UTSA College of Education Human Development Undergraduate Teacher Certification Program

Agenda Overview of Texas Standards Fitness to Teach Program Admission Requirements Live Text Field Experiences Restricted courses TExES Exams Student Teaching Contact Information

Overview of Texas Standards Texas Education Agency (TEA) sets the standards for beginning teachers Standards can be found at: TEA requires all teacher candidates to pass the TExES pedagogy and content area exams Study guides for the exam can be found at:

Overview contd. Degree vs. Certification: –Requirements for each are different –Degrees are awarded by UTSA –Certificates are issued by the State of Texas upon recommendation of UTSA –All students will receive degree advising from COLFA or COS (PE and Health are the exception) –COEHD Advising Center assists students with meeting certification requirements

Fitness to Teach Must be read prior to applying to the Teacher Certification Program Fitness to Teach Policy addresses: –Academic Requirements –Personal and Professional Requirements –Cultural and Social Attitudes and Behavior –Physical Skills –Emotional and Mental Abilities Policy can be found at

Admission Requirements Cumulative GPA must be a 2.5 or better Have Junior Standing with at least 9 hours completed at UTSA Core Complete Purchase Live Text (please bring copy of receipt and key code to COEHD Advising Center)

Admission Requirements Passing scores on THEA, ASSET, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, SAT or ACT ASSETCOMPASSACCUPLACERTHEA Reading Math Writing Essay666

Admission Requirements Earn a C or better in WRC 1023 Earn a C or better in a public speaking course (WRC 1013, COM 1043, COM 1053, COM 2113, or COM 2123) Complete a Teacher Certification Program Application in ASAP Submit authorization for a Texas Dept. of Public Safety Criminal Background Report

LiveText An electronic assessment and portfolio system required for teacher candidates. Provides user-friendly web-based tools for assessing, and measuring teacher candidates’ professional development throughout their program. Also offers students a digital workspace to create assignments, journals, lessons, and e-portfolios that can be shared with future employers.

LiveText Continued Cost of LiveText for $98 Account is good for 5 years Students will be required to attend LiveText Orientation Students can go to cation_program/livetext_suppo rt/ for LiveText support, orientation dates and FAQs. cation_program/livetext_suppo rt/

Field Experience Field Experience (field work) is time spent in an educational setting, usually a public school, in addition to regular class hours. Field Experiences allow students to: –Develop teaching skills in the context of a school setting –Develop an understanding of the needs of diverse learners

Field Experience: What does it require? Each student is required to complete a minimum number of hours of observation or participation per class, per semester For example: –Reading courses: 20 hours –Curriculum and Instruction courses: –Other courses: refer to the course description for details Criminal background checks required

Restricted Courses Must have all prerequisites completed AND be admitted to the teacher certification program Restricted courses require advisor clearance and be obtained online by following the instructions found at neInstructionstoRestrictedCourses.pdf

Advising Tips: Field Experiences and Restricted Courses Plan carefully to make sure all prerequisites are met Check course descriptions in the current catalog to determine course prerequisites Build in travel time before and after field- based courses

Criminal History Background process Every student is required to fill out a criminal background check at the time of course registration. Please visit to get the form and for more information about criminal background checks. If you have ever been arrested, it is very likely that the arrest(s) will appear when your background check is run. To learn more about how arrest(s) on your record can impact your ability to become a certified teacher, please visit COEHD courses that involve field experience require that a criminal history check be conducted before students are allowed to participate in or obtain class credit for field-based assignments.

TExES Certification Exams Students are encouraged to complete all practice tests, reviews, and TExES exams the semester before student teaching Information for practice exams, review sessions and state exam registration procedures can be found at For more information please contact the TExES Testing Office at

Student Teaching A placement for student teaching requires attendance at a mandatory meeting ONE long semester in advance Requirements and guidelines for student teaching and application information will be discussed and disseminated at meeting Deadlines: Spring Semester – October 1 Fall Semester – February 15 All coursework should be completed before student teaching

Student Teaching contd. Student teaching is a full-time commitment and working while student teaching is highly discouraged Student will be assigned to a school and cooperating teacher Monday-Friday for the entire semester If you anticipate the need for financial aid assistance, contact COEHD Student Services at least 2 semesters before you student teach

COEHD Scholarships and Services Visit COEHD Scholarship webpage and for assistance Services offered: –Guidance in finding and applying for scholarships –A “Scholarship Alert” –Essay writing assistance Be aware of application deadlines

Contact Information College of Education College of Science College of Liberal and Fine Arts Certification Questions: (1604) or (DT) KIN Degree Advising (1604) or (DT) Student Services/Scholarships Francesca Bronder Field Placement Questions Gina Davis Student Teaching Questions Janet Scott TExES Exam Questions Cherie Weiss

Congratulations!! If you would like a printout of this tutorial, please visit: in_U_T_C.htm in_U_T_C.htm Close this window and return to ASAP Take the brief quiz Apply to the Teacher Certification program