Educator Preparation Program

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The College of Education offers routes to educator certification for:

- Early Childhood through Grade 6 Generalist (EC-6)

- Grades 4-8, Grades 8-12

- Early Childhood through Grade 12 (EC-12) certification.

- Special Education Supplementary

Students who pursue educator certification do not declare a major in "education."

Students seeking EC-6 or Grades 4-8 certification are "interdisciplinary academic" majors.

Students pursuing Grades 8-12 certification will major in one of the following disciplines/teaching fields: biology, computer science, English, history, mathematics, natural sciences, or speech communication 7-12.

Students pursuing EC-12 certification must choose a major in either physical education or music. All students seeking certification must meet State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and university Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree requirements, or Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) degree requirements for EC-Grade 12 Music Education Teacher Certification (Choral).

Education students pursuing supplementary special education certification must first meet the requirements of their content area programs. The Council for Exceptional Children, the national standards provider, states that highly qualified special education teachers first have training and certification in a content area: elementary (EC-6) or secondary reading/English language arts, math, science, and/or history; then specialized instruction in how to design plans, instruct, and evaluate the needs of unique learners (those with qualifying disabilities and/or health impairments, and/or gifted and talented.)  All teacher candidates seeking certification must meet the requirements of the supplementary program and the certification requirements from State Board for Educator Certification.

Required scores, as determined by the College of Education, on the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test over the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics must be achieved prior to admission to the Educator Preparation Program. No education courses (EDUC, ECHE, nor READ), with the exception of EDUC 2312, EDUC 3312, and READ 3330 may be taken until the student is accepted into the Educator Preparation Program.

Certification is available for post-baccalaureate students through the Master of Arts in Teaching Program in the College of Education. 

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