Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education - EC-6 Certification

The Teacher Preparation Program at Texas A&M University-Texarkana is an approved educator preparation program through the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The program provides baccalaureate degrees for students pursuing teacher certification in Texas.

To become a certified Texas educator, candidates must:

  • Gain admission to a TEA-approved Educator Preparation Program
  • Complete all program requirements and graduate from the program
  • Pass the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES)

Applications are accepted twice per year:

  • Spring Semester: Applications due in February
  • Fall Semester: Applications due in September

Admission Requirements

General Requirements

  1. Program Application: Submit application through the Educator Portal
  2. Academic Standing: Maintain an overall GPA of 2.70 or higher
  3. Assessment: Pass a screening instrument (completed during ED 311 course)

Content Area Requirements for EC-6 Certification

Prior to admission to the Teacher Preparation Program, complete 12 semester hours from four of the following content areas with no grade below "C":

  • English: 3 semester hours with ENG prefix
  • Mathematics: 3 semester hours with MATH prefix
  • Social Studies: 3 semester hours with GOVT or HIST prefix
  • Science: 3 semester hours with BIOL, PHYS, or CHEM prefix
  • Arts or Technology: 3 semester hours

Educators who apply for certification are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by fulfilling one of the following requirements:

  1. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or one of its territories.
  2. Verification of a minimum scaled score that falls within the High-Intermediate level in each section on the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL-iBT).
  3. An undergraduate or graduate degree that was earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States listed in the figure provided below.
    Figure: 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C) 
  4. A standard certificate issued by the department of education in another state where examinations for the certificate were taken and passed. Applicants must submit official test score reports along with the out-of-state standard certificate for the credentials review. EPP candidates must submit official score reports to the program. 

For more information, email education@tamut.edu

Degree Requirements

Students should refer to their DegreeWorks degree audit in their Web for Students account for more information regarding their degree requirements.

Major Requirements
General Education Requirements42
ED 402Physical Education, Health, and Music Methods for Elementary Educators3
ED 490Field Based Enactment3
ENG 305Children's Literature I3
ENG 410Writing Processes & Strategies3
HIST 460Cultural History of Texas3
HIST 2321World Civilization I Satisfies Core Curriculum3
or HIST 2322 World Civilization II
MATH 1350Fundamentals of Mathematics I3
MATH 1351Fundamentals of Math II3
MATH 326Problem Solving for Elementary Teachers3
RDG 350Early Literacy Development and the Science of Teaching Reading (EL)3
RDG 352Comprehension and Written Expression for Upper Elementary Students 9 3
SPED 410Introduction to Individual with Exceptionalities3
Other: EC-6 Generalist
BIOL 1308Biology for Non-Science Majors I Satisfies Core Curriculum3
BIOL 1108Biology for Non-science Majors I Lab 71
BIOL 1309Biology for Non-Science Majors II Satisfies Core Curriculum3
BIOL 1109Biology for Non-science Majors II Lab 71
MATH 1314College Algebra Satisfies Core Curriculum3
PHYS 1415Physical Science I4
ITED 315Introduction to Instructional Technology3
Choose 12sch from the following:12
Early Childhood Education: History and Philosophy
Teaching Practices in Early Childhood Classroom
Curriculum for Teaching Young Children
Foundations of English as a Second Language (ESL) Education
Innovative Learner - Centered Strategies for Student Success
Teaching Students with Low Incidence Disabilities
Teaching Students with High-Incidence Disabilities
Inclusion of Students with High Support Needs in the Content Areas
Prof. Development in EC-6 Generalist
EDUC 1301Introduction to the Teaching Profession 83
EDUC 2301Introduction to Special Populations3
ED 311Growth and Development for EC-12 Grade3
ED 486Social Studies, ELAR, Art, and Theatre Arts Methods for Elementary Educators3
ED 487Content and Strategies for EC-6 Math and Science 9 3
ESL 472Instruction for Emergent Bilinguals3
Block 1:
ED 331Classroom and Behavior Management 103
ED 495Clinical Experience I 103
Block 2:
ED 496Clinical Experience II 113
Electives (As needed to satisfy minimum degree requirements and 54 semester credit hours of Upper Division Coursework)
Minimum Grade of "C" required in all Major, Ed, SPED and Professional Development Courses
Minimum Hours for Degree120
6

See Other Requirements

7

Note: Indicates 1 hour science labs.

8

Satisfies Core Curriculum

9

Requires Admission to Teacher Prep Program

10

Requires successful placement interview with a partnership public school district

11

Requires passing all TExES exams

Minimum Grade of "C" is required in all Major, Education,  RDG, SPED, Tracks and Professional Development courses

Note: A minimum of 54 upper division hours (300 and 400 level courses) are required for this degree. Resident credit totaling 25% of the hours is required for the degree.  A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in three areas for graduation:  Overall GPA, Institutional GPA, and Major GPA.

