Teacher Certification

• Apply to UH (bachelor's)

Program Options

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• I want a bachelor’s degree, and I want to be a certified teacher.

  You should apply to UH as an undergraduate. Most students will want to major in teaching and learning in the College of Education. Your degree will be a Bachelor of Science. The teacher certification process is embedded in the program, so don’t worry.

  Students who want to teach middle school, high school, or the arts (art, dance, music or theatre) should major in the subject area they want to teach.

  See the next question for specifics.

• What major should I choose to be a teacher?

  For students seeking a bachelor’s degree, here's how to choose your major, based on what you want to teach:

  • Early childhood through sixth grade (EC-6) or fourth through eighth grade (4-8):
    • Major in teaching and learning in the College of Education. Your degree will be a Bachelor of Science in teaching and learning. This is the most popular option.
    • Some students opt to major in human development and family sciences (HDFS) in the College of Education. In this case, tell your advisor you want to pursue teacher certification. Your degree will be a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in HDFS.
  • Seventh through 12^th grade (7-12):
    • Major in the subject you want to teach in the appropriate UH college. Minor in education, with certification, in the College of Education.
      • If you want to teach math or science in grades 7-12, major in math or science in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and apply to the UH teachHOUSTON program for your certification courses.
  • Special education at any level:
    • Major in teaching and learning in the College of Education. Your degree will be a Bachelor of Science in teaching and learning.
  • Bilingual classes:
    • Major in teaching and learning in the College of Education. Your degree will be a Bachelor of Science in teaching and learning.
    • You will pursue certification in early childhood through sixth grade (EC-6) and take extra state exams for bilingual supplemental certification.
  • Art, dance, music or theatre:
    • Major in your interest area in the UH McGovern College of the Arts. In addition:
      • For art, minor in education, with certification, in the College of Education.
      • For dance, minor in education, with certification, in the College of Education.
      • For music, select the “music education” track in McGovern.
      • For theatre, select the “theatre education” track in McGovern.

  All these programs will guide you through the teaching certification process.

• I have a bachelor’s and want to be a certified teacher.

  The College of Education offers several options: The Alternative Certification Program (ACP) for Aspiring Teachers allows individuals with bachelor's degrees to pursue certification while earning a salary as a full-time teacher. The College also offers a program that allows individuals with bachelor's degrees to jointly pursue certification and a master's degree (the grant-funded program is known as the UH Partnership to Develop Equity-Minded Educators); contact Jeannette Alarcón at jdalarcon2@uh.edu for information about UH PDEE. In addition, our M.Ed. in special populations offers an option to pursue a certification to teach special education (EC-12) in Texas.