Teacher Education Programs
Texas' growing number of English learners brings a need for qualified bilingual and English as a Second Language teachers. In Texas public schools there are 800,000 English learners, the majority from Spanish-speaking backgrounds.
Opportunities abound
The curriculum in the University of North Texas' bilingual and ESL teacher preparation programs addresses the affective, academic, linguistic and cognitive needs of English learners. Through specialized instruction and assessment, you will gain the necessary knowledge, skills and dispositions you need to become a future educator.
The bilingual education program focuses on how to deliver classroom instruction in Spanish and English. To pursue certification in this area, you will need to apply for admission to the bilingual program and be proficient in both Spanish and English.
The ESL education program prepares you to deliver instruction in English so students can gain knowledge and proficiency in English. To pursue certification in this area, you will need to apply for admission to the ESL program. Proficiency in Spanish is not required.
Both programs ensure that you will be prepared to provide students with the curriculum they need to meet the academic and assessment standards expected of all students.
These programs are aligned with state and national standards and the College of Education's general requirements. The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (1140 19th St., Suite 400; Washington, D.C. 20036; telephone 202-223-0077). This accreditation means that we meet or exceed strict academic standards for excellence in teacher preparation.
The College of Education is one of the state's top producers of teachers, administrators, counselors and other school professionals.
Certification options
Teacher initial certification programs
The undergraduate program is for students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with initial teacher certification in:
- Core subjects to teach in grades EC-6 with supplemental bilingual education
- Core subjects to teach in grades EC-6 with supplemental ESL education
- Mathematics, science, social studies, or English language arts and reading with an additional focus on ESL education to teach in grades 4-8
Advanced degree program
You can earn a Master of Education in Teaching degree and add a post-baccalaureate alternative certificate by passing 12 additional credit hours of online coursework.
We also offer a 24-credit-hour graduate program for non-education majors to earn an initial certification with a Master of Education in Teaching. All courses are offered online except for student teaching and clinical experiences in the classroom.
The specialization areas are:
- Core subjects to teach in grades EC-6 with supplemental bilingual education
- Core subjects to teach in grades EC-6 with supplemental ESL education
Attending UNT
Admission and program requirements
Undergraduate students
Admission to UNT requires:
- A completed application for undergraduate admission to UNT through applytexas.org
- A minimum of 2.7 overall GPA
- Passing scores on the SAT or ACT, and TOEFL for international students
- An application fee
- High school transcripts or transfer credit documentation
Admission to the teacher education program requires:
- A minimum of 2.75 overall GPA
- 60 earned credit hours (junior standing)
- Passing scores on the SAT or ACT, and TOEFL for international students
- A completed online interview questionnaire in Foliotek
- A degree plan in process or completed
Completion of the program requires:
- 120 credit hours of coursework, including student teaching
- Passing scores on these TExES exams:
- EC-6 Core Subjects
- ESL Supplemental or Bilingual Supplemental
- Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR)
- Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT), only for students in the bilingual education track
Post-baccalaureate and alternative certification students
Admission to UNT requires:
- A completed application for graduate admissions to UNT through applytexas.org
- An undergraduate degree with a minimum 2.8 overall GPA or 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of coursework
- Passing scores on the SAT, ACT or GRE, and passing TOEFL scores for international students
- An application fee
- Official transcripts from all universities previously attended
Admission to the teacher education program requires:
- Having completed 3 credit hours for each of these courses with a grade of C or better: mathematics, science, social studies and English
- A completed online interview questionnaire in Foliotek
- Passing scores on the SAT, ACT or GRE, and passing TOEFL scores for international students
- A completed application to the post- baccalaureate program
- A certification plan in process or completed
Completion of the program requires:
- 24 credit hours of coursework including student teaching or practicum
- Passing scores on these TExES exams:
- EC-6 Core Subjects
- ESL Supplemental or Bilingual Supplemental
- Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR)
- Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT), only for students in the bilingual education track
Post-baccalaureate students adding the Master of Education in Teaching degree
- Apply for graduate admissions to the degree program
- Have a degree plan in process or completed with an advisor
Course requirements
Post-baccalaureate and alternative certification students
EDCI 5010: Everyone Can Learn: Applying Theory to Teaching Practice
EDBE 5560: Fundamentals of Bilingual and ESL Education in EC-12 Settings
EDBE 5570: Assessing Language and Content Learning in EC-12 Bilingual and ESL Education
EDBE 5580: Bilingual Content Instruction (bilingual education track)
EDBE 5582: ESL Content Instruction (ESL education track)
EDBE 5590: Pedagogy of ESL for EC-12 Classrooms
EDRE 5070: Literacy Development for English Learners
EDEE 5105: Practicum I and EDEE 5115: Practicum II
or
EDEE 5101 and EDEE 5102: Student Teaching in EC-6
Post-baccalaureate students adding the Master of Education in Teaching degree
EDCI 5020: Curriculum Development for Culturally Diverse Learners
EDCI 5030: Maintaining Classroom Discipline
EDCI 5850: Instructional Methods in Language Arts and Social Studies
EDCI 5860: Instructional Methods in Mathematics and Science
For more information about the post-baccalaureate, Master of Education in Teaching and alternative certification pathways, you also can contact our graduate advisors Maria Prada at maria.prada@unt.edu and Taylor Williams at taylor.williams@unt.edu.