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Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (BSIS)

The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree is designed for students who are interested in teaching Early Childhood through grade 6 (EC-6) or mathematics or science in grades 4 through grade 8 (4-8). Completion of the BSIS requirements outlined below for the BSIS degree leading to EC6/ESL/Special Education Certification will simultaneously prepare teacher candidates for the English as a Second Language (ESL) Supplement and Special Education (K-12) certification exams. For a suggested course of study please see a School of Education advisor. Degree requirements are as follows:

Admission Requirements for All Certification Areas

  1. Attend School of Education Admission Orientation
  2. Conduct a successful admission interview; (This should be completed before moving to the next steps.)
  3. File an application for a degree plan with the appropriate academic department (for secondary and all-level certification students) or with the School of Education (BSIS majors). [Post-baccalaureate students must have a post-baccalaureate certification plan];
  4. Pay the administrative fee as indicated on a receipt from the cashier's office;
  5. Complete appropriate number of academic hours of degree plan and in degree major as determined by Texas Administrative Code and other administrative units;
  6. Have an appropriate GPA in degree plan as set by Texas Administrative Code and other administrative units;
  7. Document basic skills mastery as noted by standardized tests deemed appropriate by Texas Administrative Code, other administrative units; and
  8. Complete the online School of Education Admission Application.

For details on the current requirements, please see the School of Education Admissions webpage at http://www.uttyler.edu/education/undergraduate/admission.php.

Degree Requirements

  1. Completion of all course requirements leading to the BSIS degree with a "C" or better and a final cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. 
  2. Completion of the University's 42-hour Core Curriculum requirements.
  3. Completion of curriculum appropriate for grade level.

Admission to Clinical Teaching/Apprentice Teaching

An application for admission to clinical teaching must be submitted to the School of Education early in the semester preceding the one in which the student plans to enroll in clinical teaching/apprentice teaching. The application will be approved if the student has completed the prerequisite courses for clinical teaching with a cumulative 2.5 grade point average and no grade lower than a "C". In addition, the student must pass the content portion of the TExES certification exam prior to clinical teaching.

Initial Teacher Certification

Individuals desiring to teach in accredited public and private schools in Texas must be certified through the Educator Certification and Standards Division of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Students seeking a teaching certificate concurrently with a bachelor’s degree should contact the Advising Center in the School of Education for advisement. In order to be eligible for a recommendation for teacher certification, candidates must pass required TExES examinations, complete the requirements for the BSIS degree or the approved degree plan for a 7-12 or Early Childhood-Grade 12 content specialization with an overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 with no grade lower than a C.

NOTE: The Division of Certification and Standards of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in conjunction with the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) regulates the certification of educators to teach public school children. Working with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the FBI, the Division of Educator Certification and Standards conducts a state and national criminal history background check on all applicants for educator certification, ensuring each candidate’s suitability to teach children. Each student applying for certification must be fingerprinted by an authorized agency. TEA will provide fingerprint information at the time of the candidate’s application. Students pursuing educator preparation should know that conviction for a felony or misdemeanor may lead to denial of teacher certification. 

Criminal History Acknowledgement: As required by Texas HB 1508, applicants need to be aware of the following:

  1. In order to receive teacher certification, you must pass a criminal history background check.
  2. If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for a teacher, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
  3. You have a right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency. The Texas Education Agency currently charges a $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation. For more information, see the Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation webpage at the Texas Education Agency (https://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Investigations/Preliminary_Criminal_History_Evaluation-FAQs/)

The University of Texas at Tyler offers certification programs that lead to teacher certification in:

  • Early Childhood-Grade 6 (See the School of Education section of this catalog for degree requirements.)
  • Grades 4-8. (See the 4-8 Certification section below)
  • Grades 7-12. (See the appropriate department section of this catalog for degree requirements. See the Secondary Certification section below for certification requirements.)
  • Early Childhood-Grade 12 in Art, Health, Languages other than English-Spanish, Music, and Physical Education. (See the appropriate department section of this catalog for degree requirements. See the All-level Certification section below for certification requirements.)