Texas Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teaching degrees in Texas was designed as a guide for aspiring teachers in the state to help you research the various colleges and universities that offer educator preparation programs. Texas requires all teachers to complete an approved teacher preparation program from an accredited school in order to work in the state’s education system. To help you find the best option for your career goals, this page provides lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are just out of college or are looking to embark on a new career as a teacher, this guide is meant to point you in the right direction.

Quick Facts

• There are 133 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Texas.¹
• 59 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 58 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 69 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• 1 school ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 24 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023.³
• 23 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 10 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.⁵
• 5 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the AAQEP.⁶

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Table of Contents

Teacher Preparation Program Comparison

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs

Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

Student Reviews

Comparison of Texas Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Texas according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2019-2020 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our Texas traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Texas

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022

• Trinity University

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023

• University of Texas-Austin (#18)
• Texas A&M University-College Station (#32 tie)
• Southern Methodist University (#54 tie)
• University of Houston (#89 tie)
• University of North Texas (#89 tie)
• Texas Tech University (#106 tie)
• Baylor University (#113 tie)
• University of Texas-Arlington (#121 tie)
• University of Texas-San Antonio (#121 tie)
• Texas Christian University (#143 tie)
• Sam Houston State University (#168 tie)
• Texas State University (#168 tie)
• Texas A&M University-Commerce (#192 tie)
• Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (#199 tie)
• University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (#202 tie)
• Abilene Christian University (#207-274)
• Dallas Baptist University (#207-274)
• Houston Baptist University (#207-274)
• Lamar University (#207-274)
• Prairie View A&M University (#207-274)
• Tarleton State University (#207-274)
• Texas Southern University (#207-274)
• University of Houston-Clear Lake (#207-274)
• University of the Incarnate Word (#207-274)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022

• Texas A&M University-College Station (#5 tie)
• University of North Texas (#5 tie)
• University of Houston (#14 tie)
• Sam Houston State University (#24 tie)
• University of Texas-Arlington (#60 tie)
• West Texas A&M University (#80 tie)
• University of Texas-Tyler (#93 tie)
• University of Houston-Clear Lake (#120 tie)
• Southwestern Adventist University (#140 tie)
• Texas Woman’s University (#157 tie)
• Texas Tech University (#162 tie)
• Angelo State University (#171 tie)
• Lamar University (#192 tie)
• Texas A&M University-Commerce (#199 tie)
• Abilene Christian University (#210 tie)
• Houston Baptist University (#226 tie)
• Texas A&M University-Central Texas (#226 tie)
• Tarleton State University (#237 tie)
• Dallas Baptist University (#242-321)
• Hardin-Simmons University (#242-321)
• Prairie View A&M University (#242-321)
• University of St. Thomas (#242-321)
• University of Texas-El Paso (#242-321)

Select Texas Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

Texas State University

Texas State University offers multiple undergraduate and graduate degree programs for aspiring teachers through its College of Education. At the undergraduate level, Texas State’s teacher preparation programs include a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Elementary Education Core Subjects (with concentrations in English as a Second Language or Bilingual/Biliteracy-Spanish); a BS in a variety of Middle School subjects; and a BS in Special Education. Students interested in Secondary Education will major in their teaching subject area of choice and either double-major in Education or receive a Secondary Education minor, depending on their program. Graduate students not seeking certification can pursue programs such as a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Student Affairs in Higher Education; an MEd in Educational Technology (fully online); an MEd or Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Leadership; and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in School Improvement. For those who are seeking certification through a graduate program, Texas State offers programs for simultaneously pursuing an M.Ed. and initial certification.

Texas Tech University

The Texas Tech University (TTU) College of Education is located at the university’s main campus in Lubbock. Undergraduate students may choose from Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education programs that certify graduates in the major content area, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Special Education. Areas of concentration include Elementary Education (Early Childhood-Grade 6), Middle-Level English Language Arts (available both face-to-face and online), Middle-Level Math, Middle-Level Science, and Secondary English, among others. Graduate programs include a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education and an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, both programs with a wide variety of concentrations. TTU also offers online M.Ed. programs in Higher Education Administration or Special Education: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). TTU’s doctoral offerings include a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Curriculum & Instruction with several different concentration options; a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Technology; a PhD or EdD in Higher Education; and a PhD in Special Education.

