Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Teacher Education Program


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The University of Houston’s Teacher Education Program, prepares undergraduate students to be certified as teachers in a variety of fields.

The university and the College of Education offer bachelor’s degree programs that meet the State Board for Educator Certification and the Higher Education Coordinating Board requirements for the standard teaching certificate. Individuals are required to have a Texas teaching certificate to teach in Texas public schools.

Postbaccalaureate students may seek teacher certification as a non-degree objective student or as a graduate student. See the Education section of the Graduate and Professional Studies Catalog for further information or visit the Certification page: http://www.coe.uh.edu/student-services/certifications.

Note: Rules and regulations are set forth by the state of Texas and are subject to change at any time. The College of Education reserves the right to make changes to accommodate the State Board for Educator Certification, the Coordinating Board, and university decisions.

Students who wish to become certified in the following areas should declare a major in Teaching and Learning.

  • Early Childhood-6th grade generalist teacher certification
  • Early Childhool-6th grade bilingual teacher certification
  • Early Childhood-6th grade/Early Childhood-12th grade Special Education teacher certification
  • 4th-8th grade English Language Arts teacher certification
  • 4th-8th grade Science teacher certification
  • 4th-8th grade Social Studies teacher certification

Students who wish to complete certification at the secondary level or in select fields at all levels should select a major in the content area in which they wish to teach and comlete the Education minor, with certification.

Certificates available through the Education Minor:

  • English Language Arts (7th-12th grade)
  • Social Studies (7th-12th grade)
  • History (7th-12th grade)
  • Speech (7th-12th grade)
  • Journalism (7th-12th grade)
  • Dance (Early Childhood-12th grade)
  • Music (Early Childhood-12th grade)
  • Art (Early Childhood-12th grade)
  • Theatre (Early Childhood-12th grade)
  • French (Early Childhood-12th grade)
  • Latin (Early Childhood-12th grade)
  • Spanish (Early Childhood-12th grade)
  • Italian (Early Childhood-12th grade)

Teacher Education Degree Plan Sequence

The Teacher Education program is organized into four phases: Pre- Teaching, Developing Teaching, Student Teaching 1, and Student Teaching 2.

Pre-Teaching coursework and field experiences are specifically designed to give candidates experience interacting with children in public schools throughout the greater Houston area in order to confirm their decision to become a teacher and to prepare for the prospect of a career in education. Once required program benchmarks are satisfied, students may apply to change their majors to a degree seeking major Teaching and Learning.

The Developing Teaching phase includes coursework that builds on the basic professional skills and knowledge gained in Pre-Teaching and provides continued and focused interactions with children and teachers through required weekly field placements.

Student Teaching is a full-year, full-time school placement integrated with accompanying coursework. Student Teaching 1 and Student Teaching 2, are content-focused, allowing candidates to learn the most current methodology for teaching all content areas for which they will be certified, as well as performance-focused, immersing candidates in the real work of teachers in school settings. Candidates are supported in the schools by master Cooperating Teachers and trained University Supervisors, supplemented by scheduled on-campus and online professional development and faculty and peer interactions.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Students apply to the Teacher Education Program in the semester during to the Pre-Teaching semester. Applications require documentation of:

  • coursework completion;
  • 2.50 overall GPA;
  • 2.50 GPA in academic fields and/or specializations;
  • passing scores on the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA). (College of Education passing scores on THEA are higher than the minimum passing scores required by the University of Houston.);
  • completion of writing assessment;
  • completion of a certification (PPR) benchmark exam
  • participation in an admissions review;

For more information regarding deadlines and requirements, go to http://www.coe.uh.edu/student-services/teacher-ed-handbook

Transfer Courses

Transfer of education and specialization courses requires approval by petition to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies. The Student Teaching 1 and 2 coursework must be completed in residence at UH.

Certification

Students must apply for their teaching certificate online at http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/ when they have completed all course work for their degree and have taken and passed the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) required for certification.

Note: All potential teacher certification candidates will be subject to a formal FBI fingerprint check before being issued a Texas teaching certificate.

Time Limitation

Courses completed at the University of Houston and/or transfer credits may not apply toward a degree or teacher certification if more than five years have elapsed upon application for certification. Current standards will be enforced.

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