Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Education—Secondary degree program prepares students for teaching certification with dual majors. A student following this course of study will complete the UIW Core Curriculum, coursework in a discipline (teaching field) major, and the Education—Secondary Major (pre-professional courses and the professional development sequence). Education—Secondary Majors may also choose to add the optional minors in special education and/or literacy.
Because this major includes Texas teaching certification requirements, Education—Secondary Majors require a major in a teaching field discipline. The dual major option is available to students with discipline majors resulting in a Bachelor of Arts degree. Only students with a discipline major yielding a different degree (such as a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Music) may complete certification requirements with the Education Minor.
Upon successful completion of UIW Teacher Education Program requirements, Texas Education Agency certification requirements, and applicable TExES certification examinations, students are eligible to apply for state teaching certification to teach within their specialization field.
The UIW Teacher Education Program currently offers preparation in the following teaching fields:
Education-Secondary Major
English Language Arts and Reading (7-12)
History (7-12)
Biology / Life Science (7-12)
Chemistry / Physical Science (6-12)
Mathematics (7-12)
Education Minor
Kinesiology / Physical Education (EC-12)
Music (EC-12)
Admission Requirements
Students seeking entry into the Teacher Education Program must first apply and be admitted to the University. See the Admissions section for complete university admission requirements.
Students who plan to pursue initial teaching certification must also formally apply, and be admitted, to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) before enrolling in professional development coursework. Students should apply for admission the semester prior to beginning the professional development coursework. Application dates (spring and fall) are announced by the Dreeben School of Education. Acceptance to the Teacher Education Program does not guarantee acceptance to the Clinical Teaching Cohort or the granting of state certification.
NOTE: Effective March 15, 2017, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires a fee for each admitted teacher candidate. The $35.00 fee will be paid to UIW upon offer of acceptance and is then forwarded to the Texas Education Agency.
Students who plan to pursue initial teaching certification must meet all requirements for admission to the UIW Teacher Education Program. TEP applications are accepted each semester during announced application periods. Applicants are responsible for meeting posted deadlines. Application requirements are subject to change in accordance with TEA regulations. Current (as of August 2021) application requirements include:
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A current transcript (dated within three months of the TEP application) from each college or university attended verifying that:
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A minimum of 60 credit hours has been completed with a minimum of 12 credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought (15 hours for mathematics or science candidates).
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The student has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or greater at time of application. Students are responsible for maintaining the minimum GPA requirement of 2.75 until program completion. All courses taken at all institutions will be calculated to determine the cumulative grade point average. In the event courses are repeated at the same institution, only the highest earned grade will be included in the GPA calculation (in agreement with UIW policy).
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For undergraduates, a grade of “C” or higher must have been earned for every course taken toward the major and supporting coursework. Education--Elementary majors must earn a "C" or higher in all coursework included in the full degree plan (UIW core included). A minimum grade of B- is required for all professional development coursework. If a lower than required grade is earned, the course must be repeated.
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A copy of a current degree plan reviewed by the DSE Certification Officer.
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Verification that all three sections (reading, writing and mathematics) of the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) exam have been successfully completed with a score of 230 or higher.
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Verification that EDUC 2305 Foundations of Education has been successfully completed or is in progress.
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Submission of two separate written faculty recommendations. Forms are provided in application packet. Whenever possible, a minimum of one recommendation should be completed by a faculty member from the applicant's major.
NOTE: Additional information from the UIW community (solicited and non-solicited) may be considered regarding applicants' professional disposition--maturity, independence, responsibility, interpersonal relations, communication, etc. This information is of great significance to the decisions made by both the Dreeben School of Education and the university-wide Teacher Education Advisory Council regarding acceptance into the TEP.
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Applicants will participate in a group interview to assess effective and professional oral communication skills.
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A signed DSE Texas Educator's Code of Ethics Statement of Affirmation form must be submitted with the application packet acknowledging the applicant is informed of and consents to the professional expectations for Texas educators.
The group interviews typically consist of one hour sessions with five to eight applicants in each session. Dreeben School of Education faculty and administrators, as well as University faculty and administrators from other disciplines, will make up the interview teams. Recommendations from the interview teams will then be presented as a component of the applications packet. Teacher Education faculty and the Teacher Education Advisory Council review all components of the TEP applications and make a recommendation for program admission. A formal decision letter will be emailed to each applicant by the end of the semester. The committees may decide to "hold" an application in the event an application requirement is lacking but in progress. The Dreeben School of Education Office will not make any announcements as to the status of any applicant until such letters are sent.
Bachelor of Arts in Education—Secondary Degree Plan
The Bachelor of Arts in Education—Secondary degree program requires a concurrent major in a teaching discipline. Students earn a Bachelor of Arts with dual majors as they develop their content and pedagogical knowledge for Texas teaching certification in secondary grades (7-12). The Education—Secondary Major prepares students for certification in the following teaching fields: English Language Arts & Reading, History, Life Science/Biology, Mathematics, and Physical Science/Chemistry.
Students with a discipline major yielding a different degree (such as a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Music) may complete certification requirements with the Education Minor.
The Bachelor of Arts in Education—Secondary degree program requires 120 credit hours to complete.
Total hours in UIW Core Curriculum: 43
Total hours in the Education—Secondary Major: 39
Total hours in Teaching Discipline Major: Varies
UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum
UIW core coursework is required. Review the Undergraduate Core Curriculum Here and review the degree plans for each concentration for scheduling of the core curriculum classwork. In addition, 45 Community Service hours are part of all bachelor's degree programs. See Community Service.
| UIW Core Curriculum |
| Composition and Rhetoric |
6 credit hours |
| Literature and Art** |
6 credit hours |
| Science and Mathematics |
7 credit hours |
| History and Behavioral Science |
6 credit hours |
| Philosophy and Religion |
9 credit hours |
| Second Language |
6 credit hours |
| Wellness and Physical Education |
3 credit hours |
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43 total core credit hours |
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| Community Service |
45 clock hours (non-credit) |
Pre-Professional Coursework
Professional Development Sequence
Students must apply and obtain full acceptance to the Teacher Education Program to enroll in the professional development courses. Teacher Education Program acceptance is by cohort with each cohort beginning in the spring semester. See the Education Advisor or the Director of Teacher Education for Teacher Education Program requirements and application process information. Program admission requirements are subject to change in accordance with the Texas Education Agency requirements for teacher certification candidates.
Teaching Discipline Major
The Bachelor of Arts in Education—Secondary degree program requires a concurrent major in a teaching discipline. Students earn a Bachelor of Arts with dual majors as they develop their content and pedagogical knowledge for Texas teaching certification in all-level grades (Early Childhood-12th grade).
The Education-Secondary Major prepares students for certification in these teaching fields: English Language Arts & Reading, History, Life Science/Biology, Mathematics, and Physical Science/Chemistry.
Students with a discipline major yielding a different degree (such as a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Music) may complete certification requirements with the Education Minor.
Total Credit Hours: 120