University of Texas-Austin

The University of Texas-Austin (UT Austin) is the flagship institution of the UT system and is home to the College of Education, which confers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels. UT offers one undergraduate education degree, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Applied Learning and Development, with four concentrations: All-Level Special Education; Early Childhood-6th Grade Bilingual Generalist; Early Childhood-6th Grade English as a Second Language (ESL) Generalist; and Youth and Community Studies. For graduate students seeking initial certification, UT Austin offers a unique program called Urban Teachers, in which students pursue a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary English Language Arts or Secondary Social Studies and receive specialized instruction to become certified as teachers in urban schools. Graduate and doctoral students may also pursue a wide range of non-licensure degrees such as an M.Ed. or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Language and Literacy Studies; an M.Ed. or PhD in Educational Policy and Planning; and an M.Ed., PhD, or Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education Leadership.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Alabama schools offer associate’s degrees in education.¹ Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

Alvin Community College
3110 Mustang Rd
Alvin, TX 77511
(281) 756-3500
www.alvincollege.edu

Amarillo College
2011 S Washington St
Amarillo, TX 79109
(806) 371-5000
www.actx.edu

Angelina College
3500 S 1st St
Lufkin, TX 75902
(936) 639-1301
www.angelina.edu

Austin Community College District*
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd
Austin, TX 78752
512-223-7000
www.austincc.edu

Blinn College
902 College Ave
Brenham, TX 77833
(979) 830-4000
www.blinn.edu

Brazosport College
500 College Blvd
Richwood, TX 77566
(979) 230-3000
www.brazosport.edu

Central Texas College
6200 W Central Texas Expy
Killeen, TX 76549
(254) 526-7161
www.ctcd.edu

Cisco College
101 College Heights
Cisco, TX 76437
(254) 442-5000
www.cisco.edu

Clarendon College
1122 College Dr
Clarendon, TX 79226
(806) 874-3571
www.clarendoncollege.edu

Coastal Bend College
3800 Charco Rd
Beeville, TX 78102
(361) 358-2838
www.coastalbend.edu

College of the Mainland
1200 N Amburn Rd
Texas City, TX 77591
(409) 938-1211
www.com.edu

Collin County Community College District
3452 Spur 399
McKinney, TX 75069
(972) 548-6790
www.collin.edu

Dallas Baptist University*
3000 Mountain Creek Pkwy
Dallas, TX 75211
(214) 333-7100
www.dbu.edu

Dallas College*
1601 Botham Jean Blvd
Dallas, TX 75215
214-378-1500
www.dallascollege.edu

Del Mar College
101 Baldwin Blvd
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
(361) 698-1200
www.delmar.edu

El Paso Community College
9050 Viscount Blvd
El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 831-3722
www.epcc.edu

Frank Phillips College
1301 Roosevelt St
Borger, TX 79008
(806) 457-4200
www.fpctx.edu

Grayson College
6101 Grayson Dr
Denison, TX 75020
(903) 465-6030
www.grayson.edu

Hill College
112 Lamar Dr
Hillsboro, TX 76645
(254) 659-7500
www.hillcollege.edu

Houston Community College*
3100 Main St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 718-2000
www.hccs.edu

Howard College
1001 Birdwell Ln
Big Spring, TX 79720
(432) 264-5000
www.howardcollege.edu

Kilgore College
1100 Broadway Blvd
Kilgore, TX 75662
(903) 983-8209
www.kilgore.edu

Lamar State College-Orange
410 Front St
Orange, TX 77630
(409) 883-7750
www.lsco.edu

Lamar State College-Port Arthur
1500 Procter St
Port Arthur, TX 77640
(409) 983-4921
www.lamarpa.edu

Lee College
200 Lee Dr
Baytown, TX 77520
(281) 427-5611
www.lee.edu

LeTourneau University*
2100 S Mobberly Ave
Longview, TX 75602
(800) 759-8811
www.letu.edu

Lone Star College System*
5000 Research Forest Dr
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(832) 813-6500
www.lonestar.edu

McLennan Community College*
1400 College Dr
Waco, TX 76708
(254) 299-8000
www.mclennan.edu

Midland College
3600 N Garfield St
Midland, TX 79705
(432) 685-4500
www.midland.edu

Navarro College
3200 W 7th Ave
Corsicana, TX 75110
(800) 628-2776
www.navarrocollege.edu