Elementary Education EC-6 Certification 4 Year Plan

First Year

FallSemester Credit Hours
ENGL 1301Composition I requires minimum grade of 'C', Satisfies Core Curriculum3
HIST 1301United States History I Satisfies Core Curriculum3
MATH 1314College Algebra Satisfies Core Curriculum3
Creative Arts Core Curriculum Requirement3
UNIV 1100University Foundations1
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours13
SpringSemester Credit Hours
ENGL 1302Composition II Satisfies Core Curriculum3
or ENGL 2311 Technical Writing & Communication
HIST 1302United States History II Satisfies Core Curriculum3
PHYS 1415Physical Science I Satisfies Core Curriculum4
Social and Behavioral Science Core Curriculum Requirement3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours13
Total First Year Semester Credit Hours26
Note: The following courses are included in the major GPA calculation:

Second Year

FallSemester Credit Hours
PSCI 2305U.S. Government and Politics3
MATH 1350Fundamentals of Mathematics I requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
BIOL 1308Biology for Non-Science Majors I Satisfies Core Curriculum3
BIOL 1108Biology for Non-science Majors I Lab Satisfies Core Curriculum1
COMM 1307Introduction to Mass Communication Satisfies Core Curriculum3
or SPCH 1315 Public Speaking
EDUC 1301Introduction to the Teaching Profession requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours16
SpringSemester Credit Hours
PSCI 2306State and Local Government3
MATH 1351Fundamentals of Math II requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
BIOL 1309Biology for Non-Science Majors II Satisfies Core Curriculum3
BIOL 1109Biology for Non-science Majors II Lab Satisfies Core Curriculum1
EDUC 2301Introduction to Special Populations requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
HIST 2321World Civilization I Satisfies Core Curriculum3
or HIST 2322 World Civilization II
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours16
Total Second Year Semester Credit Hours32
Note: The following courses are included in the major GPA calculation: MATH 1350, 1351, HIST 2321, EDUC 1301, 2301

Third Year

FallSemester Credit Hours
ED 311Growth and Development for EC-12 Grade requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
ENG 305Children's Literature I requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
ESL 472Instruction for Emergent Bilinguals3
MATH 326Problem Solving for Elementary Teachers requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
RDG 352Comprehension and Written Expression for Upper Elementary Students requires minimum grade of 'C'3
SPED 410Introduction to Individual with Exceptionalities3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours18
Spring Semester Credit Hours
ED 486Social Studies, ELAR, Art, and Theatre Arts Methods for Elementary Educators requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
ED 487Content and Strategies for EC-6 Math and Science requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
ED 402Physical Education, Health, and Music Methods for Elementary Educators3
HIST 460Cultural History of Texas requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
RDG 350Early Literacy Development and the Science of Teaching Reading (EL) requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
ED 490Field Based Enactment3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours18
Total Third Year Semester Credit Hours36
Note: The following courses are included in the major GPA calculation: ED 311, 486, 487, ENG 305, 410, ESL 472, HIST 460, MATH 326, RDG 350, 352, SPED 410, 415, 417, 418, ECE 401, 402, ED 403, ESL 400, 457

Fourth Year

FallSemester Credit Hours
ED 495Clinical Experience I requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
ED 331Classroom and Behavior Management requires minimum grade of 'C' 3
ENG 410Writing Processes & Strategies3
Select one course from ECE 401, 402, ED 403, ESL 400, 457, SPED 415, 417, 418 12sch is required from this group3
Select one course from ECE 401, 402, ED 403, ESL 400, 457, SPED 415, 417, 418 12sch is required from this group3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours15
SpringSemester Credit Hours
ED 496Clinical Experience II3
ITED 315Introduction to Instructional Technology3
Select one course from ECE 401, 402, ED 403, ESL 400, 457, SPED 415, 417, 418 12sch is required from this group3
Select one course from ECE 401, 402, ED 403, ESL 400, 457, SPED 415, 417, 4183
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours12
Total Fourth Year Semester Credit Hours27
Total Semester Credit Hours Required for Degree120
Note: The following courses are included in the major GPA calculation: ED 331, 495, 496, 402, RDG 354, ITED 315, ECE 401, 402, ED 403, ESL 400, 457, SPED 415, 417, 418

Minimum Grade of "C" is required in all Major, Education,  RDG, SPED, Tracks and Professional Development courses

Note: A minimum of 54 upper division hours (300 and 400 level courses) are required for this degree. Resident credit totaling 25% of the hours is required for the degree.  A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in three areas for graduation:  Overall GPA, Institutional GPA, and Major GPA.