Students seeking initial teacher certification who hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited university can choose from two sets of programs. Students wishing to combine their pursuit of initial teacher certification with the pursuit of a master's degree can follow a graduate teacher certification program (see UHCL Graduate Catalog). Students who do not wish to pursue a master's degree can follow a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program. Students pursuing a second bachelor's degree are also considered to be post-baccalaureate students.
Although it is not necessary for students holding at least a bachelor's degree and seeking initial teacher certification to pursue a second bachelor's degree, those who wish to do so must meet the lower-level requirements of the university in addition to requirements for both teacher certification and the second degree, unless such requirements were met in the first bachelor's degree. These lower-level requirements are described in the Core section of the catalog.
Graduate Teacher Certification Plans
To be eligible for admission to a graduate teacher certification plan, students must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university and also be pursuing a master's degree. Students must meet the graduate admissions requirements for both the university and the School of Education. These requirements are described in the graduate plan section of the graduate catalog.
Graduate teacher certification students are considered graduate students; therefore, they must maintain graduate academic standards and pay graduate tuition rates. Some courses listed on the graduate teacher certification plans can also be applied to the pursuit of a master's degree.
To be eligible for admission to a post-baccalaureate teacher certification plan, students must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university and meet the university admissions requirements for post-baccalaureate students. Post-baccalaureate students are considered undergraduate students; therefore, they must maintain undergraduate academic standards and pay undergraduate tuition and fees. Post-baccalaureate teacher certification students are not eligible to enroll in graduate courses, and course work taken toward earning initial teacher certification may not be applied to a master's degree.
