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.

We believe real-world experience is critical to graduating students ready to teach their first day on the job. During first semester of junior year, students complete 24 hours of observations, visiting a different school once a week. During second semester, students complete 80 hours of observation in one school and serve as a teacher’s aide. During senior year, students complete a yearlong student-teaching experience. Under the co-teach model with a mentor teacher, students are involved in lesson planning, instruction, parent-teacher conferences and other duties.

Located in the nation’s most ethnically diverse city, the University of Houston College of Education embraces inclusivity and believes all student deserve access to a high-quality education. The college partners with more than 20 Houston-area school districts, reflecting the diversity of the region. During junior year, our students visit a different school once a week. As a testament to their training at UH, nearly 100 percent of our 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.