The University of Texas at Dallas
School of General Studies
Teacher Development Center


Program Admission
 

 

  • Post baccalaureate students must adhere to The University of Texas at Dallas Teacher Development Center Policies in place at the time the student actually enrolls in classes at UTD. When a student has a Certification Plan on file, but has not started taking classes for a semester, a year, or even longer, s/he must realize that the requirements may have changed. UTD is not bound by a certification plan that has not been "activated". (This would be like a student who said, "I got advised three years ago so I want to enter UTD under that catalogue, not the one in effect when I am actually admitted and enroll in classes at the University.")

  • A student who previously took classes toward fulfilling a Certification Plan, but who has not been enrolled in UTD classes for two semesters or more, must meet the UTD requirements for Certification Plans at the time the student reenrolls at UTD.

  • When a student requests a REVISED Certification Plan, s/he also must meet any additional requirements that have been put into place at that time. A REVISED plan will be held to the same standards as a NEW plan and the student will be required to meet any new sequence of courses, standards for entering the program or other requirements. If the student is not enrolled at UTD, s/he must also pay the fee assessed for Certification Plans.

  • Students must maintain a GPA of 2.75 in classes taken at UTD in order to proceed with the certification program. GPA's will be monitored and participation in education courses suspended if students do not have the required GPA to be officially admitted into the teacher certification program.

  • Students must be OFFICIALLY ADMITTED to the Teacher Certification Program before they can receive permission to take any professional development TExES or PPR TExES test. This means a student must meet all GPA, THEA, and course requirements to be eligible.

  • UTD will offer highly qualified students an opportunity to substitute a paid graduate internship for student teaching if they meet the requirements and the school hiring them is willing to sign an agreement with the University that allows this.

  • UT Dallas students who receive a bachelor's degree and return to complete teacher certification will be subject to all requirements for post baccalaureate admission.

GUIDELINES FOR ADMISSION INTO
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS
TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Guidelines are in compliance with Chapter 227 of the Texas Administrative Code and the HEA Title II accountability requirements.

Students seeking Texas teaching credentials at UT Dallas must meet the following requirements:

Provisional Admission - entitles a prospective student who has applied for admission to UT Dallas to be advised for a certification plan and/or to take the initial courses related to certification:

  • GPA of 2.75 over-all or on last 60 semester hours of coursework.
  • Undergraduate students must have 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework.  This should include 12 semester hours at UTD with no grade below a “C.”
  • Post-Baccalaureate students must have an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited university.
  • TASP/THEA – Unless exempt, a candidate must pass the TASP/THEA with the following minimum scores: 260 in Reading, 240 in Math, and 240 in Writing.

Exemption from TASP/THEA:  You are exempt from taking the TASP/THEA if you meet the qualifying standards on the GRE, GMAT, ACT, SAT, exit-level TAKS.

GRE:      A minimum Verbal score of 450 and a minimum Quantitative score of 450 for a combined Verbal/Quantitative minimum score of 900.

GMAT:    A minimum combined score of 510 on the verbal and quantitative sections.

ACT:       A composite score of 26, and English and Math sub scores of at least 22.  (Scores can be no more than five years old).

SAT:       Tests taken before September 1, 2005: A total score of at least 1100 with 550 minimums in the math and verbal sections of the test.  After September 1, 2005: A total score of 1650 with 550 minimums in the math, critical reading, and writing sections of the test. (Scores can be no more than five years old).

TAKS:     Students with TAKS scores of 2200 in English Language Arts and Math as well as a score of 3 in the writing sample (which is often not printed on your high school transcript, but can be found on the TAKS score report) are TSI/THEA exempt. TAKS scores can be no more than three years old.

Appropriate documentation is required to qualify for the exemptions from TASP/THEA.  The Official TASP/THEA Test Study Guide may be purchased in the UTD Bookstore.  TASP/THEA registration forms are available in the Teacher Development Center, Founders North 3.118, or through the Learning Resource Center in the McDermott Library at 972-883-6707.

