The University of Houston is ranked among the nation’s best colleges according to The Princeton Review. We’re a Tier One public research institution in one of the nation’s most ethnically diverse cities. We offer top-notch academics and athletics. We believe education is a public good and are committed to making college affordable for students through tuition waivers, financial aid, scholarships and more. We measure success not only in the classroom but in our service to the community. The award-winning UH College of Education offers an undergraduate and a graduate program for aspiring teachers. The College has strong partnerships with dozens of local urban and suburban school districts, giving students an opportunity to gain real-world experience and make connections for jobs. The UH network of more than 264,000 alumni is powerful!
I am thankful for an amazing education program that has given me support and has prepared me to do what I am passionate about, and that is making a change in a student’s life.
The University of Houston College of Education offers an award-winning program for aspiring teachers. Our students graduate well-prepared to meet the needs of diverse learners. Put simply, our graduates enter the classroom ready to teach on day one. They gain experience and confidence thanks to a year-long student-teaching internship, where they train under supportive mentor teachers at a local public school. UH faculty also serve as coaches, offering tools for success as well as encouragement. The teacher certification process is embedded in our program, so students don’t have to worry. An overwhelming majority of our students pass the Texas teaching certification exam. And 100 percent of our graduates recently reported being well or sufficiently prepared for the job in their first year, according to a survey from the Texas Education Agency. Principals know that students who graduate from the University of Houston have the training and tools to succeed. Our graduates are known to win “teacher of the year” awards at their schools, and they’re part of a large alumni network of UH Cougars dedicated to serving the community.
Art (Pre-K-12) Core Subjects (Pre-K-6) Core Subjects / Bilingual Education Supplemental (Pre-K-6) Dance (Pre-K-12) English Language Arts and Reading (4-8) English Language Arts and Reading (7-12) History (7-12) Mathematics (4-8) Music (Pre-K-12) Science (4-8) Social Studies (4-8) Social Studies (7-12) Spanish (Pre-K-12) Theatre (Pre-K-12)
Program Semesters/Steps Overview
The majority of your courses during your first and second years of the program are aimed at fulfilling the Texas College Core Curriculum. You will also take courses to prepare you in the specific content area (or areas) you plan to teach (e.g. math, history, etc.)
You will take 15-18 courses per semester that are foundational to understanding the science and art of teaching and learning. In addition, you will spend approximately 100 hours across the two semesters in schools observing and engaging in individual and small-group instruction.
The program concludes with a year-long clinical residency where you will be placed in a local school full-time while taking 6-9 education courses. This is the capstone of the preparation program, and you will be highly engaged in the planning, assessing and instruction of PK-12 students.
Program Hallmarks
The University of Houston College of Education believes that real-world experience is essential for preparing you to be an effective teacher from day one.
Junior year
In your junior year, during the first semester, you will complete 40 hours of observation in one school.
In the second semester, you'll complete another 40 hours at a different school.
Senior year
In your senior year, you will participate in a yearlong residency experience, where you'll work closely with a mentor teacher. This co-teaching model will involve you in lesson planning, delivering instruction, attending parent-teacher conferences and other essential teaching responsibilities.
Located in the nation’s most ethnically diverse city, the University of Houston College of Education embraces inclusivity and believes all students deserve access to a high-quality education. The college partners with more than 20 Houston-area school districts, reflecting the diversity of the region. As a testament to their training at UH, nearly 100 percent of graduates reported being well or sufficiently prepared to respond to the needs of students through differentiated instruction, according to a Texas Education Agency survey.
Professors at the University of Houston College of Education are committed to helping students become successful teachers. During the yearlong student-teaching internship senior year, students are grouped as a cohort and have an assigned UH site coordinator. This coordinator supports students in the classroom and provides detailed feedback to help them grow. As a cohort, students also have a support network from classmates going through the same learning experience.
The University of Houston College of Education is committed to continuous improvement. We were the first program in Texas to earn accreditation under the new, more stringent standards set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. We also were a founding member of US Prep, a national network of colleges of education and local school districts working to improve teacher preparation. Our partnerships with other colleges, districts and professional associations ensure we are implementing best practices to help our students thrive in the classroom.
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