Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with Initial Teacher Certification - Grad Teach

UT Tyler School of Education - Graduate

The University of Texas at Tyler offers online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification, known as the Grad Teach program, to help students complete the requirements to teach in a Texas classroom. The Grad Teach program is a cognate within the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction and is the post-baccalaureate program for teacher certification in grades EC-6, 4-8, 7-12, and EC-12 (in limited content areas.)  The Grad Teach program is an online 30-hour graduate program for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to become Texas certified teachers. Grad Teach courses are offered in 7-week sessions.

Upon completion of the 30-hours, students will earn their M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and will be eligible for the Texas teacher certification. Students must complete their master’s to be eligible for the teaching certificate.

Three cohorts will be admitted every year. The first cohort will begin courses during the spring semester, the second cohort during the summer semester and the third cohort in fall. Students in the summer and spring cohorts complete the degree in 5 semesters and students in the fall cohort finish in 4 semesters.

Applicants for the Master of Education degree with a major in Curriculum and Instruction must meet General Degree Requirements of the College of Education. Contact Dr. Staci Zolkoski for further information at szolkoski@uttyler.edu.

A student may transfer a maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate credit in which a grade of "B" or better has been earned from approved institutions. Transfer credit must be approved by the student's advisor. Transfer credit cannot be approved unless an official transcript of all transfer work is on file in the Office of Graduate Studies. Transfer credit should be evaluated and approved prior to the completion of the degree plan.

Initial teacher certification candidates are required to complete 150 clock-hours of coursework and training prior to the beginning of the internship or clinical teaching. Late hire interns, those who are admitted into the certification program and hired within 45 days from the first day of instruction, are required to complete 150 clock hours of coursework and training within the 90 days of the first day of the teaching assignment. 

For late hires, the 150 clock hours include a minimum of 90 clock hours of coursework (two 3- credit hour courses),  a maximum of 18 hours of required state modules, and no more than 50 clock-hours of professional development.

Failure to complete the 150 clock hours within the 90 days of the first day of the teaching assignment will result in the deactivation of the candidate’s intern certificate.

Grad Teach: Respected. Focused on Excellence. Our Grad Teach program is a great way for you to take the next step toward your teaching goals!

Application Deadline:

If you are seeking financial aid, application and all required application documents must be received three weeks prior to the first day of classes of the semester you wish to enroll.  If you are not seeking financial aid, all required application documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of classes of the semester you wish to enroll. 

For specific deadlines, go to the Graduate Admission Calendar page and select the C&I - Grad Teach program from the drop down list.

Program Cost & Other Associated Fees:

• This program follows the standard tuition and fees as published by the university and the total program cost will be approximately $15,735*.

*Approximation based on 2025-2026 Tuition and Fee Schedule – prices are subject to change.

• In addition to tuition and fees, students must also pay a $1,200 fee to cover the costs of field supervision and mentorship during the internship and clinical teaching.  The fee is charged prior to the beginning of the internship or clinical teaching.  Students who secure a position for the second year in the program must pay an additional supervision fee.  The amount depends on the number of semesters the student teaches on an intern or probationary certificate under the supervision of The University of Texas at Tyler. 

Admission Requirements:

To be considered for admission to the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction - Grad Teach program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Have an appropriate GPA as set by Texas Administrative Code by the Texas Education Agency (minimum 2.5)
• Submit official GRE scores (taken within the past five years), unless eligible for a waiver.  The GRE requirement is waived if any of the following conditions are met:
  • A GPA of 2.75 or higher in either the last 60 hours of coursework or overall undergraduate degree.
  • A graduate degree GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• If the GRE is required, minimum scores are:
  • Verbal:  143 or higher
  • Quantitative:  140 or higher
  • Writing:  3.0 or higher
• International applicants from countries where English is not an official language must submit TOEFL iBT that meet the Texas Education Agency standards (19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C)):
  • Speaking 20-24
  • Listening 17-21
  • Reading 18-23
  • Writing 17-23

Official transcripts that must be evaluated by a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Application Submission Process:

Step 1: Submit Graduate Application and Transcripts

• Complete the graduate program application.

