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Future Students Start Here

Already have a baccalaureate degree? Get the expertise you need to pass the State of Texas' initial teacher certification exams at the graduate level. Several subjects/content areas – including mathematics, science, English Language Arts and Reading, Social Studies – are available for Mid-Level (Grade 4 - 8) certification.

Subject/Content Area Options

Aspiring educators who want to teach at Grade 4 or above will choose a specific subject or content area to specialize their certification.

Middle school teacher with students raising hands in a classroom

English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR)

Have an undergraduate degree in English or a related subject? Specialize your certification in ELAR and get equipped to pass a love of literacy, reading, composition, English and Language Arts to the next generation of learners.

A teacher writes on a whiteboard

English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR)/Social Studies

Specialize your certification in two of our most popular content areas, ELAR and social studies, and increase your marketability in the job search. Candidates in this program will get the expertise they need to teach literature, rhetoric, composition, geography, history, and related topics to mid-level students.

Teacher in a classroom with children with raised hands

Mathematics

Have a bachelor's degree with at least 24 undergraduate hours in math (of which at least 12 are junior/senior level)? Consider pursuing a content-area certification in math. Candidates will get the expertise they need to teach mathematics and math-related STEP topics to mid-level learners.

Woman teaching science class

Science

Have a bachelor's degree in a science field such as biology, chemistry, geology, or physics? Specialize your certification in science and learn how to teach and share your passion for this STEM education with mid-level learners.

A teacher showing a country on a globe for a small group of students inside a classroom.

Social Studies

Have an undergraduate degree in history, geography, or a related social studies program? Specialize your certification in social studies and get equipped to pass a love of history, government, and geography to the next generation of mid-level learners.

Degree Plan (Course of Study)

Mid-Level Certification (15 credit hours)

EDML 5308*

MIDDLE GRADES ORGANIZATION, INSTRUCTION, AND MANAGEMENT.

*Pending approval from the Texas Education Agency, this course will be substituted with EDUC 5314: Effective Classroom Instruction. This is a planned catalog change that will impact this degree plan for future students. 

EDUC 5310 DIVERSE POPULATIONS IN TODAY'S SCHOOLS
EDML 5328**

PREADOLESCENT/ADOLESCENT GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND LEARNING THEORY

**Pending approval from the Texas Education Agency, this course will be substituted with EDUC 5329: Classroom Management and Discipline. This is a planned catalog change that will impact this degree plan for future students.

LIST 5345  CONTENT AREA READING AND WRITING
EDML 5315  CLINICAL TEACHING (practicum, last course)
  

Sequence

To be eligible to proceed to Student Teaching, Mid-Level students must have completed at least EDML 5308 and EDML 5328. These two courses are only offered in the fall semester.

Transition to Master's

Students enrolled in the Mid-Level certification-only program can use 12 semester credit hours from the certification coursework towards the Master of Education in Teaching degree. You must reapply to the graduate school and meet appropriate admission requirements to change to the M.Ed.T. program.

Student Teaching

The last course required for certification is titled "Clinical Teaching". This is the semester when students do their Student Teaching. Partnerships with specific school districts and schools have been established to host UTA Residents. We work closely with specific schools to build strong mentoring relationships between teachers and students, and therefore place all students in partner school settings. Students are not able to select the district or school for their placement.

Field Application Deadline

Students must apply for Student Teaching with the Office of Educational Field Experiences. Fall applications are accepted during month of February and spring applications are accepted during month of October. Orientations for Student Teaching are set for August and December. Please email the Program Director for specific dates.

Certification

Candidates must pass all appropriate state exams (limit of four retests) and apply for appropriate state certification(s) with the State Board for Educator Certification/Texas Education Agency within six months of the completion of their student/clinical teaching or practicum program. If a candidate allows the six month period to go by without passing all state exams and applying for certification, additional coursework and/or state exams will be required for recommendation for certification. Additional coursework will be determined by the appropriate Program Coordinator in consultation with faculty.

Faculty Advisors/Program Directors

Dr. Joohi Lee

Professor, Early Childhood Mathematics Education

Research Interests: Children’s math proficiency, racial/ethnic gaps in math

lee

Email: joohilee@uta.edu

Phone #: 817-272-2264

Office: 322C Science Hall

Dr. Melissa Hulings

Assistant Professor, Science Education

Research Interests: Student science conceptual development, science education in elementary school

hulings

Email: hulings@uta.edu

Phone #: 817-272-6332

Office: 503A Hammond Hall

Bio: Dr. Melissa Hulings has experience teaching science in grades 6-12. Her research interests include pre-service and in-service teacher attitudes and self-efficacy in science teaching.

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