved by the academic departments and the teacher education departmental office.
Detailed information may be found in the Graduate Catalog.
See Graduate Catalog.
See Graduate Catalog.
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