Secondary and All-Level Education
Become a secondary or all-level teacher by earning your Texas teaching certification
The Teacher Education Program at the Dreeben School of Education prepares students who aspire to teach specialized subjects at the middle school and high school level to earn a secondary teaching certification and students who aspire to teach a specialized subject from early childhood through grade 12 to earn an all-level teaching certification.
Students pursue a major in their intended teaching field and a minor in education. Students can choose from specializations in art, English language arts, history, life science, mathematics, music, physical education, physical science, Spanish and theater.
Secondary Certification, Grades 7 – 12
Students interested in secondary teaching certification (grades 7 - 12) should major in their intended teaching field and minor in education. A student following this course of study will take the UIW core, coursework in a major (among specialized teaching fields), and the education minor (pre-professional courses and professional development sequence). Students pursuing the education minor are also eligible to complete an additional minor in special education and/or reading. Specialized teaching fields include:
- English Language Arts
- History
- Life Science (B.A. or B.S. in Biology)
- Physical Science (B.A. or B.S. in Chemistry)
- Mathematics
All-Level Certification, Early Childhood – Grade 12
Students interested in all-level teaching certification (early childhood - grade 12) major in their intended teaching field and minor in education. A student following this course of study will take the UIW core, coursework in a major (among specialized teaching fields), and the education minor (pre-professional courses and professional development sequence). Students pursuing the education minor are also eligible to complete an additional minor in special education and/or reading. Specialized teaching fields include:
- Art
- Music
- Spanish
- Theater
- Physical Education
Specialized Minors
The reading minor offers an overview of reading and language acquisition. The reading minor is required for all B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) majors and is optional for students in all other majors.
The coursework presents an overview of literacy instruction, including emergent literacy, vocabulary development, comprehension development, dyslexia, English language acquisition, disciplinary literacy, and children's literature.
The Special Education minor is optional for all majors. B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) majors are required to complete the first three courses (EDUC 2315, 3343, 3346); therefore, the addition of EDUC 3335: Advocacy for Exceptional Learners, completes the minor.
The coursework presents an overview of special education history and legislation, instructional considerations, and professional responsibilities. The minor was designed to prepare certification candidates for the TExES special education supplemental examination and for the general education teacher seeking to increase their knowledge of exceptional learners.
Clinical Teaching Experience
The Teacher Education Program is a field-based program that provides intensive, realistic, and high-quality experiences in school settings. Eligible students may apply for a clinical teaching experience offering them an opportunity spend full days in classrooms and other learning environments where they connect theory and practice, observe effective teaching practices, and interact with diverse populations. Through the program, apprentice teachers explore and develop their teaching skills in close interaction with cooperating teachers and university supervisors.
The clinical teaching experience is considered to be the capstone of the Teacher Education Program and is completed in the final semester. Clinical teachers complete a 15- to 16-week, full-day placement. Placements with partnership schools are arranged by the program.
Clinical teachers must meet all requirements for clinical teaching applicable to the semester to which they apply. Requirements are subject to change to reflect current Texas Education Agency and UIW Teacher Education Program standards.
At minimum, clinical teacher applicants must demonstrate content proficiency with a passing state exam score in their certification content area as well as demonstrate the professional disposition expected for a professional educator.
Admissions Criteria
Find out more about requirements, standards and processes to begin your journey as a Dreeben School of Education student