Urban Teachers – Teacher Preparation in Secondary English Language Arts
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Designed For
The Urban Teachers English (UTE) Graduate Certificate is designed for aspiring educators who want to teach grades 7-12 English Language Arts in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings.
Career Objective
The graduate certificate program is ideal for career changers, recent graduates and other individuals seeking a practical, field-based pathway into teaching at the secondary level.
At a Glance
Program Starts: Fall
Application Deadline:
March 1
Credit Hours Required: 21
Schedule: Full time
Program Location: First summer course is virtual. All other courses will be held at UT Austin.
GRE Required? No
Teach, Lead and Inspire in Urban Classrooms
The Urban Teachers English (UTE) Graduate Certificate provides the credit hours and educator preparation required by the State of Texas for teacher certification in Secondary English Language Arts (grades 7–12).
UTE students gain hands-on experience through fieldwork and a supervised student teaching internship while completing coursework in literacy instruction, young adult literature, writing pedagogy, urban education and second language acquisition. The program also includes preparation for an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement, equipping graduates to support multilingual learners and meet the needs of today’s classrooms.
Designed with flexibility in mind, the certificate serves as a direct pathway to the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Students may apply all 21 graduate credit hours toward the 42-hour M.Ed. program for up to six years after completion, allowing them to begin teaching full-time while continuing their graduate studies.
Program Advisor
Deb Kelt
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Stephen Flynn
Program Details
Program Requirements
Coursework
Total minimum hours: 21 hours
Summer | 3 hours
- EDC 385G Teaching and Learning in Urban Contexts – Online Course
Fall | 6 hours
- EDC 382S Teaching Secondary English and Reading
- EDC 390T Literature for Young Adults
Spring | 9 hours
- EDC 380T Writing Process and Pedagogy
- EDC 698P Student Teaching Internship*
Summer | 3 hours
- EDC 385G Second Language Acquisition
*Students will also attend scheduled seminars to support their student teaching work.
Background Check
School districts require all student teachers to successfully complete a criminal background check. Failure to pass the background check will cause an admission offer to be rescinded.
Certification Recommendation
Eligible students may be recommended for certification by our certification officer after successfully completing all teacher certification requirements, including the required Texas Education Agency-approved exams.
Faculty
Brings her experience in literacy education to UT with a specialization in preparing secondary teachers to work in urban schools.
Studies literacy, language, and multicultural education, especially involving new media and globalization.
Focuses on secondary English and literacy education in urban contexts, including among transnational youth.
