Longhorns in Residence: EC-6 Teacher Certification Program
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Make a difference in Texas classrooms
Longhorns in Residence is a one-year graduate certificate and teacher preparation program designed for individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and are now interested in teaching.
This transformative teacher residency program provides integration between fieldwork and coursework through summer online classes followed by a paid teacher residency program in partnership with Austin-area school districts. Residents get to experience the richness of UT Austin’s College of Education teacher preparation coursework while working full-time in the classroom over the course of an academic school year. Students in the Longhorns in Residence program will be uniquely supported by UT and district staff to ensure a successful start to their career as an EC-6 teacher in Texas.
This is a yearlong residency that starts in the summer semester and ends the following spring, with direct work in Austin-area school districts. This program follows the University’s semester-based academic calendar, and the residency follows the school districts’ academic calendars.
You will earn:
- A graduate certificate from the College of Education
- A Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading: Early Childhood–Grade 6 with English as a Second Language Supplemental endorsement
Faculty
Monica Neshyba
Associate Professor of Practice
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Coursework and Schedule
Learn what you’ll experience in the program, from the various certifications you’ll earn, like STR and ESL, to the courses you’ll complete.
- Teacher Certification Activities: Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) prep and exam (July)
- Online Coursework
- Foundations of Teaching Diverse Learners
- Literacy Assessment, Development, and Instruction
- Residency Experience
- Complete 50 hours of Field-Based Experience and 60 hours of Independent Learning Modules
- Resident Orientation with assigned district (late-July/early-August)
- Teacher Certification Activities
- The Science of Teaching Reading (STR) prep and exam (August)
- English as a Second Language (ESL) prep and exam (November)
- Online Coursework
- Holistic Approaches to Elementary Teaching
- STEAM Content and Methods
- Residency Experience
- Four days per week in the classroom
- One day per week for UT coursework
- Teacher Certification Activities: TExES Core subjects (EC-6) prep and exam (March)
- Practice-based Reflective Teaching of Diverse Learners
- Early Childhood and Elementary Methods of Social Inquiry
- Online Coursework
- Practice-based Reflective Teaching of Diverse Learners
- Early Childhood and Elementary Methods of Social Inquiry
- Residency Experience
- Four days per week in the classroom
- One day per week for UT coursework
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply if you:
- Will have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university by June 2024
- *Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (*A GPA below 3.0 will be considered holistically)
- Are seeking your initial teaching license
- Are able to work in the Austin area for the duration of the program
Application Process
Residency
Fall 2025 – Residents will be required to attend their school district’s new staff orientation at the beginning of August. Additionally, residents will start working at their assigned campus one week before the district school year starts and continue in their placements until the last day of school for the district.
University coursework will follow the university’s academic calendar.
Program Starts: Summer 2025
Time to Complete: 12 Months (June 2025-May 2026)
Application Period: February 1 to March 1
Deadline to Apply: March 1, 2025
Modality: Hybrid, in-person and online
Location: Austin area schools
Project Manager-Teacher Education Residency Programs
