About

You do not need to speak a second language to teach in an ESL classroom setting. With this certificate you can teach in a mainstream EC-6 class as well as in an ESL classroom.

This post-baccalaureate teacher certification program is designed for individuals who want to earn initial teacher certification to teach children, early-childhood through grade 6. These children may include those who can speak some English but are not proficient in English, which is not their native language.  The program prepares its graduates to be generalists in EC-6 education as well as ESL teachers.

This is a 24-hour program equivalent to eight courses. Of those 24 hours, 18 hours (6 courses) are online coursework, and the remaining 6 hours (2 courses) are either student teaching or practicum. Students in this program may count a number of courses toward a MEd in Teaching if they apply to and are accepted into that degree program.

Apply

Admission Requirements

  1. Successfully complete a bachelor's degree program with a GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 hours, or 2.8 overall with at least 3 hours in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies.
  2. Meet the requirements for admission to the Toulouse Graduate School
  3. Apply to Teacher Education and Administration at the University of North Texas. Students must continue to meet the requirements of the Online Teacher Certification Program in order to remain in the program.

Apply to Toulouse Graduate School

  • You must be admitted to the Toulouse Graduate School before enrolling in the accelerated online program.
    • Submit your application at applytexas.org and choose the "Elementary Teacher Certification" in the degree plan list. Make sure you confirm that you are applying for the Online Program when prompted. Details on their requirements and applications deadlines can be viewed at here. Requirements for international applicants can be viewed at http://admissions.unt.edu/international, including information on meeting the English Language Proficiency requirement. The Department encourages students to apply well in advance of the posted deadlines. All departmental application materials must be received within two months of the submitted online application.
    • Pay the $75 application fee, which can be submitted through applytexas.org.
    • Request an official transcript of your records from each college or university that you have attended (official transcripts of all academic coursework previously undertaken, including an undergraduate degree from an accredited academic institution in an allied field) and have them sent to the Toulouse Graduate School. Submit documents to:
      • University of North Texas
        Toulouse Graduate School
        1155 Union Circle #305459 (USPS)
        1147 Union Circle, ESSC Room 354 (UPS/FedEx)
        Denton, TX 76203
        Email: GradAdmission@unt.edu
        Phone: 940-565-2383
        Fax: 940-565-2414

  • Admission of International Students

    • Applicants who do not hold either U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident alien status should apply through the UNT International Admissions Office, in addition to the Toulouse Graduate School and College of Health and Public Service. An international applicant's bachelor's degree should be equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor's degree. International students ONLY: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) — check minimum scores required with your program advisor. 

Apply to the College of Education

Send all departmental materials and application inquiries to:

Carmen Yanes
Academic Advisor
University of North Texas
Department of Teacher Education and Administration
1155 Union Circle #311335
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Email: carmen.yanes@unt.edu
coe-pbadvisors@unt.edu

Check Status Online

There are two ways to check your application status:

  • To check if your transcripts have been submitted: The Toulouse Graduate School will send you an email and pin number to check online at my.unt.edu. You will need to activate your EUID with the pin number and click on Admissions Status.
  • To check if your supporting documents have been submitted:
    Email your full name and UNT Student ID to carmen.yanes@unt.edu or coe-pbadvisors@unt.edu. Enter "Application Status Update" as well as your name and UNT Student ID in the email subject line.
Courses

Course Requirements for Certificate (24 hours)

EDCI 5010 - Everyone Can Learn: Applying Theory to Teaching Practice (3 hours)
EDBE 5560 - Fundamentals of Bilingual and ESL Education, EC-12 (3 hours)
EDBE 5570 - Assessing Language and Content Learning in Bilingual/ESL Education (3 hours)
EDBE 5590 - ESL Pedagogy EC-12 (3 hours)
EDRE 5070 - Literacy Development for English Language Learners (3 hours)
EDBE 5582 - Curriculum for EC-8 ESL Education (3 hours)

EDEE 5101 - Student Teaching Pre-K through Grade 6 (3 hours)
EDEE 5102 - Student Teaching Pre-K through Grade 6 (3 hours)
or
EDEE 5105 - Practicum I (3 hours)
EDEE 5115 - Practicum II (3 hours)

Four state exams must be passed for the student to become certified by the state:

  • TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (recommended to be taken after completion of at least 12 hours)
  • TExES ESL Supplemental (recommended to be taken after completion of at least 12 hours)
  • TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 Exam (recommended to be taken after the EC-6 Test) 
  • TExES STR - Science of Teaching Reading - recommended to be taken after the EC-6 Test

To attain the teaching certificate, candidates must complete all course work, attain passing scores on the appropriate state examination, and send an application to TEA for the certificate.

NOTE: The Clinical Practice is complete within a radius of 50 miles from UNT – Denton. For more information contact your academic advisor.