Urban Teachers – Teacher Preparation in Secondary English Language Arts

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

The Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction (M.Ed.) is a two-year program that integrates research-based learning with extensive field experience. Designed for those seeking a comprehensive graduate education, this program equips students with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to teach English Language Arts to middle and high school students (grades 7–12) in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings.

This program combines the Master’s in Language and Literacy Studies with coursework that meets the requirements for teacher certification through the Texas Education Agency. Graduates earn a master’s degree while also becoming eligible for teacher certification.

For program-related questions, contact Program Advisor Deborah Kelt.

For admissions inquiries, contact Stephen Flynn.

You will earn:

A Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction
A Texas Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts, grades 7-12
English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement

Coursework

Total minimum hours: 42 hours
Including 6 hours of certification coursework

Program Requirements Include:

EDC 385G Learning and Teaching in Urban Contexts
EDC 382S Teaching Secondary English & Reading
EDC 380T Writing Process and Pedagogy
EDC 385G Second Language Acquisition
EDC 390T Literature for Young Adults
EDC 698P Student Teaching Internship
SED 380 Inclusion, Disability, & Diversity in Secondary School Setting

Research Requirements | 3 hours

EDC 380R Educational Research and Design

Electives Requirements Outside the Department | 6 hours minimum

Two electives (upper-division undergraduate or graduate courses) must be taken outside of Curriculum and Instruction (course numbers may not begin with “EDC”). We recommend exploring options in the following departments:

English
Rhetoric and Writing
Educational Psychology
Special Education
Educational Leadership and Policy
African and African Diaspora Studies
Mexican American Studies
Asian American Studies

Additional Requirement: Background Check

This program requires fieldwork in area schools, and to undertake that fieldwork, school districts require that university students each pass a criminal background check. If a student does not pass the criminal background check, she or he will be unable to complete the required work of the program, and any offer of admission will be canceled.

Certification Recommendation

Once you successfully complete all of the steps to become a teacher, including passing the relevant exams approved by the Texas Education Agency, you may be recommended for certification to the TEA by our certification officer. Be sure to reference the Certification Checklist on the Field Experiences wiki for additional information.

Faculty