Education
Department website: https://education.utexas.edu
College of Education
Daniel Hamlin, PhD, Dean, College of Education
Beth Maloch, PhD, Senior Associate Dean
Alexandra Loukas, PhD, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
Victor Saenz, PhD, Associate Dean for Student Success, Community Engagement, and Administration
Allison Skerrett, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Richard Hogeda, M.Ed, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Angie Hoffman, Chief Business Officer
Mission
The University of Texas at Austin, through the College of Education, is committed to the preparation of teachers and other educators who are dedicated to the employment and advancement of education for all people. In pursuing this mission, the College of Education performs several functions.
It is a professional school offering one teacher certification degree. The Bachelor of Science in Education allows students to pursue teacher certification for elementary (early childhood through grade six) ESL generalist, ESL bilingual generalist, all-level (early childhood through grade 12), or generic special education certification.
The college provides the professional sequence of education courses and serves as the certification agent for all University students pursuing certification to teach in Texas, whether they are enrolled in the College of Education or in another division of the University. See Preparation for Teacher Certification for more information. Accountability information for the teacher preparation program is given in the General Information Catalog.
The college also offers programs that do not lead to teacher certification. These programs, in youth and community studies, athletic training, exercise science, health promotion and behavioral science, physical culture and sports, and sport management, are designed to meet the professional needs of public and private educational and community service agencies and to prepare students for advanced study.
As a unit of the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the College of Education offers courses and curricula leading to advanced professional certificates and to master’s and doctoral degrees in education. It also provides in-service training and consulting services for those engaged in the educational professions.
Departments in the college offer courses in general education as well as in various specialties suitable for students pursuing vocational objectives other than teaching.
The college is also a center for research, experimentation, and a wide variety of direct services to school systems and other educational and public service enterprises.
Financial Assistance Available through the College
Scholarships as well as graduate fellowships and assistantships are available to students in the College of Education. Application for all undergraduate awards and some graduate awards should be made to the Office of the Dean, George I. Sánchez Building 2.110; graduate students should also inquire in their departmental offices. Generally, applications are accepted online in March for the following academic year.
Student Services
The Office of the Dean of the College of Education provides a variety of student services, including maintenance of student records, academic counseling, certification counseling, and official evaluations of the student’s academic standing and progress toward a degree. Students are encouraged to contact the office whenever they have questions about degree requirements, academic standing, teacher certification, general University regulations, or registration. The office is also a good source of general information and referral that students are urged to use when they have questions or problems of any nature.
Academic Advising
The College of Education encourages all students to see their advisors at least once a semester for a comprehensive discussion of their programs. Academic advisors are available in George I. Sánchez Building 216.
Education Career Engagement
The College of Education offers career services to assist University students in making informed career choices. Education Career Engagement makes job search materials, events, and counseling accessible to students on a regular basis. Information about these services is available at https://education.utexas.edu/about/college-offices/career-services.
As a complement to the assistance available from the college, the University's Sanger Learning Center and Texas Career Engagement provide comprehensive career services to all students. The centers offer professional assistance to all University students in choosing or changing their majors or careers, seeking an internship, and planning for the job search or for graduate study.
Student Organizations
The Education Council is the official channel for student participation in policy formulation and evaluation and in development of student activities in the college. Voluntary organizations in the college include the Bilingual Education Student Organization, the Texas Health Promotion Club, the Kinesiology Club, Longhorn Athletic Training Student Association, Minorities in Education, the Student Council for Exceptional Children, and Teachers of Tomorrow. Pi Lambda Theta, Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi are honorary organizations for men and women.
Student Programs
Education Scholars
The Education Scholars program is for select students admitted to the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. Participation in the two-year program is by invitation only, with the aim to provide the benefits of a small college atmosphere while preparing students to become future leaders of the College of Education. For more information, see https://education.utexas.edu/students/undergraduate-students/enhancing-your-degree/texas-education-scholars.
Teacher Certification
Please see the Preparation for Teacher Certification.