North Central Texas College
1525 W California St
Gainesville, TX 76240
(940) 668-7731
www.nctc.edu

Northeast Lakeview College*
1201 Kitty Hawk Rd
Universal City, TX 78145
(210) 212-5266
www.alamo.edu/nlc

Northeast Texas Community College
2886 FM 1735
Mount Pleasant, TX 75455
(903) 434-8100
www.ntcc.edu

Northwest Vista College*
3535 N Ellison Dr
San Antonio, TX 78251
(210) 486-4000
www.alamo.edu/nvc

Odessa College
201 W University Blvd
Odessa, TX 79764
(432) 335-6400
www.odessa.edu

Palo Alto College*
1400 W Villaret Blvd
San Antonio, TX 78224
(210) 486-3000
www.alamo.edu/pac

Panola College
1109 W Panola St
Carthage, TX 75633
(903) 693-2000
www.panola.edu

Paris Junior College
2400 Clarksville St
Paris, TX 75460
(903) 785-7661
www.parisjc.edu

Ranger College
1100 College Cir
Ranger, TX 76470
(254) 647-3234
www.rangercollege.edu

San Antonio College*
1819 N Main Ave
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 486-0000
www.alamo.edu/sac

San Jacinto Community College
8060 Spencer Hwy
Pasadena, TX 77505
(281) 476-1501
www.sanjac.edu

South Plains College
1401 College Ave
Levelland, TX 79336
(806) 894-9611
www.southplainscollege.edu

South Texas College
3201 Pecan Blvd
McAllen, TX 78501
(956) 872-8311
www.southtexascollege.edu

Southwest Texas Junior College
2401 Garner Field Rd
Uvalde, TX 78801
(830) 278-4401
www.swtjc.edu

Southwestern Assemblies of God University*
1200 Sycamore St
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(888) 937-7248
www.sagu.edu

St. Philip’s College*
1801 Martin Luther King Dr
San Antonio, TX 78203
(210) 486-2000
www.alamo.edu/spc

Tarrant County College District
300 Trinity Campus Cir
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 515-8223
www.tccd.edu

Temple College
2600 S 1st St
Temple, TX 76504
(254) 298-8282
www.templejc.edu

Texarkana College
2500 N Robison Rd
Texarkana, TX 75599
(903) 823-3456
www.texarkanacollege.edu

Texas College*
2404 N Grand Ave
Tyler, TX 75702
(800) 306-6299
www.texascollege.edu

Texas Southmost College
80 Fort Brown
Brownsville, TX 78520
(956) 295-3600
www.tsc.edu

Texas State Technical College
3801 Campus Dr
Waco, TX 76705
(254) 799-3611
www.tstc.edu

Trinity Valley Community College
100 Cardinal Dr
Athens, TX 75751
(903) 675-6200
www.tvcc.edu

Tyler Junior College
1400 E 5th St
Tyler, TX 75701
(800) 687-5680
www.tjc.edu

University of the Incarnate Word*
4301 Broadway
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 829-6000
www.uiw.edu

Vernon College
4400 College Dr
Vernon, TX 76384
(940) 552-6291
www.vernoncollege.edu

Weatherford College
225 College Park Dr
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 594-5471
www.wc.edu

Western Texas College
6200 College Ave
Snyder, TX 79549
(325) 573-8511
www.wtc.edu

Wharton County Junior College
911 E Boling Hwy
Wharton, TX 77488
(979) 532-4560
www.wcjc.edu

Student Reviews

Houston Christian University
7502 Fondren Rd
Houston, TX 77074
(281) 649-3000
https://hc.edu/

Student Review: “I thoroughly enjoyed the teacher preparation program at Houston Christian University in Houston, Texas. The schedule provided a lot of flexibility as it provided the opportunity for online classes as well as traditional in person classes. I was able to complete the program at my own pace and was provided consistent academic advising to ensure the timeline and my needs were being met. I felt the professors were very knowledgeable in their content and the smaller class sizes made it a more personable experience. Students came from diverse backgrounds which also enhanced the learning experience. The courses were rigorous enough and now having been in the field I believe they properly prepared me for my career beyond the classroom.” -Student at Houston Christian University

Lamar University
4400 S M L King Jr Pkwy
Beaumont, TX 77705
(409) 880-7011
https://www.lamar.edu/

