Established in 1879, Sam Houston State University (SHSU) was the first teacher preparation institute in Texas! Today the college thrives with a rich legacy of preparing exceptional educators and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of students. SHSU offers a variety of programs including a bachelor’s degree in education and an alternative certification program. These specialized programs are accredited, recognized and award winning at the state and national level.
The Bachelor of Science in Education degree at SHSU offers several certification pathways for you to choose from:
Early Childhood (Pre-K through grade 3)
Elementary (Early Childhood- grade 6)
Middle (Grades 4-8)
Secondary (Grades 7-12)
Bilingual and special education certification can be added to many of the degree plans. If you want to teach at the secondary level (high school), you will double major in education and the subject area you want to teach.
If you pursue certification in agriculture or fine arts, each program has its own unique degree plan. Learn more about each certification pathway on SHSU’s College of Education Undergraduate Programs page.
Students at Sam Houston State University have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Sam Houston State University to see if you can, too!
Amount
Description
Loan Forgiveness
Teach Grant programs offer $4,000 per year for students majoring in high needs areas. To qualify, you must serve as a full-time teacher for at least four academic years at a low-income school.
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (6-12) Art (Pre-K-12) Bilingual Education / Spanish Supplemental Core Subjects (4-8) Core Subjects (Pre-K-6) Dance (6-12) English Language Arts and Reading (4-8) English Language Arts and Reading (7-12) English Language Arts and Reading / Social Studies (4-8) English as a Second Language Supplemental Family & Consumer Sciences (6-12) Gifted & Talented Supplemental Health (Pre-K-12) History (7-12) Journalism (7-12) Life Science (7-12) Mathematics (4-8) Mathematics (7-12) Mathematics / Science (4-8) Music (Pre-K-12)
Physical Education (Pre-K-12) Physical Science / Science (6-12) Science (4-8) Science (7-12) Social Studies (4-8) Social Studies (7-12) Spanish (Pre-K-12) Special Education (Pre-K-12) Special Education Supplemental Speech (7-12) Technology Education (6-12) Theatre (Pre-K-12) Trade & Industrial Education (6-12)
Program Semesters/Steps Overview
Complete courses and field experiences in Early Childhood, Reading, Bilingual, ESL, Special Education and Elementary or Middle Level Education.
Complete Literacy and Content Methods blocks, pass TExES content and pedagogy certification exams, complete student teaching and graduate.
Program Hallmarks
Each cohort will engage in four semesters of field experience aligned to standards and coursework. Field experiences will be progressive, beginning with one day a week in the field, then two, then three, and finally five days a week.
All teacher candidates will be placed in cohorts. Throughout the semester, each cohort will be placed in urban, suburban and rural small and large school settings. All candidates will have opportunities in the field in Title I schools and will work with diverse student populations.
A collaborative effort has been made to match highly qualified mentor teachers with teacher candidates in this program. University faculty site coordinators meet with district administration and campus principals during the matching process. In addition, the university offers coaching professional development to all mentor teachers four times during the year. Collaborating with district partners on matching mentor teachers with clinical teachers is a primary goal of this program.
Each year, the SHSU College of Education hosts Bring 'em Back Kats, a day of professional development and celebration of the successes of our SHSU Bearkat teachers. Faculty from the College facilitate an engaging day that brings recent alumni together to hear their successes and provide support where there are opportunities for professional growth. This day is an example of the ongoing relationships and the dedication to lifelong learning by both Bearkat faculty as well as graduates.
Candidates are provided 600-720 hours of field experience, including clinical teaching, that is aligned to coursework, state and national standards and best practices in pedagogy. Data, from multiple sources, is used to make program and course improvements. Students have multiple ways to communicate while in the program. First, they evaluate the professor and program for every course taught in education. Also, open forums are provided usually once or twice a year for students to ask questions and provide feedback. Their capstone portfolio includes a reflection of the quality of their preparation.
Stats
Gender
Male
Female
7%
93%
Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian
Black
Hispanic/Latino
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
White
Two or more races
1%
1%
12%
19%
0%
62%
5%
Get Started
Own the application process. Start a checklist to put yourself on track to becoming the best teacher you can be.
