Introduction       The University       Admission       Registration, Tuition, and Fees       Academic Policies and Procedures          Credit Value and Course Numbers          Classification of Students          The Texas Success Initiative          Quantity of Work Rule          Evaluation          Computation of the Grade Point Average          Correspondence Work by Resident Students          Center for Teaching and Learning          Adding and Dropping Classes          Changing Pass/​Fail Registration          Withdrawal          Attendance          Class Syllabi          Examinations          Searches          Availability of Classwork to Students          Grade Reports          Scholastic Probation and Dismissal          Honors          Teacher Certification          Transcripts          Diplomas          Personal Record Information          Summons to Administrative Offices          Official Communications with the University       Student Services       Libraries and Other Academic Resources       Appendices       Index

• Introduction
• The University
• Admission
• Registration, Tuition, and Fees
• Academic Policies and Procedures
  • Credit Value and Course Numbers
  • Classification of Students
  • The Texas Success Initiative
  • Quantity of Work Rule
  • Evaluation
  • Computation of the Grade Point Average
  • Correspondence Work by Resident Students
  • Center for Teaching and Learning
  • Adding and Dropping Classes
  • Changing Pass/​Fail Registration
  • Withdrawal
  • Attendance
  • Class Syllabi
  • Examinations
  • Searches
  • Availability of Classwork to Students
  • Grade Reports
  • Scholastic Probation and Dismissal
  • Honors
  • Teacher Certification
  • Transcripts
  • Diplomas
  • Personal Record Information
  • Summons to Administrative Offices
  • Official Communications with the University
• Student Services
• Libraries and Other Academic Resources
• Appendices
• Index

Teacher Certification

The University conducts a large, field-based educator preparation program leading to certification for future teachers, administrators, and educational support personnel. This program is evaluated each year by the State of Texas and by the federal government. The results of these evaluations attest to the high quality of educator preparation at the University. For the academic year 2011–2012, 705 students were enrolled in the Professional Development Sequence of courses in the teacher certification programs. Teacher preparation requires extensively supervised field experiences, with most programs requiring eight hundred hours in the field. Of the 442 University students who took an educator certification exam in 2011–2012, 95 percent passed. This passing rate ranks in the highest quartile for all educator certification programs in Texas; the statewide average pass rate was 80 percent. Based on certification exam pass rates for all applicant demographic groups, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) rated the University educator preparation program “accredited,” its highest rating.

The University recommends students for teacher certification to TEA. To be recommended for a certificate to teach in elementary, middle, or high school, an undergraduate student must earn a degree as well as complete an approved teacher certification program. Students complete the following requirements for approved programs in conjunction with degree requirements:

1. Enrollment. Students seeking certification to teach at the elementary school level (option a below) must register in the College of Education and major in applied learning and development, an interdisciplinary program.

   Students seeking middle grades (option b below), high school (option c), or all-level (option d) certification must earn a degree from the college or school that houses the academic program in their prospective teaching field. Students should be advised by both an adviser in their academic department and a teacher certification adviser to confirm that the courses for which they register are applicable to their certification program.

   Students who are seeking teacher certification should select from the following options:

   1. Early childhood through grade 6: ESL Generalist or bilingual generalist
   2. Grades 4 through 8: Math, science, English/language arts/reading, or social studies
   3. Grades 8 through 12: Math, science, computer science, English/ language arts/reading, history, or social studies
   4. All-level: Special education, art, music, theatre, kinesiology, or languages other than English
2. Admission to the Professional Development Sequence. All students seeking teacher certification must complete a sequence of professional development courses. Admission to the Professional Development Sequence is restricted, and students must apply for admission to it. Academic performance, completion of prerequisite courses, documented evidence of proficiency in reading and in oral and written communication, and the number of hours needed to complete the program may be factors in the admission decision.
   
   For students seeking early childhood through grade six, all-level generic special education, or all-level kinesiology certification, admission to the Professional Development Sequence requires a minimum University grade point average of 2.50 and course grades prescribed by each program. To progress within the sequence, the student must maintain the minimum grade point average for the program. In addition, when they enter the Professional Development Sequence, students seeking early childhood through grade six and all-level generic special education certification may lack no more than three semester hours of coursework outside the sequence. Additional information about these requirements is available in the Office of the Dean, College of Education.
   
   For students in other teacher certification programs, requirements for admission to and continuation in the Professional Development Sequence are set by the college in which the student majors.
    
3. Certification exam. An individual seeking certification is required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the appropriate Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) test to be approved for initial or additional certification. Students who do not apply for their teaching certificate within three years of completing apprentice teaching may be required to complete additional fieldwork hours and coursework before applying for the certificate.
    
4. Legal questions. In accordance with state law, the commissioner of education may suspend or revoke a teaching certificate or refuse to issue a teaching certificate for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the teaching profession. Information about other legal issues is available from the teacher certification officer, George I. Sánchez Building 216, (512) 471-3223.

For students who hold a bachelor’s degree, separate programs are available that lead to teacher certification at all levels. The requirements of these postbaccalaureate programs may be different from those of the undergraduate certification programs.

For more information about teacher certification programs, students should see a certification adviser in the dean’s office of the College of Education, George I. Sánchez Building 216.