Secondary Certification Programs

Students seeking certification to teach at the secondary level (grades 8–12) must obtain a bachelor’s degree in the academic area in which they plan to teach. They should consult with their advisor in the department in which their degree is contained. They should also consult with an advisor in the COEHD Advising and Certification Center for information regarding secondary certification requirements and admission to the Teacher Certification Program. Requirements for degrees and certificates have been carefully coordinated; however, there may be specific degree requirements that are not required in the certification program, and specific certification requirements that may not be required in the degree program. Certificate program requirements are approved by the State of Texas.

Core Curriculum Requirements: Students should refer to the appropriate section of this catalog for a listing of Core Curriculum requirements for the degree they are seeking.

The number of semester credit hours required for secondary certification is 30. There are additional requirements for students seeking certification in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR). Students seeking certification in ELAR should consult their certification advisor for information.

Certification Requirements (15 semester credit hours)
(For proper sequencing of these courses, students should consult a certification advisor.)

BBL  3403  Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in a Pluralistic Society
EDP  3203  Learning and Development in the Secondary School Adolescent
EDU  2103  Social Foundations for Education in a Diverse U.S. Society
IDS  2013  Introduction to Learning and Teaching in a Culturally Diverse Society
SPE  3603  Introduction to Special Education

Professional Education and Reading Coursework (9 semester credit hours)

Students must be admitted to the Teacher Certification Program before enrolling in Professional Education and Student Teaching coursework.

C&I  4203  Models of Teaching in the Content Areas of the Secondary School
EDP  4203  Assessment and Evaluation
RDG  3773  Reading and Writing across the Disciplines-Secondary

C&I 4203, EDP 4203, and RDG 3773 are restricted classes. Advisor authorization for these classes will be issued only if all prerequisites have been completed. C&I 4203 is not offered in the Summer Semesters.

Student Teaching Component (6 semester credit hours)

C&I  4646  Student Teaching: Grades 8-12