Program Overview

Alternative Certification of Educators (ACE)

The Alternative Certification of Educators (ACE) program is an initial teaching certification program designed for candidates who hold an undergraduate degree in a content area that leads to initial certification. Candidates must meet the University's admissions requirements as outlined in the Graduate Admissions section of the catalog.

Program Description

The courses for this program are offered online, and candidates can enroll in this certificate program concurrently with other content area Master of Science programs. The ACE program is designed for candidates who hold an undergraduate degree in a content area that leads to initial certification. Candidates must meet the University's admissions requirements and demonstrate competencies in the desired teaching area by passing the content area state exam prior to entry.

Student Learning Outcomes

The program aims to equip students with the skills to:

• Design instruction and assessment to promote student learning
• Provide examples of a positive classroom climate
• Determine effective, responsive instruction and assessment as teachers
• Articulate and fulfill professional roles and responsibilities as teachers

Certification Areas

ACE offers initial certification in the following areas:

• Core Subjects EC-6
• Mathematics 4-8

Program Requirements

ACE students enter the program as a cohort and begin in the first summer session. Although coursework for this program is online, 30 hours of observation and clinical experience require face-to-face attendance in schools. Students may either complete clinical teaching, a 14-week, full-day, teaching practicum at a public or private school accredited by the Texas Education Agency, or an internship, a one-year, supervised, professional assignment at a public or private school accredited by the Texas Education Agency that will lead to completion of a standard certificate.

Admission Requirements

Candidates must:

• Hold a Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, with an overall 3.0 GPA for full admission or 2.75 GPA for conditional acceptance
• Pass the TX Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) in compliance with TEA guidelines
• Complete an admission interview with a faculty member of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Sciences
• Meet all requirements for admission to the graduate program and submit the online graduate application
• Acknowledge, sign, and return a letter of acceptance declaring their choice of certification area to comply with Texas Education Agency rules

Retention in the ACE Teacher Education Program

Requirements for admission to and retention in the ACE Initial Teacher Certification Program are noted in the opening graduate catalog section for the College of Education and Human Development under "Programs Leading to Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certification."

Application and Recommendation for the Initial Teacher Certificate

Initial teacher certification by the Texas Education Agency is not automatically granted with the completion of an approved program of study. The ACE student must first be recommended for certification by the COEHD upon successful completion of the prescribed preparation program, passing of all required TExES exams, and the candidate's submission of the online application through the Texas Education Agency website. Application fees are required.

Program Requirements and Courses

Required Courses

• EDUC 5351: Foundations of Education in America (3 hours)
• EDUC 5352: Planning, Teaching, Learning Processes (3 hours)
• EDUC 5353: Classroom Management and the Student (3 hours)
• Select one of the following:
  • READ 5345: Stages and Standards for Reading Development (3 hours)
  • READ 5369: Content Area Reading (3 hours)
  • READ 5371: Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Problems (3 hours)

Clinical Teaching or Internship

If choosing the intern teacher path, students will register for:

• EDUC 5393: Internship I for the Intern Teacher (3 hours)
• EDUC 5394: Internship II for the Intern Teacher (3 hours) If choosing the clinical teaching path, students will register for 6 hours of clinical teaching. These hours are not accepted for graduate credit; therefore, students will be required to take two additional graduate-level courses within the teacher preparation coursework.

Teacher Education/Student Teaching Courses

• EDUC 5327: Strategies of Success I for the Beginning Teacher (3 hours)
• EDUC 5351: Foundations of Education in America (3 hours)
• EDUC 5352: Planning, Teaching, Learning Processes (3 hours)
• EDUC 5353: Classroom Management and the Student (3 hours)
• EDUC 5354: Methods of Teaching Mathematics (3 hours)
• EDUC 5355: Methods of Teaching Social Studies (3 hours)
• EDUC 5356: Methods of Teaching Science (3 hours)
• EDUC 5357: Strategies for Teaching in the Secondary School (3 hours)
• EDUC 5358: Applied Research and Professional Writing (3 hours)
• EDUC 5390: Professional Seminar (1-3 hours)
• EDUC 5393: Internship I for the Intern Teacher (1-3 hours)
• EDUC 5394: Internship II for the Intern Teacher (3 hours)
• EDUC 5395: Strategies of Success II for the Beginning Teacher (3 hours)
• EDUC 5397: Practicum I for the Beginning Teacher (3 hours)
• EDUC 5398: Practicum II and Seminar for the Beginning Teacher (3 hours)
• EDUC 5696: Directed Individual Study (1-6 hours)

Reading Courses

• READ 5310: Emergent Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 5314: College/Adult Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 5321: Fundamentals of Elementary Reading Instruction I (3 hours)
• READ 5322: Fundamentals of Elementary Reading Instruction II (3 hours)
• READ 5323: Fundamentals of Secondary Reading Instruction (3 hours)
• READ 5345: Stages and Standards for Reading Development (3 hours)
• READ 5346: Trends and Issues in Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 5350: Multicultural Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 5352: Theoretical Models of Reading and Writing (3 hours)
• READ 5355: Teaching Literacy through Technology (3 hours)
• READ 5357: Critical Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 5369: Content Area Reading (3 hours)
• READ 5371: Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Problems (3 hours)
• READ 5372: Classroom Assessment and Instruction (3 hours)
• READ 5381: Exploring the Literature of Children and Adolescents (3 hours)
• READ 5390: Professional Seminar: Special Topics in Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 5392: Psycho-sociolinguistics and Reading (3 hours)
• READ 5393: Literacy Curriculum and Supervision (3 hours)
• READ 5395: Leadership and Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 5396: Literacy Research Seminar (3 hours)
• READ 5696: Directed Individual Study (1-6 hours)
• READ 5697: Reading Practicum (6 hours)

Doctoral-Level Courses

• READ 6310: Emergent Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 6314: College/Adult Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 6345: Stages and Standards for Reading Development (3 hours)
• READ 6350: Multicultural Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 6352: Theoretical Bases for Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 6356: Writing for Publications in Higher Education (3 hours)
• READ 6357: Critical Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 6369: Content Area Reading (3 hours)
• READ 6371: Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Problems (3 hours)
• READ 6372: Classroom Assessment and Instruction (3 hours)
• READ 6380: Advanced Studies in Literature for Children and Adolescents (3 hours)
• READ 6390: Special Topics in Reading (3 hours)
• READ 6391: Evaluation of Literacy Methods, Materials, and Assessment (3 hours)
• READ 6392: Psycho-sociolinguistics and Reading (3 hours)
• READ 6393: Literacy Curriculum and Supervision (3 hours)
• READ 6395: Leadership and Literacy (3 hours)
• READ 6396: Literacy Research Seminar (3 hours)
• READ 6398: Advanced Reading Supervision Practicum (3 hours)
• READ 6399: Advanced Literacy Research Seminar (3 hours)
• READ 6696: Directed Individual Study (1-6 hours)
• READ 6697: Reading Clinic Practicum (6 hours)