Program Overview
The UNT Physics/Mathematics Teacher Certification program enables undergraduates to pursue secondary teaching careers in these fields. Emphasizing field experiences, mentorship, and teaching strategies, the program prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the high-demand career path of secondary physics/mathematics education. Graduates are equipped to meet the critical shortage of qualified science and math instructors.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Physics/Mathematics Teacher Certification program at the University of North Texas is a teaching certification program designed for undergraduate students interested in teaching high school Math or Physics. It is part of the Teach North Texas program, an innovative math and science secondary level teacher preparation program. The program aims to prepare students for a career in teaching by providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience.
Teaching:
- Field Experiences: The program emphasizes field experiences, providing students with opportunities to observe and participate in real-world classroom settings.
- Teaching Strategies: Students learn various teaching strategies and concepts specifically related to the subjects they will teach.
- Mentorship: Students are paired with experienced high school teachers hired by UNT to provide mentorship, real-world advice, and supervision during fieldwork.
- Foliotek: The College of Education uses Foliotek, a comprehensive online data management system, to receive feedback on student work from Master Teachers and mentors, create electronic portfolios, and track field experience and apprentice teaching/clinical practice.
Careers:
- Secondary Level Teaching: Graduates of the program are prepared to teach physics and mathematics at the secondary level.
- Critical Shortage: There is a critical shortage of qualified instructors in these subjects, making this a high-demand career path.
Other:
- Talon Teach: Students can join Talon Teach, an organization that offers future teachers a place to network, discuss ideas, and build relationships with each other and the University.
- Coursework: The program includes courses such as:
- Knowing and Learning in Mathematics, Science and Computer Science
- Classroom Interactions
- Project-Based Instruction in Math, Science and Computer Science
- Apprentice Teaching I in Mathematics, Science and Computer Science
- Content Area Reading
- Secondary Teacher Education Preparation I and II
