Educator Preparation Programs
The University of Texas at Austin offers state and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) approved teacher preparation programs. 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. We also have programs that prepare students for administrative and other support roles in schools.
Our teacher preparation programs, accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the last 15 years, are available to everyone regardless of where you are in your academic career. We offer paths to certification for undergraduates, post-baccalaureates, graduate students and working professionals.
Teacher Preparation with Bachelor’s
All-Level Special Education
Prepare to become TEA-certified to teach children with disabilities including those with autism spectrum disorder, behavioral disorders, mild to moderate disabilities and severe and/or multiple disabilities. Learn how to create inclusive classrooms that allow for the development of all kinds of learners. You will work toward becoming a certified special education (EC-12) and generalist teacher (EC-6).
Early Childhood – 6th Grade Bilingual Core Subjects/Generalist
Learn how to provide equal educational opportunities for children with limited English proficiency. In addition to learning the fundamentals of early childhood education, you will be prepared to earn your TEA certification to teach early childhood concepts to elementary students in both Spanish and English. Fluency in Spanish is required.
Early Childhood – 6th Grade English as a Second Language Generalist
You will learn the fundamentals of teaching and learning while helping students’ development of social and emotional skills as you prepare for the TEA certification exams. You will be guided as an ESL teacher to accommodate children from diverse backgrounds and who may not be native English speakers.
Youth and Community Studies
Youth and Community Studies (YCS) prepares you to teach people of all ages in various settings beyond the classroom. You will be prepared to extend children’s education and development into other areas of their life. This major also offers an opportunity to become a certified teacher in English language arts or social studies.
Urban Teachers – Minors
The University of Texas Urban Teachers Program prepares middle and high school English language arts and social studies teachers to instruct in linguistically and culturally diverse classrooms. You will be prepared to teach children from diverse backgrounds in urban settings.
STEM Education Teacher Preparation
Students interested in teaching STEM subjects at the secondary level can enroll in the interdisciplinary UTeach Program offered by the university. Students in the program will take educator preparation courses through the College of Education classes while pursuing a major in the College of Natural Sciences.
UTeach Fine Arts
Students interested in becoming a teacher in art, music, theatre or dance will major in the subject area in the College of Fine Arts and complete a teacher preparation program in UTeach Art, UTeach Dance, UTeach Music or UTeach Theatre. Fine Arts teachers are certified to teach Early Childhood – 12th grade.
UTeach Liberal Arts
UTeach-Liberal Arts is a professional secondary teacher preparation program housed in the College of Liberal Arts for UT Austin undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students planning to teach English, languages other than English, social studies or history at the middle and high school levels.
Teacher Preparation with Master’s
M.A. in STEM Education, Teaching Track (GradUTeach)
Intended for students who are seeking certification to teach math or science in high school as part of their graduate education.
Urban Teachers – Master of Education Plus English Secondary Certification
The program is designed to develop knowledge, skills and dispositions to support teaching and learning in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings.
Urban Teachers – Master of Education Plus Social Studies Secondary Certification
In this two-year program, candidates will gain research-based and practical knowledge of teaching through extensive field experience and coursework.
Post-baccalaureate Teacher Certification Options
Urban Teachers – English Language Arts
This 18-hour program is designed to help English teacher candidates develop knowledge, skills and dispositions to support teaching and learning in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings.
Urban Teachers – Social Studies
This 18-hour program is designed to help social studies teacher candidates develop knowledge, skills and dispositions to support teaching and learning in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings.
Early Childhood – 6th Grade Bilingual Core Subjects/Generalist
Learn how to provide equal educational opportunities for children with limited English proficiency. In addition to learning the fundamentals of early childhood education, you will be prepared to teach early childhood concepts to elementary students in both Spanish and English. Fluency in Spanish is required.
A new program plan will be available soon.
Early Childhood – 6th Grade English as a Second Language (ESL) Core Subjects/Generalist
Become a certified teacher for elementary children. You will learn the fundamentals of teaching and learning while aiding students’ development of social and emotional skills. ESL teachers are thoroughly trained to accommodate children from diverse backgrounds who may not be native English speakers.
A new program plan will be available soon.
Administrator and School Librarian Programs
Principal
Recognized by TEA for preparing our graduates for long-term success, the Texas Principal Leadership Academy will put you on a challenging and highly rewarding career path as you strive to make schools work for all children. You will earn a Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) to pursue a career in school leadership. As part of the nationally-ranked Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, we transform educators into reform-minded, culturally responsive, data-savvy and instructional school leaders for public schools.
Superintendent
Our top-ranked Cooperative Superintendency Program is at the forefront of preparing executive-level educational leaders. This program combines traditional coursework, independent directed research and varied field-based internships with mentor superintendents under the supervision of clinical professors with proven executive leadership experience. These opportunities provide a rich balance to theory and practice, and develop executive level decision-making skills. All candidates must have principal certification and principal experience or its equivalent.
School Librarian
The School of Information currently offers the Standard School Librarian Certificate developed by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) for the certification of public school librarians in Texas. This program prepares the holder for work at all levels of public education in Texas, from kindergarten through high school.