Student Review: “I had a great experience with Lamar University’s Post Bachelor’s teacher certification program. The majority of the classes were relevant, and I chose to attend on-campus classes to be able to continue to network and talk with fellow students. The education department had a diverse faculty teaching the classes, and some had very thick accents. At the time I thought it was a negative thing about the program, but in retrospect, it taught me to really stop and listen, and get used to different ways of speaking. Something that I do encounter every day in my teaching career. I do feel their online portfolio program is a waste of money. I feel a simple exercise or class on how to create and maintain an online portfolio would suffice. The software program is expensive and only good for 7 years. Most schools do not even access this program for a potential hire, and a personal online portfolio would make more of an impact. In summary, I would definitely recommend this program.” -Student at Southern Methodist University

Sam Houston State University
1905 University Ave
Huntsville, TX 77340
(936) 294-1111
https://www.shsu.edu/

Student Review: “The program at SHSU is more than amazing. It really gives you a new outlook working inside of the classroom and learning how other childrens minds work and how not everyone thinks the same as you. The teachers that teach the course are also more than lovely. They truly want you to succeed in their course and your careers. A lot of the teachers choose to take their own personal time and stay before, after, and even on days they do not work. SHSU teachers are very dedicated, especially the ones in this department. I genuinely do not have anything that I feel should be changed about the education program at Sam.” -Student at Sam Houston State University

Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 768-2000
www.smu.edu

Student Review: “The pedagogical classes were fairly limited in scope — I learned much more from my time as a student teacher than I did in pedagogical classes. We were assigned particular English classes to take as part of our degree to give us a well-rounded background in both American and world literature. My advisor was particularly helpful in connecting me with administrators from several different school districts in the region where I wanted to teach, which made finding a job much easier than I had thought it would be. I entered the classroom ready to teach reading and writing effectively, although more from experience than from the classroom. I would recommend the program because of the connections that you can make.” -Peter B., student at Southern Methodist University

St. Edward’s University
3001 S Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 448-8400
www.stedwards.edu

Student Review: “Being part of the St. Edward’s educators’ community was truly a rewarding experience. I started out taking basic education classes which I feel has helped carry me the most in my professional career. I learned just the basics and went all of the way through the program as a student teacher, where I was given more opportunities to teach coming from a small private school than I would have had I come from a much larger university. A few downsides to the program were that I was a full-time working student and found it difficult to juggle my class schedule since often only one class per requirement was offered per semester. This meant I had no flexibility to work around my classes and I suffered financially because of it. Overall, I feel attending a small, private school gave me more time and attention from my professors and this really helped me land a professional teaching job six months after graduation. I am a very proud class of 2011 alum!” – Student at St. Edward’s University

Stephen F. Austin State University
2102 Alumni Dr
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
(936) 468-3401
https://www.sfasu.edu/

Student Review: “Stephen F. Austin State University’s Elementary Education program is a top notch program. Though is was challenging, I had a wonderful time and feel like I was given quality education preparation. In the Elementary Education program you are consistently in the classroom teaching students from the start of your college career to the very end. I liked that I received experience in a variety of grade levels, schools, and even had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant for several years in their on campus Charter School. Overall the program is filled with life and professors that are very knowledgable and care about you as a person. The only thing I think that I wished I was more prepared for was dealing with discipline and how to resolve those issues.” – Student at Stephen F. Austin State University

Sul Ross State University
400 N Harrison
Alpine, TX 79832
(432) 837-8011
https://www.sulross.edu/

Student Review: “I have to say that my time spent a Sul Ross State University was that of learning and understanding. Sul Ross State University is a teaching school with one goal in mind; to produce next level teachers. Being in west Texas, Sul Ross State University is very much isolated, but this allows you to get your studies done. Graduating from this college will take you on average 4 years to do. The work here is easy, but effective if you want to become an educator. Along with getting an undergraduate degree, Sul Ross State University offers a graduate program so you can get even more knowledge on how to become an educator.” – Student at Sul Ross State University

Texas A&M University
400 Bizzell St
College Station, TX 77843
(979) 845-3211
https://www.tamu.edu/

Student Review: “At Texas A&M University, the early childhood education program is amazing. During my studies, I had the chance to get hands-on experience in the classroom and learn from other teachers. I felt valued, challenged, and excited to learn. I had the privilege of working with some incredible staff members who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I graduated feeling confident that I would be a great teacher and have the skills necessary to influence the upcoming generations. I would definitely recommend this program and Texas A&M as a school of choice.” -Student at Texas A&M University