University of Texas (UT) Urban Teachers
UT Urban Teachers is a teacher preparation program for students seeking secondary teacher certification in English language arts and reading or social studies. UT Urban Teachers offers a three-semester program for undergraduate students, beginning the spring before their senior year, for students working towards a bachelor’s degree in English, history, geography, government, economics, or other humanities disciplines. UT Urban Teachers also offers a Masters of Education degree program with teacher certification for students seeking teacher certification while pursuing a masters. These programs are designed to help English language arts and reading and social studies teacher candidates develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions to support teaching and learning in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings. Program advising is housed in the College of Education. Information is available on the UT Urban Teachers website and from the College of Education advising office.
Requirements and Policy
General Requirements
- All College of Education students seeking teacher certification must complete the entire Professional Development Sequence of coursework in residence. Residence credit includes only courses taken at the University; it does not include credit by examination, courses taken by extension or correspondence, or courses taken at another institution.
- State of Texas teacher certification requirements are governed by the Texas Education Agency and are subject to change. Students must adhere to current teacher certification requirements, even if they differ from those listed in the University catalogs.
- Except as otherwise indicated, credit by examination is treated like any other earned credit in meeting degree requirements.
- With the exception of credit earned by examination, each course counted toward the degree or toward certification requirements must be taken on the letter-grade basis, unless the course is offered only on the pass/fail basis.
- To graduate, all students must have a University grade point average of at least 2.00.
Applicability of Certain Courses
Physical Activity Courses
Physical activity (PED) courses are offered by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. Up to three semester hours of physical activity coursework may be counted as electives toward any College of Education degree. All physical activity courses are counted among courses for which the student is enrolled, and the grades are included in the grade point average.
ROTC Courses
A maximum of 12 semester hours of credit in air force science, military science, or naval science may be used as free electives in any degree plan of the College of Education.
Concurrent Enrollment and University Extension Courses
In the semester they plan to graduate, students may not take any course to be counted toward the degree at another institution or through University Extension; students who plan to graduate at the end of the summer session may request approval to take transfer work only in the first summer term.
Graduation
Special Requirements of the College
All students must fulfill the General Requirements for graduation. In addition, students in the College of Education must be registered in the college either in residence or in absentia the semester or summer session the degree is to be awarded and must apply to the dean for the degree no later than the date specified in the official academic calendar. The student must have an official degree audit on file prior to applying for the degree.
Applying for Graduation
Each student seeking a degree from the College of Education should apply for an official degree audit in the Student Dean’s Office, George I. Sánchez Building 2.110. The degree audit is essential to ensure that the student meets all the degree requirements given in a catalog under which he or she is eligible to graduate.
In the final semester or summer session, a candidate for graduation must apply for the degree by the deadline given in the official academic calendar.
Admission
Admission and readmission of undergraduate students to the University is the responsibility of the director of admissions. Information about admission to the University is given in the General Information Catalog.
Information about admission to teacher preparation programs and to majors in the Department of Kinesiology and Health is available in the Office of the Dean, George I. Sánchez Building 2.110.
Admission to majors in kinesiology is restricted for internal transfer students. Students should see an advisor in the Office of the Dean, George I. Sánchez Building 2.110 for information.
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. Space availability may be a factor in the admission decision, as well as academic performance, completion of prerequisite courses, documented evidence of proficiency in reading and in oral and written communication, and the number of hours the student needs, at the time of application, to complete the program.
For students seeking early childhood through grade six, all-level generic special education, or the Urban Teachers English language arts and reading or social studies certification, admission to the Professional Development Sequence is competitive and there is a specific University grade point average, as well as mandated grades in prerequisite courses required. Additionally, students seeking early childhood through grade six and all-level generic special education certification may only lack one class outside the sequence when they enter the Professional Development Sequence. To progress within the sequence, and to complete the sequence, the student must maintain a specific University grade point average and must earn the appropriate grade in each course in the sequence. Students are encouraged to speak to an advisor in the Office of the Dean, George I. Sánchez Building 2.110 for additional information about these requirements.
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.
