BS in English 4-8 English, Lang. Arts, Reading Certification

Required Admission into the Teacher Preparation Program 

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)
  4. Content Area Requirements: 12 semester credit hours from the specified content area

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 for English, Language Arts & Reading  w/ 4-8 Teacher Certification

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

Major Requirements 6
General Education Requirements42
ENGL 1301Composition I 103
ENGL 1302Composition II 103
ENGL 2321British Literature 103
ENGL 2326American Literature 103
ENGL 2331World Literature 103
ENGL 2340Writing Across the Curriculum3
ENGL 2360Introduction to Literary Studies3
ENG 305Children's Literature I3
or ENG 306 Young Adult Literature
ENG 320Modern English Grammar and Usage3
ENG 345Advanced Composition for Educators3
ENG 410Writing Processes & Strategies3
ENG 424History and Structure of the English Language3
ENG 442Advanced American Literature (EL)3
ENG 445Advanced World Literature3
ENG 472Advanced British Literature3
ENG 491Capstone in English Studies3
Reading
RDG 343Content Area Literacy Instruction for Secondary Students3
RDG 352Comprehension and Written Expression for Upper Elementary Students3
RDG 354Assessment Driven Literacy Instruction 73
Select 3 semester credits of Upper Division English Electives (300-400 level) 3
Other Requirements
BIOL 1308Biology for Non-Science Majors I 103
BIOL 1108Biology for Non-science Majors I Lab 101
BIOL 1309Biology for Non-Science Majors II 103
BIOL 1109Biology for Non-science Majors II Lab 101
PHYS 1415Physical Science I4
Electives (as needed to meet minimum degree requirements including 54 semester credit hours of upper division and overall hours)
Professional Development
ED 311Growth and Development for EC-12 Grade3
ED 321Secondary School Methods3
Block 1
ED 331Classroom and Behavior Management 83
ED 495Clinical Experience I 83
Block 2
ED 496Clinical Experience II 9 3
SPED 418Inclusion of Students with High Support Needs in the Content Areas3
Electives (as needed to meet minimum degree requirements including 54 semester credit hours of upper division)
Minimum Hours for Degree 120
6

Minimum grade of "C" required in all Major, Education and Professional Development Courses

7

Requires Admission to Teacher Prep Program

8

Requires successful placement interview with a partnership public school district

9

Requires passing all TExES exams

10

Satisfies Core Curriculum

 NOTE: A minimum of 46 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.

English 4-8 English, Lang. Arts, Reading Certification 4 Year Plan

First Year

FallSemester Credit Hours
ENGL 1301Composition I Minimum grade of 'C' required, satisfies (010) core curriculum 3
HIST 1301United States History I satisfies (060) core curriculum 3
ENGL 2360Introduction to Literary Studies Minimum grade of 'C' required3
UNIV 1100University Foundations1
Mathematics Core Curriculum Requirement3
Select one of the following for the Creative Arts Core Curriculum Requirement: minimum grade of 'C' required3
British Literature
American Literature
World Literature
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours16
SpringSemester Credit Hours
ENGL 1302Composition II Minimum grade of 'C' required, satisfies core curriculum 3
HIST 1302United States History II satisfies core curriculum 3
MCOM 1307Introduction to Mass Communication satisfies core curriculum 3
or SPCH 1315 Public Speaking
Language, Philosophy and Culture Core Curriculum Requirement3
Select one of the following for the Component Area Core Curriculum Requirement: minimum grade of 'C' required3
British Literature
American Literature
World Literature
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours15
Total First Year Semester Credit Hours31

Second Year 

FallSemester Credit Hours
BIOL 1308Biology for Non-Science Majors I satisfies core curriculum 3
BIOL 1108Biology for Non-science Majors I Lab satisfies core curriculum 1
PSCI 2305U.S. Government and Politics3
ENGL 2340Writing Across the Curriculum minimum grade of 'C' required3
ENGL 2321British Literature minimum grade of 'C' required3
or ENGL 2326 American Literature
or ENGL 2331 World Literature
Social and Behavioral Science Core Curriculum Requirement3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours16
SpringSemester Credit Hours
BIOL 1309Biology for Non-Science Majors II satisfies core curriculum 3
BIOL 1109Biology for Non-science Majors II Lab satisfies core curriculum 1
PSCI 2306State and Local Government3
ENG 345Advanced Composition for Educators minimum grade of 'C' required3
ENG 305Children's Literature I minimum grade of 'C' required3
or ENG 306 Young Adult Literature
Electives as needed to satisfy minimum degree requirements including 54 semester credit hours of upper division coursework or total semester credit hours3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours16
Total Second Year Semester Credit Hours32

Third Year

FallSemester Credit Hours
ENG 320Modern English Grammar and Usage minimum grade of 'C' required3
ENG 410Writing Processes & Strategies3
ENG 442Advanced American Literature (EL) minimum grade of 'C' required3
PHYS 1415Physical Science I satisfies core curriculum 4
ED 311Growth and Development for EC-12 Grade minimum grade of 'C' required3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours16
SpringSemester Credit Hours
RDG 343Content Area Literacy Instruction for Secondary Students3
ENG 424History and Structure of the English Language minimum grade of 'C' required3
ENG 445Advanced World Literature minimum grade of 'C' required3
ED 321Secondary School Methods minimum grade of 'C' required3
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours15
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours12
RDG 352Comprehension and Written Expression for Upper Elementary Students minimum grade of 'C' required3
RDG 354Assessment Driven Literacy Instruction minimum grade of 'C' required3
Summer Total Semester Credit Hours6
Third Year Total Semester Credit Hours34

 Fourth Year

FallSemester Credit Hours
ED 495Clinical Experience I minimum grade of 'C' required3
ED 331Classroom and Behavior Management minimum grade of 'C' required3
ENG 472Advanced British Literature minimum grade of 'C' required3
ENG 491Capstone in English Studies minimum grade of 'C' required3
3sch Upper Division English Elective 300-400 level 3
Fall Total Semester Credit Hours15
SpringSemester Credit Hours
ED 496Clinical Experience II minimum grade of 'C' required3
SPED 418Inclusion of Students with High Support Needs in the Content Areas minimum grade of 'C' required3
Electives as needed to satisfy minimum degree requirements including 54 semester credit hours of upper division coursework or total semester credit hours2
Spring Total Semester Credit Hours8
Year Four Total Semester Credit Hours23
Minimum Hours for Degree120

NOTE: Minimum grade of "C" required for all Major, ED, SPED, RDG and Professional Development courses.

NOTE: A minimum of 46 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.