Student Review: “This was a phenomenal program. The curriculum was extremely challenging with the rigor of the assignments truly meeting the everyday experiences within a school district in the State of Texas. I loved the program as I was not required to take a GRE prior to entrance. This may not be a deal breaker for most as they probably had high GPA’s upon completion of their Bachelor’s Degree, but mine was not. The only thing I can say I was dissatisfied about the program was the absence of a Principals or Administrator’s certificate. Granted, this was my job to research this prior to entering (and paying for) the program, and at the time it was not a priority of mine to get this certification. Looking back on it, I wished I would have as now I am looking into becoming a principal, and this program will cost me an additional $5,000 to obtain that certificate.” -Student at Texas A&M University

Student Review: “The University’s education program offered a great deal of insight on what to expect on the journey of becoming an educator. I specifically chose the area of Mathematics and was fortunate enough to have professors that were encouraging as this was an area that lacked future educators. The curriculum I was introduced to was not as challenging as I had hoped at times early on, but in the final year I did face information that I struggled to keep up with. The program’s student teaching portion provided me with an excellent experience in the classroom. Being able to sit with students and actually see your teachings come through in the students’ work was the most rewarding part of the program. One area that I did feel could use improvement would be the schedule and the amount of available courses, having so many prerequisites for each course meant that many students found it hard to get into courses necessary to keep on track with the degree program.” – Student at Texas A&M University

Texas State University
601 University Dr
San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 245-2111
https://www.txst.edu/

Student Review: “The Teacher Preparation program at Texas State University is so strong, challenging, but also fulfilling. What I loved about our program is the chance to gain experience at all levels (Elementary, Middle, and High School). The program itself was very rigorous, but prepared us well as much as possible for what it will be like in the real world. Each student was paired with a veteran mentor teacher who helped guide us through our time in the program. Teachers were not afraid to challenge us by immediately engaging us in the classroom, forcing us to think critically and actively as a teacher does in many scenarios. Personally, I learned by doing. Being in front of students, figuring it out, and being forced to get out of my comfort zone. I gained many tools and strategies to use as I begin the process in preparing to have my own classroom and students in it.” -Student at Texas State University

Texas Woman’s University
304 Administration Dr
Denton, TX 76201
(940) 898-2000
https://twu.edu/

Student Review: “I think that TWU has prepared me fairly well for teaching. I wish that I would have had more time to be in real classrooms and be able to interact with kids more. I also wish there was more separation in education classes for people teaching high school level classes. There was a lot of overlap between the people teaching high school having to learn techniques that had to do with early elementary children. I have little to no interest in teaching young children and I would have rather gone over more techniques for older children. We did go over a lot of laws and regulations and those were very helpful. We also went over a lot of intellectual property laws and best practices. The school is great for the most part, I just strongly disliked all the education stuff we went over that has nothing to do with high school teaching.” -Student at Texas Woman’s University

University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd
Houston, TX 77058
(281) 283-7600
https://www.uhcl.edu/

Student Review: “My experiences at University of Houston-Clear Lake were positive. The school has a welcoming environment and offers many resources to its students. They offer math labs and writing labs for student help, as well as career counseling. I liked that they offered numerous classes that suited my busy schedule. The staff is very knowledgeable and teachers make a point to get to know their pupils. They have office hours to discuss class matters and are available through email and phone. University of Houston-Clear Lake believes in the team effort and at first, I did not like how most classrooms encouraged group projects. However, once I became accustomed to the teamwork, I began to appreciate the value of learning to cooperate for coursework.” -Student at University of Houston-Clear Lake

University of North Texas
1155 Union Cir
Denton, TX 76203
(940) 565-2000
https://www.unt.edu/

Student Review: “The University of North Texas is in a great location with unique shops, restaurants, and tons of shopping malls around the area. Everyone in the town of Denton is extremely nice, well-mannered, and made me really happy and pleased with the area. They always have well-known comedians and actors coming over to the UNT campus to inspire students and have many activities for students to participate in. The one thing I don’t like about UNT is the parking. Everyone pays a lot for a parking permit but never gets good parking spots.” -Dustin F., student at University of North Texas

