The internship during the academic year includes university courses in content-area methods, testing and measurement and reflection upon urban school setting.
The summer courses are spent examining the urban school to greater societal needs and the urban context.
UTEP Option II In-service Certification differs from other current alternative routes to teacher certification. Many alternatives certification programs have been called “quick-fix” solutions to the urban teacher shortage. Criticisms include the recruitment of persons with inappropriate commitment, classroom placement of substandard teachers and inadequate exposure to child development and psychology in pre-service preparation.
Option II addresses such concerns through:
- Admission standards which examine content area preparation and overall academic achievement;
- A rigorous interview to determine candidates’ motivation and aptitude;
- Close monitoring of interns by school system and university;
- A professional education curriculum developed by the collaborative; and
- Frequent assessment and feedback.
The Option II courses students take are researched-based.
Most UTEP courses are offered once a year and they are tied to checkpoints, so it is important to stay in sequence. These are the approved courses for 2008-2009.
First Spring
EDUC S510 Methods of Teaching in Secondary Urban Schools
EDUC S508 Problems in Secondary Education: Content Area Methods in the
Urban Classroom Separate sections for English/Mathematics/Science/
Social Studies - Part I
Summer Sessions I & II
EDUC T550 Cultural/Community Forces and the School (Summer
I)
EDUC K505 Introduction to Special Education (Summer
I)
EDUC P510 Psychology in Teaching (Summer II)
Fall Semester
EDUC S508 Problems in Secondary Education: Content Area Methods in the
Urban Classroom Separate sections for English/Mathematics/
Science/Social Studies - Part II
EDUC M501 Field Experience in Urban Classrooms
Second Spring
EDUC P507 Testing in the Classroom
EDUC M550 Student
Teaching (12 weeks)
