Professional Development Sequence (45 hours)
Admission to the Department of Urban Education’s Gators2Teachers program, and ability to participate in the professional development sequence, is contingent upon a successful Teacher Candidacy application and interview.
The Professional Development (PD)courses sequence is four semesters that require concurrent enrollment in specific courses in PD I-PD IV. The program requires one semester of field experience (PD II) and two semesters of student teaching (PD III-IV). Teacher candidates complete field experience I (PD II), student teaching I (PD III) and student teaching II (PD IV). Professional Development II (PED 4380) requires a minimum of 60 hours of classroom field experience. Student teaching I (PED 4383) requires 2-3 days per week (approximately 40 days) of student teaching. The second semester of student teaching, PD IV represents a full semester, full-day student teaching experience.
A teacher candidate who works as a paraprofessional in a local school district may complete their field experience at their campus of employment with department approval. Paraprofessionals will complete two semesters of field experience (PD II-PD III) and one semester of student teaching. For the paraprofessional, PD II (PED 4380) and PD III (PED 4381) Professional Development II and III both require a minimum of 60 hours of classroom field experience. Professional Development IV represents a full semester, full-day student teaching experience. To request permission to use their campus of employment for field experience during PD II and PD III, the paraprofessional assignment must be active no later than the start of the PD II semester; align with the teacher candidate’s certification area; and the district campus administrator must provide written approval.
To successfully complete each professional development semester, students must demonstrate mastery of the content. Thus, it is required that all preparatory and academic courses be completed before beginning the Professional Development semesters. Admission to the Urban Education program, and ability to participate in the professional development semesters is a result of a successful Teacher Candidacy application, and interview.
Please Note:
As state guidelines change, continual program revisions may occur. Teacher education programs are developed in response to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas Education Agency (TEA) regulations and guidelines. Thus, course requirements and sequencing are subject to change. All students pursuing teacher certification plans must understand that the advising staff will make every effort to communicate program changes as they occur, but it is the responsibility of each student to stay apprised of any changes that may affect degree plans. Thus constant monitoring of plans is necessary, and students are urged to visit regularly with an academic advisor and to check the TEA website for teacher certification changes (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/).