• Request official transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate and graduate institutions.  The basic skills requirement will be removed from your To-Do list once official transcripts have been submitted.

Transcripts should be sent to:

By Email:  GradAdmissions@uttyler.edu

By Mail:

The Office of Graduate Admissions, HPR 248
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd
Tyler Texas 75799

Step 2: Decide Certification and Grade Level

• Decide the content and grade level of the certification desired from the areas we currently provide certification.

Step 3: Upload Required Documents

• Take and upload the successful scores of the Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) for the content and grade level selected.  In some instances, the PACT can be replaced with a practice test.  Please refer to the additional information section toward the bottom of this page.
• GRE scores, unless waived by meeting GPA requirements listed above.
• Complete the Admission Screening Survey.

Admission Decision:

In accordance with Texas Administrative Code, all applicants must be fully admitted prior to taking any coursework in the area in which they are seeking certification. Therefore, no provisional admission is allowed.  If a student has been approved for full admission to the program, you will receive an offer of admission through email that you must accept or deny.  During the first semester of course work, you will be billed a nonrefundable $125 School of Education Admission Fee.

Criminal History Acknowledgement:

As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following:

• In order to receive a teacher certificate, you must pass a criminal history background check.
• If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for a certified teacher, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
• You have a right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency.  The Texas Education Agency currently charges a $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation.

For more information, see Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation.

SUMMER Cohort - Plan of Study:

Block 1 - Completed during the summer semester:

• READ 5301 - Language Literacy and Culture OR
• READ 5302 - Issues in Teaching of Literacy
• EDUC 5303 - Applied Learning Theories

Block 2 - Completed during the fall semester:

• EDUC 5335 - Classroom Management & Discipline
• EDUC 5315 - School Policy & Texas Students
• EDUC 5047 - Internship - Year 1 Semester 1*

Block 3 - Completed during the spring:

• EDUC 5316 - Best Practices for Curriculum & Instruction
• EDUC 5356 - Diversity in Educational Settings
• EDUC 5048 - Internship - Year 1 Semester 2*

Block 4 - Completed during the second summer:

• EDUC 5351 - Assessments in Educational Settings
• READ 5305 - Teaching Disciplinary Literacy to Adolescents

Block 5 - Completed during the second fall:

• EDUC 5359 - Educational Technology
• EDUC 5372 - Models of Teaching & Assessment
• EDUC 5049 - Internship - Year 2 Semester 1*
• EDUC 5047 - Clinical Teaching**

Total: 30 hours

Interns:

*Internship beginning fall (3 semesters)

Students completing a full-year internship will register for EDUC 5047 (1st semester of teaching) and EDUC 5048 (2nd semester).  Interns teaching their second year while completing the program must continue to teach the same content area and grade level in alignment with their certification area.  They will register for EDUC 5049 the third semester and continue to register for EDUC 5049, if teaching, until they graduate.

Clinical Teachers:

Students completing clinical teaching will register for EDUC 5047 during their final semester of the program.

FALL Cohort - Plan of Study:

Block 1 - Completed during the fall semester:

• EDUC 5335 - Classroom Management & Discipline
• EDUC 5315 - School Policy & Texas Students

Block 2 - Completed during the spring semester:

• EDUC 5316 - Best Practices for Curriculum & Instruction
• EDUC 5356 - Diversity & Special Populations

Block 3 - Completed during the summer:

• READ 5301 - Language Literacy and Culture OR
• READ 5302 - Issues in Teaching of Literacy
• READ 5305 - Teaching Disciplinary Literacy to Adolescents

Block 4 - Completed during the second fall:

• EDUC 5359 - Educational Technology
• EDUC 5372 - Models of Teaching & Assessment
• EDUC 5047 - Internship - Year 1 Semester 1**

Block 5 - Completed during the second spring:

• EDUC 5303 - Applied Learning Theories
• EDUC 5351 - Assessment in Educational Settings
• EDUC 5048 - Internship - Year 1 Semester 2** OR
• EDUC 5047 - Clinical Teaching***

Total: 30 hours

Interns:

Students completing a full-year internship will register for EDUC 5047 (1st semester of teaching) and EDUC 5048 (2nd semester).  Interns teaching their second year while completing the program must continue to teach the same content area and grade level in alignment with their certification area.  

