Teacher Certification

Requirements at Rice University for a Texas Secondary Certificate

A. As required for all students working toward a Texas Teaching Certificate, pass the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) Test (Reading, Mathematics, and Writing). For a practice THEA exam and registration see www.thea.nesinc.com. Printed registration forms are available from the Education Certification Office, Rice University, or from National Evaluation Systems, Inc., P. O. Box 140347, Austin, TX 78714- 0347. Students must pass all sections of the THEA exam prior to enrolling in any teacher education courses. Exemption is possible if SAT or ACT grades are high enough and taken within the past five years. Contact the Education Certification Office about exemptions from the THEA test.

B. Pass 3 semester hours of computer science course.

C. Professional Education Courses, 12 semester hours (each line is 3 semester hours): For certification, student must be a junior, senior, or graduate student.  (A student may not enroll in any education courses prior to passing or being exempted from the THEA Test.)

EDUC 301/501,F -- Philosophical, Historical and Social Foundations of Education
    or EDUC 330/530,F -- The American High School
EDUC 305/505,F,S -- Educational Psychology
EDUC 410 - 416,F -- Methods of Teaching (Variable 1-3 hours)*
EDUC 420,S -- Curriculum Development (Variable 1-3 hours)**

* Enrollment in any Methods course requires admission to the Teacher Preparation Program, a signed Plan of Study, and co-enrollment in EDUC 301/501 or 330/530.

** Enrollment in Curriculum Development requires completion of a Methods of Teaching course.

D. Secondary Student Teaching, 6 semester hours: Student Teaching is divided into two sections, each receiving 3-semester hours credit. All Teacher Education candidates must successfully teach at least one summer in the Rice University Summer School for Grades 8 though 12 (EDUC 440). Undergraduate students generally complete this requirement by teaching two summers. Graduate students generally teach one summer session and then complete an internship (EDUC 540) the following fall semester. Students work with a departmental advisor to select the more appropriate plan for student teaching.

Students planning to teach in the Rice University Summer School for Grades 8 through 12 must meet with the Summer School Director by appointment in the prior October and register with Continuing Studies in May (date to be announced). Students must also complete EDUC 301/501 or EDUC 330/530, the appropriate Method(s) of Teaching course, and EDUC 420 prior to student teaching.

E. During the last semester or after all other requirements are satisfied, pass TExES or ExCET  examinations in Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (Secondary) and in each teaching field. Registration and Study Guides are available at http://www.texes.ets.org/texes or by calling the State Board for Educator Certification at 512-936-8400.

F. Complete the Application for Certification available on the State Board for Education Certification website at http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/.

Teaching fields offered for certification in grades 8 through 12 include:

Admission to the Rice Teacher Education Program requires:

• Formal application (forms available in the Education Certification Office)
• Recommendations (3 for undergraduate and Class III, 4 for M.A.T.)
• A passing score on the THEA (or exemption)
• Applicable test scores
• A signed Plan of Study form (completed after acceptance into the Program)

Our program requires a teaching internship and eligibility to apply for state certification, which are contingent on a student having eligibility to work in the United States.