B.S. in Teaching
Students looking to share their love of the geosciences with a new generation of learners will be well suited for the Teaching major, which prepares undergraduate students to teach at the middle school or secondary school level in Texas. Students will study the geosciences and take courses in biological science, pedagogy, and student teaching. The major is part of the innovative UTeach program, which prepares graduates for science certification.
Why teaching in the geosciences?
There will be no future geoscientists, hydrologists, environmental scientists, or geophysicists without knowledgeable teachers to guide them to these vital areas of study. The earlier that middle and high school students are introduced to the wonders of earth and planetary sciences, the more likely they are to appreciate these important concepts as adults. Our future depends on them!
What is UTeach?
UTeach offers pathways to teacher certification for both STEM undergraduates and degree holders. This program gets students into the classroom right from the beginning. With the support of dedicated and experienced master teachers, students will learn how to teach effective, inquiry-based lessons. And UTeach is flexible — students can start at any point during their college career, or even after they already have your degree.
Teaching opportunities
Students enrolled in this degree program begin their journey into the classroom in their first very first semester to observe and teach short lessons. This way, students experience first-hand what it’s like to be a teacher very early in their education and can decide if they would like to continue toward certification. Extra hours of fieldwork are also required with various professional development courses.
Degree requirements
The teaching degree requires students to take a series of courses on curriculum and instruction, an interdisciplinary array of science and math courses, plus a more focused selection of geoscience courses. With this foundation, students who complete this program will be prepared to teach middle or high school science courses, with a specialization in geoscience.
Geoscience courses
All teaching majors need to fulfill the following coursework for their degree. These courses will equip them with a geoscientific foundation of knowledge for their classroom.
Geoscience fundamentals
Choose one of the following courses:
- GEO 401: Physical Geology
- GEO 303: Introduction to Geology
Take each of the following courses:
- GEO 405: Life Through Time
- GEO 416K: Earth Materials
- GEO 416M: Sedimentary Rocks
Additionally, choose one of the following courses:
- GEO 420K: Introduction to Field and Stratigraphic Methods
- GEO 320L: Introductory Field Geology
Electives
Take 28 additional credit hours of any upper division geological science course. Explore all upper division GEO courses in the university’s course catalog.
Teaching courses
All teaching majors need to fulfil the following coursework requirements. These courses will give students classroom experience and knowledge of recent developments and research methods in various sciences.
Professional development sequence
Take the following courses:
- EDC 651S: Secondary School Teaching Practicum
- EDC 365C: Knowing and Learning in Math and Science or UTS 350: Knowing and Learning in Math and Science
- EDC 365D: Classroom Interactions or UTS 355: Classroom Interactions
- EDC 365E: Project-Based Instruction or UTS 360: Project-Based Instruction
- UTS 101: Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: Step 1
- UTS 110: Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: Step 2
- UTS 170: Student Teaching Seminar
Supporting courses
Choose one of the following courses:
- BIO 337: Selected Topics in Biology (Topic 2: Research Methods: UTeach)
- CH 368: Advanced Topics in Chemistry (Topic 1: Research Methods: UTeach)
- PHY 341: Selected Topics in Physics (Topic 7: Research Methods: UTeach)
Additionally, choose one of the following courses:
- HIS 329U: Perspectives on Science and Mathematics
- PHL 329U: Perspectives on Science and Mathematics
Middle grade certification
Students seeking middle grades certification must also complete the following coursework:
- EDP 350G: Adolescent Development or both PSY 301: Introduction to Psychology and PSY 304: Introduction to Child Psychology
- EDC 339E: Secondary School Literacy across the Disciplines
Statistics and Data Sciences
Take three credits (this class).
- SDS 302F: Foundations of Data Analysis
Building block requirements
These courses take place outside of the Jackson School of Geosciences and are required of all geoscience teaching students. This major requires a robust understanding of mathematics, physics, and chemistry to prepare students to teach STEM classes.
Mathematics
Take the following course:
- M 408C: Differential and Integral Calculus
Composite certification
Take each of the following courses:
- BIO 311C: Introductory Biology I
- BIO 311D: Introductory Biology II
- CH 301: Principles of Chemistry I
- CH 302: Principles of Chemistry II
- PHY 303K: Engineering Physics I and PHY 103M: Laboratory for Physics 303K or PHY 303L: Engineering Physics II and PHY 103N: Laboratory for Physics 303L
- Enough additional approved coursework in biology, chemistry, or physics to provide the required 12 semester hours in a second field.
Astronomy
Choose one of the following courses:
- AST 303: Introduction to Astronomy with Celestial Observations
- AST 307: Introductory Astronomy
- AST 367M: Physical Science: Methods of Astronomy.
Marine science
Take the following course:
- MNS 307: Introduction to Oceanography
Read more about these courses in the University of Texas course catalog. The 2024-2025 catalog will be available soon.
The 2024-2026 teaching degree plan is coming soon.
Past degree plans (senior grades): 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 | 2014-2016
Past degree plans (middle grades): 2022-2024 | 2020-2022 | 2018-2020 | 2016-2018 | 2014-2016
Next steps: Applying and transferring
Ready to start changing the world? If you’re a high school student interested in applying to the Jackson School to be a teaching major, please select Geological Sciences during the process of your undergraduate application to The University of Texas at Austin. Additional application information can be found on the UT Office of Admissions website and the Jackson School’s Admissions page.
Thinking of transferring to the Jackson School to be a teaching major? If you’re an undergraduate student already enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin, you may enter the Jackson School through an internal transfer process which occurs twice a year. Please visit the Jackson School’s Internal Transfers webpage for details about the internal transfer process, deadlines, and upcoming information session dates to learn more about our school and programs. We also encourage you to contact academic advising before you start this process.