Clinical Teachers:

Students completing clinical teaching will register for EDUC 5047 during their final semester of the program.

SPRING Cohort - Plan of Study:

Block 1 - Completed during the spring semester:

• EDUC 5316 - Best Practices for Curriculum & Instruction
• EDUC 5356 - Diversity & Special Populations

Block 2 - Completed during the summer semester:

• READ 5301 - Language Literacy and Culture OR
• READ 5302 - Issues in Teaching of Literacy
• READ 5305 - Teaching Disciplinary Literacy to Adolescents

Block 3 - Completed during the fall semester:

• EDUC 5335 - Classroom Management & Discipline
• EDUC 5315 - School Policy & Texas Students
• EDUC 5372 - Models of Teaching & Assessment
• EDUC 5047 - Internship - Year 1 Semester 1*

Block 4 - Completed during the second spring:

• EDUC 5303 - Applied Learning Theories
• EDUC 5048 - Internship - Year 1 Semester 2* OR
• EDUC 5047 - Clinical Teaching**

Block 5 - Completed during the second summer semester:

• EDUC 5351 - Assessment in Educational Settings
• EDUC 5359 - Educational Technology OR
• EDCI 5335 - Current Trends in Educational Technology

Total: 30 hours

Interns:

*Internship beginning 1st fall (2 semesters)

Students completing a full-year internship will register for EDUC 5047 (1st semester of teaching) and EDUC 5048 (2nd semester).  Interns teaching their second year while completing the program must continue to teach the same content area and grade level in alignment with their certification area.  They will register for EDUC 5049 the third semester and continue to register for EDUC 5049, if teaching, until they graduate.

Clinical Teachers:

Students completing clinical teaching will register for EDUC 5047 during their final semester of the program.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT):

The Texas Education Agency requires that we assess your content knowledge before being admitted to our Educator Preparation Program.  The PACT exam is a test that tests your content knowledge.  The PACT content must correlate with the certificate you wish to earn.  The PACT must be taken and passed prior to the admission deadline.  It takes approximately 7-10 days to receive official scores.  Study materials can be found on the testing website.  For additional information, visit PACT.

Content Area Requirements and PACT Waiver Eligibility

• For all subjects except Math and Science: Candidates must complete 12 hours of coursework in their chosen content area.
• For Math and Science: Candidates must complete 15 hours of coursework in their content area.

If you have completed 12 hours in your chosen content area (or 15 hours for Math or Science), you may request a PACT waiver.

If your waiver is approved, you will be allowed to take a practice test instead of the PACT. Before doing so, you must:

1. Purchase a subscription to Certify Teacher.
2. Complete six hours of study within the platform.
3. Demonstrate mastery of 85% or higher, both overall and in each domain on the practice test.

Please note that the practice exam covers pedagogy and content, not just content knowledge.

For approval, please send your unofficial transcripts requesting the waiver to SOEGraduate@uttyler.edu.

Certification Requirements:

Once admitted into the program, students must pass the TExES content exam to be eligible for an intern teaching certificate, and the PPR to be eligible for a probationary certificate.  All students, regardless of whether they plan on completing an internship or clinical teach, must pass the content and PPR TExES exams to be eligible for a standard teaching certificate.

M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction - Grad Teach Flyer

Contact Information:

For Program Information:

Dr. Staci Zolkoski, Program Coordinator
BEP 241
903.565.5612
szolkoski@uttyler.edu

Please Note: The best way to contact Dr. Staci Zolkoski is via email.

For Admission Information:

903.566.7361
SOEgraduate@uttyler.edu

For complaints about this certification educator preparation program, please follow the policy outlined in the Certification Program's Complaint Policy.