Programs
The College of Education is invested in providing students clear pathways to become teachers and mentors. Faculty members in the Departments of Curriculum and Instruction stress the importance of preparing teachers for diverse classroom settings.
The College’s undergraduate majors cover different areas of education that reflect the needs of individual students and their learning habits. Each of our programs features coursework readings, discussions and assignments, coupled with significant field experience that place our preservice teachers with students in classrooms. This invaluable experience prepares students for a rewarding career as a certified teacher or advocate for education and early childhood development.
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers several master’s and doctoral degrees that prepare graduate students for careers in teaching and leadership positions that promote equity and excellence in the education of diverse communities. Our programs focus on preparing teachers in a variety of disciplines with roots in sociocultural foundations and curriculum theory, as well as critical pedagogies and other innovative and democratic approaches to teaching and learning.
Several of our master’s degrees also offer teacher certification so that students are ready to enter the classroom upon graduation. Our doctoral programs contribute to knowledge in education theory, concepts and practice through research in learning and curriculum, cultural studies and technology.
Undergraduate Programs
All-Level Special Education (Early childhood – 12th grade)
Learn to engage with students with disabilities ranging from mild to severe. This major prepares students to work with early childhood through 12th grade students with disabilities.
Bilingual Core Subjects/Generalist (Early Childhood – 6th Grade)
Learn to teach students of linguistically- and culturally-diverse backgrounds inside of bilingual classrooms. This major prepares students to teach in the areas of biliteracy, math, science and social studies through a sociocultural awareness. Fluency in Spanish is required before starting the program.
English as a Second Language Generalist (Early Childhood – 6th Grade)
Learn to teach students of linguistically- and culturally-diverse backgrounds at the elementary level. This major prepares students to teach in the areas of literacy, math, science and social studies through a sociocultural awareness.
Youth and Community Studies
Focus on interacting and engaging with children and youth in a variety of disciplines and contexts. Students will have the option to specialize in coaching, early childhood, special populations or youth and social services. Graduates with this degree are prepared to engage with children as counselors, teachers, youth leaders and coaches.
University of Texas Urban Teachers
The University of Texas Urban Teachers program allows students from language arts and social studies backgrounds to prepare as classroom teachers educating youth in grades 7-12 with a focus on linguistically and culturally diverse urban teaching and learning contexts. All current undergraduate students are eligible to participate in the Urban Teachers program and can enter the program in their final year at the University.
Graduate Programs
Doctoral Applications: Applicants must already have completed a Master’s degree before they will be permitted to register as admitted doctoral students in the Curriculum and Instruction department.
Bilingual/Bicultural Education
Become an expert in important topics related to the field of bilingual and bicultural education. Students in this program will become advocates for the importance of bilingual education for teachers, administrators and families through coursework and research alongside faculty.
Cultural Studies in Education
Focus your studies on the importance of cultural and social diversity in education. The CSE program takes an interdisciplinary approach to researching topics such as the history, philosophy and politics of education, urban schooling, critical pedagogy and globalization.
Early Childhood Education
Improve early childhood education and development by researching and learning about early childhood policy, pedagogy, curriculum and training for children in preschool through 3rd grade. This program prepares students to address global, national and local issues facing young children and their communities in classrooms, schools and beyond.
Language and Literacy Studies
Learn to become a leader in language and literacy studies through collaborative research, engaging coursework and clinical practice. Students will know the importance of literacy as a social tool for change so that they can go on to become advanced degree teachers, professors in literacy studies and administrative policymakers for literacy programs.
Learning Technologies
Use state-of-the-art technologies to create and offer interactive and engaging forms of education. Learn how to use the internet and other emerging technologies in K-12 education, higher education and business or industry training. Courses cover the design, implementation and evaluation of various educational applications and related research topics.
Physical Education Teacher Education
Study the art and science of physical education through our master’s or doctoral programs or become a teacher by completing our master’s plus certification degree. Students learn how to design curriculum for physical education along with research, assessment and evaluation practices. This program also has a strong focus on cultural studies in contemporary education.
Social Studies Education
Our master’s and doctoral programs prepare students to become educators in social studies. Courses in this program approach social studies education from a variety of disciplines in order to provide educators with a unique perspective on how to teach and improve social studies education.
Teacher Leadership, Mentoring & Professional Development
Designed for current Austin-area teachers, students in the Teacher Leadership, Mentoring, and Professional Development (TLMPD) Program work directly with preservice teachers enrolled in the preservice teacher preparation program at The University of Texas at Austin who are in a literacy specialization cohort.
University of Texas Urban Teachers
The program is designed to develop knowledge, skills and dispositions to support teaching and learning in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings.
Affiliated Programs
STEM Education
Our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education program focuses on preparing researchers as well as educators to promote STEM engagement and equity across learners of all ages. While STEM Education is affiliated with COE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, it is important to note that it maintains a separate application process, fellowship award structure and graduate studies committees distinct from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
Contacts
Stephen Flynn
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Noah De Lissovoy
C&I Graduate Advisor
Catherine Riegle-Crumb
STEM Graduate Advisor
Educator Programs and Certification
The College of Education works with students across campus so that they can become certified teachers in early childhood, elementary, middle and high school classrooms.
Master’s and doctoral students engage in the study, development and research of emerging fields in science, technology, engineering and math education.
The Urban Teachers Program is a unique curriculum that focuses on teaching language arts and social studies to children with culturally diverse and urban backgrounds.
