Students who wish to become Secondary School Teachers and receive initial Texas Teacher certification complete a bachelor's degree outside the College of Education. These students major in the subject area they desire to teach and complete a minor in secondary education. For example, a student who wishes to teach English would seek a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Liberal Arts with a major in English and American Literature and a minor in secondary teaching or a student who wishes to teach Health completes a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a minor in secondary teaching.

Secondary School teaching certificates in Texas allow students to teach their discipline in Middle schooland High School (i.e., grades 6-12). Presently, all Texas secondary certificates attainable through UTEP Programs require a minimum of 12 semester hours in a second area, or support field. Therefore, all students seeking secondary Teacher certification will have to accumulate 12 semester hours in a second area of specialization which is taught in the public schools. This may be done by counting some courses from the general requirements area and carefully arranging the selection of electives, or by taking additional courses beyond the minimum requirements of the degree. This certification requirement is to be met by all secondary candidates regardless of their degree or major.

Students desiring to become Secondary School Teachers must have a degree and certification plan filed in their appropriate college, and a copy of the plan filed in the Student Services Office of the College of Education, Education 412. The plan identifies the courses required in the teaching minor and any additional subject courses required for certification which may not be required for a non-teaching degree. The Student Services Office verifies that students have passed the State mandated test of basic skills (TASP) and have completed all the requirements to be admitted to Teacher education. Students will not be allowed to enroll in Reading or Professional Education courses until they have been admitted to Teacher education.

The application process for admission to Teacher education may be initiated as soon as the student completes 60 hours and a copy of the student's degree and certification plan is submitted to the Student Services Office, Education 412. (See Admission to Teacher Education above.)

List of Approved Secondary Specialization Fields

The University is approved by the Texas Education Agency to offer the following fields for secondary certification (students should consult an advisor in their area of specialty for the selection of fields and scheduling of courses):

Basic Business
Communication
English
English-Language Arts
Theatre Arts
French
German
Spanish
History
Political Science
Psychology
Social Studies Composite
Sociology
Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Life-Earth Science
Physical Science
Physics
Science Composite
Health