Student Review: “Within the teacher preparation program at UNT, the focus lies heavily on elementary education and concepts associated with children of that age. As someone who is passionate about students of high school age, I find the curriculum lacking necessary information for my specific area of interest. The professors are passionate and will always respond honestly and intelligently to questions that I have, however, I don’t believe I should have to prompt my lecturer in order to receive the education that I am paying for. I feel prepared for my career as a teacher, however, I don’t feel as though the University of North Texas teacher preparation courses have aided me in the way they should be designed to. Furthermore, there is a heavy focus on teaching within the United States, and I have a passion for overseas education. In this respect, I have received little to no instruction on how to better myself as an educator abroad.” -Student at University of North Texas

University of Texas-Arlington
701 S Nedderman Dr
Arlington, TX 76013
(817) 272-2011
https://www.uta.edu/

Student Review: “I thought it was a great program. The Dean’s office team was always willing to help when something happened, which things always happened because other departments weren’t as good. The academic advisor was superb. The hands-on and practical experience were very helpful. In the end, I opted not to teach secondary education, but to continue my schooling to teach at the college level. This was no reflection on the education I received, I just prefer teaching about secondary as it turns out. I would recommend this program to other people if they were pursuing a degree that would allow them to teach and focus on history. I liked that the last year of schooling is completely focused on education.” -Student at University of Texas at Arlington

University of Texas-Austin
Austin, TX 78712
(512) 471-3434
https://www.utexas.edu/

Student Review: “The University of Texas is one of the largest universities in the nation. Due to this, I found it important to join groups and organizations on campus to find a smaller, tighter-knit group of people where it would be easier to make friends. It wasn’t until I joined an organization that includes all majors that I was really able to meet and make friends with people from other majors. The quality of the education is superb.” -Neil Q., student at University of Texas at Austin

Student Review: “The University of Texas at Austin UTeach Liberal Arts Teacher Certification Program has been a very enjoyable experience for me. In the first semester, I observed a first-grade classroom and taught my first lessons to the students. This hands-on experience in the very first semester of the program was unusual, but I liked it because it allowed many students in the program to realize quickly if teaching was for them. What I think could be improved in the program is that rather than spending the first semester in elementary schools, students should start in middle school. This is because the program certifies middle and high school teachers, not elementary.” -Student at University of Texas at Austin

Student Review: “The teaching preparation program, called UTeach, was an amazing experience for me. I thought that all of the professors genuinely enjoyed what they were teaching and you could see it in how they taught and interacted with the students. I liked that the classroom sizes were smaller so it made the teaching more personal and one-on-one sessions were easy to get. I disliked that I felt they didn’t prepare us properly to deal with disruptive or problematic students. Many of the classrooms we taught at were the ‘top’ classrooms of the school so we didn’t really get a variety of students we’d face in our real life careers later on.” -Student at University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas-Dallas
800 W Campbell Road
Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 883-2111
https://www.utdallas.edu/

Student Review: “The University of Texas at Dallas is a school for those who wish to attend a small school with a bigger feel. Located 15 minutes from Dallas, the school offers a few transport options (such as free passes to ride the DART system) so that students don’t feel trapped in suburban Richardson. While the school is small, especially compared to nearby UNT, I feel that this smallness creates a closer community among the students. There are plenty of groups or clubs to join, and plenty of people to meet, although it is true that many of the people who attend the school either aren’t the partying type or commute from off-campus. I’ve never had problems with a professor, and never had any problems approaching them outside of class. I found their scholarship offering to be generous and the on-campus apartments to be of good quality (although a bit expensive). Overall I have no regrets attending UTD although at times it can lack the exciting atmosphere of a larger school.” -Arnand S., student at The University of Texas at Dallas

University of Texas-Tyler
3900 University Blvd
Tyler, TX 75799
(903) 566-7000
www.uttyler.edu

Student Review: “I chose to attend UT Tyler because it was the closest public university to my home. The campus was under a lot of construction the whole time I went there and this made it difficult to get around. Thankfully, there was a commuter campus even closer to me where I was able to take classes through a two-way video feed. The best part of UT Tyler was the Longview University Campus branch. The teacher preparation program was going through a change and that made for a lot of confusion. They were moving away from hands-on learning and focused more on pedagogy. UT Tyler is expensive compared to the other UT campuses (not including Austin) but it is the best choice if you want to stay in the Longview/Tyler area.” -Student at University of Texas at Tyler

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2023: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
7. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx