BSIS Degree with 4-8 Certification

Total Semester Credit Hours =120

The BSIS degree with 4-8 certification offers three options: UTeach Mathematics, UTeach Science, English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies.

UTEACH Mathematics and Science 4-8 Certification

The School of Education at UT Tyler participates in UTeach, an innovative teacher preparation program offered by the College of Arts and Sciences and The College of Education and Psychology that enables students to prepare for certification to teach mathematics or science in middle grades or high school.

The UTeach program invites students to explore their interest in teaching as early as the freshman year under the mentorship of secondary school mathematics and science teachers. Early involvement in the UTeach program is a quick and efficient way for students to learn whether they are suited for the teaching profession. However, students may apply at any time during their undergraduate careers. Applicants must meet minimum grade point average requirements.

UTeach prepares the student for certification in mathematics, Life Science, or Chemistry as the primary teaching field. More information is available from individual departments, or from the School of Education advising office. In order to be eligible for a recommendation for 4-8 teacher certification, candidates must pass required TExES examinations in addition to successfully completing the requirements for the BSIS degree and student teaching.

Admission to Student Teaching

An application for admission to student teaching must be submitted to the School of Education early in the semester preceding the one in which the student plans to enroll in student teaching. The application will be approved if the student has completed the prerequisite courses for student teaching with a cumulative 2.5 grade point average and no grade lower than a "C".

Initial Teacher Certification

Individuals desiring to teach in accredited public and private schools in Texas must be certified through the Educator Certification and Standards Division of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Students seeking a teaching certificate concurrently with a bachelor’s degree should contact the Advising Center in the School of Education for advisement. In order to be eligible for a recommendation for teacher certification, candidates must pass required TExES examinations, complete the requirements for the BSIS degree or the approved degree plan for an 8-12 or Early Childhood-Grade 12 content specialization with an overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 with no grade lower than a C.

NOTE: The Division of Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in conjunction with the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) regulates the certification of educators to teach public school children. Working with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the FBI, the Division of Educator Certification and Standards conducts a state and national criminal history background check on all applicants for educator certification, ensuring each candidate’s suitability to teach children. Each student applying for certification must be fingerprinted by an authorized agency. TEA will provide fingerprint information at the time of the candidate’s application. Students pursuing educator preparation should know that conviction for a felony or misdemeanor may lead to denial of teacher certification.

The University of Texas at Tyler offers certification programs that lead to certification in:

• Early Childhood-Grade 6 (See the School of Education section of this catalog for degree requirements.)
• Grades 4-8. (See the School of Education section of this catalog for requirements.)
• Grades 8-12. (See the appropriate department section of this catalog for degree requirements. See the Secondary Certification section below for certification requirements.)
• Early Childhood-Grade 12 in Art, Health, Languages other than English-Spanish, Music, and Physical Education. (See the appropriate department section of this catalog for degree requirements. See the All-level Certification section below for certification requirements.)