Undergraduate students should meet with a faculty advisor in their academic major to develop a degree plan, indicating to the advisor their interest in pursuing teacher certification.  Students can then make an appointment for certification plan advising with the Teacher Development Center whenever they are ready to take upper division courses.  Freshmen should not register for education courses.

Post-Baccalaureate students interested in teacher certification at UT Dallas are advised in the Teacher Development Center.

Official Admission

  • Meet all requirements for “Provisional Admission.”
  • Complete an application for admission to the Teacher Development Program.  A committee of faculty, administrators, and public school educators will review all applications before students can proceed in the program.
  • Complete American Public School (ED 3314) and Educational Psychology (PSY/ED 3339).
  • Successfully complete 12 semester hours of approved courses at UT Dallas.
    (Students must have met the requirements for "Provisional Admission," completed American Public School (ED 3314), Educational Psychology (PSY/ED 3339), and have a 2.75 GPA before enrolling in Classroom Management, Methods, and C&I courses.)  

Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES)
All candidates for initial Texas teacher certification must pass two TExES certification examinations:

  1. Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) test at the appropriate grade level
  2. Content specialization test.

Students must have met the requirements for "Official Admision" to the Teacher Development Program to take the TExES certification examinations. For information on TExES registration and eligibility, please review the Teacher Development Center web site – www.utdallas.edu/teach or contact the Teacher Development Center.  TExES preparation manuals are available in the UT Dallas Bookstore or they can be downloaded from the web at www.texes.ets.org or at www.sbec.state.tx.us.  Students should access this information before or during the first semester of enrollment at UT Dallas.  Students are encouraged to prepare early for the content related specialization TExES examination and to take the PPR TExES exam during or immediately after completing Classroom Management.  Practice tests are available through the Teacher Development Center.

Requirements for Student Teaching

Applications for student teaching will be accepted at one of several information sessions held early in each long semester (before October 15 in the fall and before March 15 in the spring).  For further information contact the Teacher Development Center.

A committee of faculty, administrators, and field placement educators will review all applications for supervised student teaching or post-baccalaureate internships.  All candidates must have exhibited professional maturity, acceptable class attendance, and meet the following requirements:

  • Adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators as listed in Appendix III in the student teacher handbook.
  • Meet all requirements for official admission to the teacher certification program.
  • Pass both required TExES exams.
  • Complete all required professional development courses with a 2.75 minimum GPA.
  • Complete all required course work in teaching field with a 2.75 minimum GPA.
  • Have no grade lower than a “B” in Classroom Management, C&I or Methods courses.
  • Have no grade lower than “C” in other required certification courses.
  • Request a student teaching assignment where no family member works or attends.
  • Clear district criminal background check.
  • Register for student teaching (6 semester hours).  A student teaching fee will be included in the total registration charges.
  • Pay tuition expenses before beginning official student teaching assignment.

Supervised Post-Baccalaureate Internships are available only to certification candidates who have a signed contract from an accredited school in an authorized area, a 3.0 GPA in required courses, and who meet all other requirements for student teaching.

UT Dallas Requirements for Teacher Certification

  • A 2.75 GPA in all professional education course work and in content areas.
  • Grade of “A” or “B” in Classroom Management, C&I or Methods courses
  • No grade lower than “C” in other required certification courses.
  • Professional education coursework taken at UT Dallas.
  • Educational technology and effective public speaking required.
  • 12 semester hours of English with no grade lower than a “C.”
  • 40 clock hours of early field experience.
  • Grade of “A” or “B” in Student Teaching.

Application for Certification

Students who successfully fulfill all requirements for Texas teacher certification (GPA, course work, TASP/THEA and TExES examinations, etc.) should apply for certification on the State Board of Educator Certification website www.sbec.state.tx.us.  The Certification Officer will access student online applications and, upon verification of requirements, will make recommendations for certification online.  Students will immediately receive an e-mail from the certifying agency verifying recommendation.  Official Certificates are mailed by the state agency within six weeks.

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