Urban Teachers
Minor or Concentration
Concentration for YCS Students
Students within the College of Education who major in Youth and Community Studies can work towards teacher certification in English Language Arts or Social Studies as part of the Urban Teachers concentration.
Minoring in Education
All university students outside the College of Education are welcome to apply to minor in the Urban Teachers program in order to work towards teacher certification in English Language Arts or Social Studies.
Change the world through the University of Texas Urban Teachers program!
This 18-hour, three-semester teacher preparation sequence is designed to help equity-minded teacher candidates develop knowledge, skills and dispositions to support teaching and learning in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings.
Since coursework can vary, an advisor will review your transcript with you and discuss additional coursework as needed.
About The Program
You will start the program the summer before your senior year working directly with middle-school readers and writers through our partnership with the non-profit organization, Breakthrough Central Texas. This internship will prepare you for the next two semesters.
In addition to your major coursework, you will take one Education class per semester. You will learn how to bring progressive literacy pedagogies to your students and will work with seasoned mentor teachers in local middle and high school classrooms. An optional second summer session can help you prepare for an ESL endorsement that is required by many school districts. All students will need to complete the University of Texas Urban Teachers Professional Development Sequence (PDS).
Schedule and Course Requirements
You will begin the program in an intensive summer experience: two courses (6 credits) during summer sessions I-II, carefully planned in concert with a full-time, paid internship at Breakthrough Central Texas. Urban Teacher interns will teach small groups of students and have immediate opportunities to put course ideas into practice.
Total Minimum Hours: 18
English Language Arts
| Summer 6 hours | Fall 3 hours | Spring 9 hours | Summer (optional) 6 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDC 339F (Summer I) Adolescent Literacy ALD 327 (Summer II) Sociocultural Influences on Learning | EDC 370S Secondary School Advanced Methods: English | EDC 371S/651S Secondary Teaching Practicum: English (take two TEA certification exams: ELAR 7-12 and PPR) | English as a Second Language Graduate Courses (take ESL endorsement exams) |
| Field Component Paid summer internship at Breakthrough Central Texas | Field Component 45-hour apprenticeship in a local classroom | Field Component Full-time student teaching in a local classroom |
To learn more, please contact Deborah Kelt, the program advisor.
Social Studies
| Summer 6 hours | Fall 3 hours | Spring 9 hours | Summer (optional) 6 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDC 350 (Summer I) Teaching Secondary Social Studies ALD 327 (Summer II) Sociocultural Influences on Learning | EDC 370S Secondary School Advanced Methods | EDC 371S/651S Secondary Teaching Practicum (take two TEA certification exams: H/SS 7-12 and PPR) | English as a Second Language Graduate Courses (take ESL endorsement exam) |
| Field Component Paid summer internship at Breakthrough Central Texas | Field Component 45-hour apprenticeship in a local classroom | Field Component Full-time student teaching in a local classroom |
To learn more, please email the Urban Teachers program.
University-wide requirements and the available options can be found in the university’s Undergraduate Catalog.
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.
Academic Advising Coordinator
Jessica Silva