Registration
The General Information Catalog gives information about registration, adding and dropping courses, transfer from one division of the University to another, and auditing a course. The Course Schedule, published before registration each semester, includes registration instructions, advising locations, and the times, places, and instructors of classes. The Course Schedule and the General Information Catalog are published on the registrar’s website.
Curriculum and Instruction Coursework
Admission to the Professional Development Sequence of upper-division courses for teacher certification requires formal acceptance. Information about admission requirements is available from the Office of the Dean, George I. Sánchez Building 2.110.
Honors
University Honors
The designation University Honors, awarded at the end of each fall/spring semester, gives official recognition and commendation to students whose grades for the semester indicate distinguished academic accomplishment. Both the quality and the quantity of work done are considered. Criteria for University Honors are given in the General Information Catalog.
Graduation with University Honors
Students who, upon graduation, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement are eligible to graduate with University Honors. Criteria for graduation with University Honors are given in the General Information Catalog.
Facilities
The instructional and research programs of the College of Education are carried out in five buildings. The primary facility, the George I. Sánchez Building, contains classrooms, extensive computer facilities, electronic media resources, observation rooms, a learning technology center, a distance learning classroom, and faculty offices. Bellmont Hall, the primary facility for the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, houses classrooms, research and computer laboratories, gymnasium and locker facilities, racquet sport courts, and faculty offices. College of Education faculty members and programs are also housed in Gregory Gymnasium and the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, and the North End Zone.
The University of Texas Elementary School is a research-based demonstration school located in East Austin that serves as a training and development site for future teachers, school nurses, speech therapists, social workers, counselors, and psychologists. The University of Texas-University Charter School includes 24 campuses around the state that serve approximately 2,000 K-12 students with special needs, including students in foster care settings.
Specializations
Specializations are small clusters of courses designed to enhance expertise in a particular professional area and are reserved for College of Education students. Once all of the courses within a specialization are completed, students apply to receive a letter from the department verifying completion of the specialization. See our website for more information.
Coaching
This specialization benefits those who plan to pursue coaching as a profession at various levels such as youth sports, middle school, and high school athletics, collegiate, and professional sports and who seek to gain knowledge and understanding of the growth and development of athletes.
Students explore the legal, psychological, social, biological, physical, theoretical, and technical parameters in coaching and develop comprehension of advanced leadership principles and educational theories and practices. This specialization prepares content with an emphasis on sports ethics and human performance training and development. This will NOT certify students to be a coach, however, it may prepare them to sit for some certification exams.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| KIN 119.10 | Conditioning | 1 |
| KIN 310 | Physiological Basis of Conditioning | 3 |
| or KIN 325K | Physiology of Exercise | |
| KIN 311K | Sport Psychology | 3 |
| KIN 312.2 | Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 3 |
| KIN 312.3 | Fundamentals of Coaching | 3 |
| or KIN 335C | Motor Learning | |
| KIN X61 & KIN X62 | Coaching Theory and Principles I and Coaching Theory and Principles II | 6 |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Community Health and Wellness
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization Courses | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 9 | |
| Theories of Substance Use and Abuse | ||
| Psychosocial Issues in Adult Development and Health | ||
| Adolescent Health Risk Behavior | ||
| Psychosocial Issues in Women's Health | ||
| Strategic Health Communication | ||
| Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Public Health Challenges Along the United States-Mexico Border | ||
| Psychological Aspects of Exercise | ||
| Required Fieldwork: | ||
| HED 627L | Internship/Fieldwork in Health Promotion | 6 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Health Fitness Instructor
This specialization benefits those wanting to pursue a career in personal and small group training. It also provides practical experience in preparation for graduate school in applied fields.
This specialization prepares students for a career in fitness and for a variety of national certifications. Fieldwork and internships provide practical experience as students develop and apply programming and exercise techniques for both general and special populations. Students also prepare to go on to graduate school, including medical, physical therapy, physician’s assistant, chiropractic, and other forms of allied health studies. Many of our alumni are successful in the personal training field and many own and operate their own facilities. Other alumni work with athletes in a sports conditioning setting.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization Courses | ||
| KIN 322 | Diagnosis and Evaluation of Fitness | 3 |
| KIN 330E | Sport Nutrition | 3 |
| or NTR 306 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | |
| KIN 332 | Techniques of Fitness Leadership | 3 |
| Required Fieldwork: | ||
| KIN 627F.1 | Internship in Health Fitness | 6 |
| KIN 327T.2 | Personal Training | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Medical Fitness and Rehabilitation
This specialization benefits those who want to pursue a career in the medical field, such as cardiac rehabilitation or physical therapy, and will provide experience in a variety of clinical settings. Through fieldwork and internship experiences, students explore different methods of training and treatment.
Students work with clients from “pre-hab” (preventive exercise programming) to post-rehabilitation. This specialization prepares students to work in a number of medical settings or to pursue a graduate degree in many fields of allied health, such as physical/occupational therapy, or medical school.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization Courses | ||
| KIN 322 | Diagnosis and Evaluation of Fitness | 3 |
| KIN 332 | Techniques of Fitness Leadership | 3 |
| Required fieldwork: | ||
| KIN 327T.1 | Clinical Exercise Testing | 3 |
| KIN 327T.2 | Personal Training | 3 |
| KIN 627F.2 | Internship in Medical Fitness | 6 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Strength and Conditioning Coaching
This specialization benefits those who are interested in designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs. It also as provides guidance on safe training techniques and nutritional advice.
Students explore how to coach, train, and oversee exercise and weight training for various levels of fitness. At the end of the program, students are prepared to participate in a graduate program in Exercise Physiology and become certified as a strength and conditioning specialist. For more information on certifications in this area review the requirements set in place by The National Strength and Conditioning Association.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization Courses | ||
| KIN 310 | Physiological Basis of Conditioning | 3 |
| KIN 312.2 | Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 3 |
| KIN 226 | Advanced Weight Training | 2 |
| KIN 330E | Sport Nutrition (or 3 hours of approved Nutrition) | 3 |
| KIN 363 | Theory and Practice in Strength Coaching | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 1 | |
| Conditioning | ||
| Weight Training | ||
| Required Fieldwork: | ||
| KIN 327T.4 | Internship in Strength and Condition Coaching | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Tracks
Tracks are courses in a second field of study designed by the College of Education and are reserved for College of Education students. Most tracks consist of 15 hours, six of which must be upper-division. Tracks do not appear on your UT Austin transcript or diploma but they are reflected on your profile record and degree audit. Any combination of courses can be used to complete a track as long as 6 hours are upper-division.
Cultural Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hours chosen from: AFR, AAS, ANS, EUS, ISL, J S, LAS, MAS, MES, REE, or R S | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
English/Language Arts
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hours chosen from: | 15 | |
| Children's Literature | ||
and/or any E or RHE coursework | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hours chosen from: EDC, EDU, EDP, HED, KIN, PED, or SED | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Physical Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDC 345 | Curriculum Issues in Physical Education | 3 |
| EDC 370E.21 | Teaching Elementary Physical Education | 3 |
| EDC 370S.12 | Teaching Secondary Physical Education | 3 |
| EDC 951W.5 | All Level Teaching Practicum: Kinesiology | 9 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hours chosen from: | 15 | |
Any course in the following fields: ARE, ASE, AST, BCH, BIO, BME, CH, CHE, C E, COE, C S, ECE, E M, E S, EVS, GEO, M E, N, NTR, NSC, PHM, PHY, P S, SDS, or STA | ||
| Biological Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Archaeological Studies: Prehistoric Archaeology | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| The Natural Environment | ||
| Weather and Climate | ||
| History of Modern Science | ||
| The Philosophy of Biology | ||
| The Outer Limits of Reason | ||
| Science and Metaphysics | ||
| Biology and Society | ||
| Biopsychology | ||
| Statistical Methods in Psychology | ||
| Experimental Psychology | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Social Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDP 350E | Introduction to Life Span Development | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: ANT, ECO, GOV, GRG, HIS, LIN, PSY, or SOC | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Sociology/Social Work
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Hours chosen from: SOC or S W | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |