Degree Holders

Thank you for your interest in our program. UTeach Dallas offers individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree the opportunity to complete requirements for certification in high school and/or middle school mathematics, science, and computer science.

The UTeach program comprises courses in our professional development sequence and content course work. A number of UTeach Dallas courses have a “field component.” These field classes have you in public school classrooms from the very first class. UTeach Dallas students prepare and teach lessons they have developed with the help and guidance of Master Teachers. For further descriptions of the courses, visit the Courses page.

In addition to these courses, we require students to develop deep content knowledge in the certification area. How much content coursework is required depends on your educational background. For example, students who hold an undergraduate degree in mathematics generally need only a couple of extra classes. Students with little or no background in mathematics would need a number of courses.

Students intending to certify in math may need to retake calculus. If you have never taken calculus for science majors or if you haven’t had calculus in over 3 years, it is strongly recommended that you take a calculus course. The University of Texas at Dallas and the UTeach Dallas program accepts calculus from community colleges.

In general, if it’s been a while since you’ve taken college courses, retaking a couple of lower-division courses can help jump start your academic skills and get you up-to-date on changes in your content area. Prospective students want to know how long it will take to finish the program. The answer to that question varies a great deal from student to student, depending on:

• how much content coursework you need
• how many hours you can take in a given semester
• when you start (summer, fall, spring)

See information about the Certification Preparation Programs offered and the process for Certification.

Take a look at the content requirements and think about your own undergraduate degree to get an idea of how many hours you’d need. How many hours you take in a semester is entirely up to you. The UTeach Dallas program does not have any minimum semester credit hour requirements.

Possible Scholarships and Financial Opportunities are available, meet with Financial Aid office for more possibilities.

Checklist for Non-Degree Seeking UTeach Dallas Students

• Apply to UT Dallas as a non-degree seeking student
  • On the application, select Science Education—Non-Degree (even if you plan to pursue a math teaching certification)
  • Topics to Include in your essay: In the essay portion of the application, please address the following topics:
    • Knowledge: Describe your background knowledge, both STEM related and/or your knowledge of pedagogy and teaching that makes you an ideal candidate for the teaching profession.
    • Experience: What experiences do you have in your background that would inform your journey towards being a teacher? Describe your interests, activities, professional organization affiliations, offices held, employment, and volunteer activities that have contributed to your desire to become a teacher. What has prepared you for this profession?
    • Skills: What skills do you possess that would help you run a classroom, develop relationships with children, and bring STEM to life for your students?
    • Aptitude: Describe what led you to seek a teacher certification. What makes you want to be a teacher? Why would you be a great asset to our program?

• After being admitted as a non-degree seeking student, meet with the UTeach Dallas Academic Advisor to be admitted into the UTeach Dallas program and the required coursework and sequencing options. 
• Complete the Entrance Interview Form (2023)
• Meet with the university’s Certification Officer in the Teacher Development Center to be formally admitted to the certification program. Call 972-883-2730 to schedule an appointment.
• Review Apprentice Teaching and certification preparation requirements.
• Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to discuss financial aid options.  Students pursuing teaching certification preparation ARE eligible to receive financial aid through the university.
  • Student Services Building  972-883-2941
     financial-aid@utdallas.edu

Master of Arts in Teaching

We also offer certification with concurrent enrollment in the Master of Arts in Teaching program. For further information on concurrent enrollment, please contact our graduate advisor or see the MAT program descriptions.