College of Education Degree Requirements

Programs of study

The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:

Bachelor of Science with majors in development and family studies; interdisciplinary studies (early childhood through grade 6 or grades 4 through 8); kinesiology; health promotion; and recreation and leisure studies;
Master of Education with majors in counseling; curriculum and instruction; educational leadership; higher education; secondary education; and special education;
Master of Science with majors in counseling; development and family studies; early childhood studies; educational psychology; higher education; kinesiology; and recreation and leisure studies;
Doctor of Philosophy with majors in counseling; curriculum and instruction; educational research; higher education; and special education;
Doctor of Education with majors in educational leadership and higher education.

General requirements for each undergraduate degree are listed in the appropriate departmental section of this catalog. Requirements for graduate degrees are listed in the UNT Graduate Catalog.

Teacher certification

Students planning to teach in elementary (EC–6) or middle schools (4–8) must major in interdisciplinary studies (see Department of Teacher Education and Administration ).

Students planning to teach in secondary schools (7–12) must earn a major and degree in the academic discipline in which they plan to teach and take a minor in secondary education to qualify for a teaching certificate. Students should check with the appropriate department for degree requirements.

The State of Texas Standard Teaching Certificate requires completion of an approved four-year degree program, passing of the appropriate TExES state examinations and clearance on a criminal record search. Students must meet all prerequisite requirements and apply for admission to the teacher education program prior to taking education courses. Continuation in the teacher education program is contingent upon the results of criminal background checks and successful progress in teacher education courses.

A minimum of 12 semester hours must be completed in residence before a recommendation from UNT is made for any teaching certificate. For the University of North Texas to recommend an undergraduate student for teacher certification, additional teaching field, or area of specialization, that student must have successfully (1) completed the approved teacher education program for the preparation of early childhood, middle grades, secondary or all-level teachers and met the GPA and semester credit hour requirements; (2) completed student teaching; and (3) passed appropriate sections of the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), as applicable.

Access to Texas teacher certification exams (TExES) is granted to students who have been formally admitted to the Teacher Education program at UNT. Some content areas require that students take their content practice exam as part of a course requirement, or prerequisite for Early Field Experience. Only students who have been admitted to the Teacher Education program may sit for the practice exam.

The TExES practice exams are offered four times in the long semesters, twice during the summer. Students should visit with the TExES Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 103, for further information about their required exams (940-369-8601).Students who have completed all requirements must apply for teaching certificates online (see www.tea.state.tx.us). In some cases, teacher service records may be required.

Teaching certificates

The awarding of teaching certificates is a function of the State Board for Educator Certification and is contingent upon a recommendation by the College of Education. The COE is approved to offer the following initial certificates:

Early Childhood through Grade Six (certifies grades EC–6)

Core Subjects EC-6
Core Subjects EC-6 with Bilingual Supplemental Certification
Core Subjects EC-6 with ESL Supplemental Certification
Core Subjects EC-6 with Special Education EC-12 Certification

Grades Four through Eight (certifies grades 4–8)

English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 and ESL
Mathematics 4-8 and ESL
Science 4-8 and ESL
Social Studies 4-8 and ESL

Standard Secondary (certifies grades 7–12) and All-Level (EC–12)

At the time this catalog went to press, UNT was authorized to recommend secondary and all-level teacher certification for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree in the following content areas:

Secondary content areas: chemistry; dance; English language arts and reading; family and consumer sciences; history; hospitality, nutrition and food sciences; human development and family studies; journalism; life science; mathematics; physical sciences; physics/mathematics; science; social studies; and speech.
All-level content areas: art, French, German, music, physical education, Spanish and theatre.

Although teacher certification programs share many commonalities, what applies to one certificate or grade level is not necessarily applicable to another. Also, changes to existing teacher standards, content areas and certificate levels continue to be made by the State Board for Educator Certification.

Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105, or check online at www.coe.unt.edu/sao for the current information regarding specific certificate requirements and any pending changes. The SAO sees students by appointment only, except during the regular registration period each term/semester when they accept drop-in visits. Appointment times fill quickly and students are encouraged to schedule early. Appointments can be made up to two weeks in advance.

Professional certificates

See Graduate Catalog.

Student teaching

Elementary, middle school and secondary certification (early childhood through 6th grade, 4th through 8th grades, or 7th through 12th grades) require student teaching. All-level certification requires student teaching at both the EC–6 and 7–12 levels. A special education teaching field requires student teaching in a special education setting. Student teaching requirements include attendance at required seminars.

Student teaching is to be completed during the student’s senior year as a full-day assignment in a school for an entire fall or spring term/semester in a Professional Development School (PDS) setting. Student teaching and PDS II do not count as full-time status for financial aid nor can students work at other jobs during student teaching. Consequently, students should plan ahead to cover their financial needs during student teaching or PDS II semester. Students participating in the Professional Development School program will complete their student teaching as an extension of their early field experience. The PDS Site Coordinator will determine specific placements.

Evaluation of student teaching is on a pass/no pass basis. To be recommended for teacher certification by UNT, a student must meet the following requirements prior to student teaching.

A formal date of admission to the teacher education program at UNT must be obtained.
For EC–6 and 4–8 student teachers, students must complete all prerequisites and have a C or better in all education courses (EDBE, EDEC, EDEE, EDRE, EDSE, EDUC, DFST, etc.). Moreover, they must also have a GPA of 2.75 across all pedagogy courses. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is also required in each area: UNT core, academic major, as well as pedagogy. No courses taken during the student teaching term/semester will be used to determine eligibility to student teach.
For secondary and all-level student teachers, a minimum GPA of 2.75 must be maintained in each area (academic major and pedagogy), and in all college work completed at UNT, as well as a cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all colleges attended. Students must earn a C or better in all education courses (EDEC, EDEE, EDRE, EDSE, EDUC, DFST, etc.).
Secondary and all-level student teachers must have completed all the required course work in the teaching field. Elementary (EC–6 and 4–8) student teachers must have completed all program course work, exclusive of student teaching and EDSP 4350 (as required for students seeking 4–8 and EC–6 Core Subjects certification.
Student teachers must be in residence at UNT and have earned at least 6 semester hours of resident credit in education at UNT.
Review and approval from the Admission, Review and Retention Committee must be granted in special cases related to candidate readiness for student teaching.

For information regarding student teaching, please contact the Clinical Practice Office, Matthews Hall, Room 119, phone 940-369-8411.