Founded as a Teacher Training Institute in 1890, the University of North Texas has a long and proud tradition of preparing exceptional educators to work in public and private schools throughout Texas. Many appealing positions await you, especially in high-needs areas such as bilingual education, English as a Second Language, special education, math, science and computer science education. Many first-year teachers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area earn starting salaries of $50,000 or more.
Students completing the requirements for the undergraduate degree will receive the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. The undergraduate program requires a minimum of 120–126 semester hours. The specific number of hours required is determined by one’s choice of grades EC–6 or grades 4–8 options.
Programs for teaching Early Childhood through Grade 6 offer Core Subjects with Bilingual Supplemental Certification, Core Subjects with ESL Supplemental Certification or Core Subjects with Special Education EC-12 Certification.
A minimum of 120–126 semester hours (depending upon teacher certification and course options selected), of which 42 must be 3000 or 4000 level courses, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree as specified in the “University Core Curriculum.”
The department recommends specific courses (best choices) in some categories. Students may elect to take other courses listed under the University Core Curriculum to fulfill these requirements; however, doing so may add hours to the degree.
Students should consult with their advisors to determine how best to meet the core requirements.
Major requirements
Early Childhood through Grade Six (EC–6) Core Subjects teacher certification options
Students may prepare for a EC-6 Core Subjects certificate with English as a Second Language supplemental certification, EC-6 Core subjects certificate with Bilingual Education Supplemental Certification, or EC-6 Core Subjects with EC-12 Special Education certification. Students should consult with their advisors to determine the best sequence for taking core courses, prerequisite courses, major courses and PDS courses. Part of this degree is two semesters of courses in a Professional Development School (PDS). Courses taken during the first semester of PDS require two days per week of course work and two days per week internship at a PDS site. The second semester of PDS is 15 weeks of student teaching internship plus attendance at a weekly seminar.
EC–6 Core Subjects Certificate with English as a Second Language Supplemental Certification
All three of the following
Core Subjects EC–6 Certificate with Bilingual (BIL) Supplemental Certification
All three of the following
EC–6 Core Subjects Certificate with Special Education EC–12 Certification
All three of the following
Grades 4–8 content areas with English as a Second Language supplemental teacher certification options
Grades 4–8 English Language Arts and Reading with English as a Second Language supplemental certification
or
Theatre
One of the following:
Communication
One of the following:
Plus the following
- An approved American Literature course (advanced)
- An approved British Literature course (advanced)
- Any two approved mathematics courses (6 hours, in addition to the core)
- Any two approved science courses (6 hours, in addition to the core)
Grades 4–8 Mathematics with English as a Second Language supplemental certification
and
or
or
Additional mathematics courses
Two additional courses selected from:
or
Science, 6 hours
Any two approved science courses (6 hours, in addition to the core).
Grades 4–8 Science with English as a Second Language supplemental certification
or
or
- Any two approved mathematics courses (6 hours, in addition to the core)
or
Grades 4–8 Social Studies with English as a Second Language Supplemental Certification
Plus the following
- Any two approved U.S. history courses (6 hours, advanced)
- Any approved European history course (3 hours, advanced)
- Any approved world history course (3 hours, advanced)
- Any approved American government and politics course (3 hours, advanced)
- Any approved comparative government and politics course (3 hours, advanced)
- Any two approved mathematics courses (6 hours, in addition to the core)
- Any two approved science courses (6 hours, in addition to the core)
Internship (student teaching), 6 hours
Students seeking EC-6 Core Subjects with ESL Supplemental or EC-6 Core Subjects with BIL Supplemental Certification:
Students seeking EC–6 Core Subjects Certificate with Special Education EC–12 Certification:
Students seeking any Grades 4-8 Certificate:
Other requirements
- Admission to the Teacher Education (TEd) Program. You must be accepted to the Teacher Education Program prior to enrolling in the first education course. To be eligible for admission, students must have:
- Completed a minimum of 60 semester hours, including the University Core Curriculum. (See “General University Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog.) Programs in teacher education require specific courses contained in parts of the University Core Curriculum to satisfy particular degree requirements. Students should consult program advisors for best choices in the core;
- A 2.75 UNT GPA;
- A 2.75 overall GPA (includes all courses transferred to UNT, plus all courses taken at UNT);
- Appropriate exam scores on either the ACT or SAT, or TSI Complete status; (contact the Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105, for further information on the exam requirement); andFormally applied and been admitted to Teacher Education through the College of Education Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105. Contact the College of Education Student Advising Office, 940-565-2736; Matthews Hall, Room 105; or https://coe.unt.edu/student-advising for details and to apply for admission to the Teacher Education.
- Eligibility for Teacher Certification and Recommendation: Teacher certification is granted by the State Board for Educator Certification. Completion of the bachelor’s degree and the required education courses does not necessarily result in certification by the agency. In order to be recommended for teacher certification through the University of North Texas, students must have:
- Successfully completed an approved teacher education program for the preparation of early childhood, elementary middle grades, secondary or all-level teachers;
- Successfully completed student teaching, including attendance at appropriate seminars;
- Passed the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) and all required content tests of the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), as applicable.
- Eligibility to test. Access to register for Texas teacher certification exams (TExES) is granted to students who have been formally admitted to the Teacher Education program at UNT. Some content areas require that students take their content practice exam as part of a course requirement, or prerequisite for Early Field Experience. Only students who have been admitted to the Teacher Education program may sit for the practice exam.
The TExES Practice exams are offered four times in each long semester and twice during the summer. Students should visit with the TExES Success Office in Matthews Hall, Room 119, for further information about their required exams (940-369-8601).
Estimate tuition and fees by using the Tuition Calculators. For more information about tuition plan options, fees, and tuition, see Student Financial Services.
Financial Aid
UNT offers a variety of options to help finance your education. Visit financialaid.unt.edu to find out more about the application and award process.
UNT has been named one of America's 100 Best College Buys© for 22 consecutive years and offers the quality of a private university at an affordable cost.
Applying for financial aid
- Apply for financial aid online at fafsa.gov. The application is required for all types of financial aid, including Pell and other federal grants, state grants and loans. The FAFSA and Renewal FAFSA are available annually.
- You must enroll in 6 hours (over one or two online sessions) in order to be eligible for financial aid.
- Financial aid awards will be disbursed 10 days prior to the first day of class. Awards will not disburse if you are enrolled in only 3 credit hours.
- Contact Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at 940-565-2302 or by visiting online at financialaid.unt.edu
