BS in Education
The Academic Advising Center (AAC) advises students who are interested in teaching at the elementary and middle school levels or Special Education teaching (All Levels). Students who have 0-45 hours are advised at the AAC and are listed as BS in Education (BSED) majors. BSED students are advised for core curriculum classes and advisors ensure that courses are compliant with degree plan and certification. Students are also guided towards admission to the Educator Preparation Program (EPP), a program which helps ensure that students will meet the requirements for a Texas state teaching license.
At 46 or more earned hours, BSED students will be advised by the College of Education Center for Student Success (CSS) and are assisted further for admission to the EPP. Contact information for the CSS is listed below:
College of Education Advising Office: Center for Student Success (CSS)
Office Address: Education Building, Room 414
Phone Number: 915-747-5571
Fax Number: 915-747-5755
Website: /education/css/
Students who are interested in becoming a high school or all-level education Texas certified teacher will enroll in a major that covers the content they will teach (e.g., Art: Major in Art with the College of Liberal Arts) and pursue a minor with the College of Education.
Background Checks
As part of the educator preparation program, candidates are required to pass background checks to be eligible for field-based experiences (observation hours), clinical teaching (student teaching), and applying for their standard teaching certificate.
Pursuant to the Texas Education Code TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to student teaching; and pursuant to the TEC, §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. A candidate may be ineligible for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP if an individual has been convicted of an offense.
A person who is enrolled or planning to enroll in an educator preparation program or planning to take a certification examination may request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter regarding the person's potential ineligibility for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense.