Which Texas Schools Offer Teacher Certification Programs?

Undergraduate Teacher Certification Programs in Texas

Abilene Christian University

At this university, you can become certified to teach grades 3-6, 4-8, 8-12 or all levels. In addition to becoming certified in a specific area, such as music, science, social studies, technology applications or history, you can add a supplement to your certification in an area such as special education or English as a second language. Along with your coursework, you'll also take a six-credit student teaching internship. The university urges all students to study abroad while enrolled in the program.

• Program: Bachelor of Science with early childhood/elementary, middle school or high school certification
• Specialization Options Art, English language arts, history, math, music, physical science & theatre, to name a few
• Program Length: Four years
• Tuition and Fees: $34,850 (2018-2019)
• Prerequisites: Complete or be enrolled in at least the first 45 credits, 2.75 minimum GPA, complete six credit hours of English requirements, complete an education course
• Admission Requirements: Passage of three sections of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test, approval from the Teacher Education Admissions and Review Committee, teacher education portfolio
• School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 3,538 undergrads and 1,666 graduates

Texas A&M University

At Texas A&M, you'll have a multitude of specialty areas to choose from, depending upon the grade level for which you're planning on becoming certified. For the early childhood through grade 6 program, you can focus your studies on general, bilingual, ESL or special education certification. As a prospective middle school teacher (grades 4-8), you can specialize in language arts, ESL, math, science or a combination. If you're interested in teaching high school, concentrations are available in ten areas, including chemistry, history, social studies, physical science and journalism. Alternatively, you could become certified for all levels (ECE-grade 12) in music, art, health, theatre, special education or physical education. The university also features field-based programs in which you'll work in the public schools.

• Program: Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts with certification for ECE-6, middle, secondary & all-level
• Specialization Options: Art, ESL, science, math, journalism, generalist, special education, to name a few areas
• Program Length: Four years
• Tuition and Fees: $8,748 for in-state students; $21,198 for out-of-state students (2018-2019)
• Admission Requirements: Bacterial meningitis vaccination
• School Type: 4-year, public; 8,270 undergrads and 4,141 graduates

University of Houston

You'll take coursework and field work during the first two portions of the program and undertake a teaching internship during your last year. If you intend to teach at the secondary level, you'll need to declare an education minor. If you wish to teach art or music at the secondary level, you'll need to major in one of those areas along with your education minor. You'll have access to various student organizations, including the National Science Teachers Association, the Human Development Student Association and Phi Delta Kappa International.

• Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Teaching and Learning
• Specialization Options: Special education, math, science, social studies, generalist, language arts and bilingual generalist
• Program Length: About four years, full-time
• Tuition and Fees: $8,913 for in-state students; $21,273 for out-of-state students (2018-2019)
• School Type: 4-year, public; 38,348 undergrads and 7,976 graduates

University of North Texas

After earning your undergraduate degree at the University of North Texas, you'll be qualified for a generalist certificate or a generalist and specialization certificate. You'll take two semesters of your courses in UNT's Professional Development School (PDS) which will also include a 15-week student teaching internship. In addition to 42 credit hours of general education courses, you'll take 96 credit hours of required courses in environmental science, human development, introduction to early childhood, foundations of education and conceptual physics, to name a few topics.

• Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
• Program Length: 4 years (138 credit hours)
• Tuition and Fees: $10,852 for in-state students; $20,812 for out-of-state students (2018-2019)
• School Type: 4-year, public; 31,375 undergrads and 6,866 graduates

Graduate Teacher Certification Programs in Texas

Abilene Christian University

The accredited master's degree program at Abilene Christian University was designed for individuals finishing their initial teacher certification programs. You'll begin your master's degree program during your senior year of the bachelor's degree program, moving through the program in a cohort with your classmates. You'll learn about emotional and behavioral disorders, learning environments, educational research, conflict management and ways to integrate technology into the classroom. The program also includes two semesters of clinical practice.

• Program Name: Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
• Program Length: One year, including summer
• Tuition and Fees: $21,492 (2018-2019)
• Prerequisites: Completed or in-progress bachelor's degree in education, 3.0 undergraduate GPA
• Admission Requirements: Statement of intent, two letters of recommendation, dispositions review, passage of content field certification exam, interview (possible)
• School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; 3,538 undergrads and 1,666 graduates

Texas A&M University

The university offers an alternative certification program that allows you to earn a state teaching certificate at the graduate level. If you enroll in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, you'll have the option of taking courses on-campus, online or a combination of both. The Early Childhood Education program requires students to take a comprehensive exam in order to receive the degree. It is expected that graduates will learn about child development, curriculum theory and instructional strategies.

The reading program offers three different options. The Master of Science option includes a reading certificate in the curriculum, the Master of Education features a reading specialist certificate and the Master of Arts is the thesis option.

• Program Name: Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Master of Education in Early Childhood Education, Master of Education/Science in Secondary Education, Master of Science/Arts/Education in Reading (PK-12), Secondary and All Level Alternative Teacher Certification
• Program Length: 36 semester hours
• Tuition: $3,630 for in-state students; $11,100 for out-of-state students (2018-2019)
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree, 2.75 undergraduate GPA or 3.00 GPA on the last 60 undergraduate semester hours
• Admission Requirements: One of the following: valid teaching certificate; Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores; TeCAT, ExCet or TexES scores
• School Type: 4-year, public; 8,270 undergrads and 4,141 graduates

Abilene Christian University, Texas A&M University, University of Houston and University of North Texas are four universities in Texas that offer teacher certification programs.