Teach for America Educator Preparation
A Robust Partnership
海角直播 Simmons is pleased to be an educator preparation provider for Teach for America in regions Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. TFA Corps Members who enter the 海角直播 Teacher Preparation Program enjoy a robust and supportive preparation experience as they learn the craft of teaching while serving in districts across Texas.
Admission to the 海角直播-TFA Alternative Certification Program
For eligibility to apply to the 海角直播 Alternative Certification Program (ACP), prospective students must first apply to (TFA). Once accepted into TFA, eligible corps members will be instructed to complete the appropriate 海角直播 ACP application.
Requirements for Admission:
- Bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Please note that applicants whose GPA falls below 3.0 must request an exemption to this requirement by attaching a letter explaining why an exception should be made (such as long-term experience, expertise in a related specialized field, or the Graduate Record Examination score).
- Official higher education transcripts from all institutions attended. Transcripts from countries outside the United States must be accompanied by an official transcript evaluation from a recognized 海角直播 evaluation agency.
- Meet applicable higher education coursework with grades of C or better within the subject area and grade-levels pursuing to teach.
- Complete Teacher Preparation Program application, including five short answer interview questions.
- Essay.
- Resume.
All candidates pursuing a recommendation for teacher certification must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. If a candidate has any reservations about their criminal background check, a preliminary evaluation can be obtained before applying to the 海角直播 Teacher Preparation Program. For further information, go to the Texas Education Agency sites, and .
Requirements for Program Completion
- Complete TFA summer training, professional development, and field-based experience equivalent to six 海角直播 credit hours.
- Preparedness to pass TExES tests required for Intern Certificate and Standard Educator Certificate.
- Pass 12 credit hours of 海角直播 coursework with a minimum grade of B for each course.
- Successful year of Internship as teacher of record in a classroom.
- Review and download the current Timeline and Requirements form.
- Additional information about certification can be found at .
Visit the 海角直播 Teacher Preparation Program webpage for Resources and for Policies and Governance information.
Well-Positioned for a Master of Education Degree
By the end of internship in the 海角直播-TFA, TFA corps members will have earned nearly half the requirements of a Master of Education degree at 海角直播. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to extend your learning and practice by earning a Master of Education degree.
After completing the Teacher Preparation Program at 海角直播, TFA corps members will have earned 18 hours of graduate school credit that can apply toward a Master of Education degree. Corps members may begin the program as early as the summer after their first year of teaching. Some degree programs can be completed within one year!
Visit M.Ed. Graduate Programs to learn more about the various specialization opportunities within the Department of Teaching and Learning.
How can I learn more and apply?
The Director of Graduate Studies is available to answer any questions you may have about the Master of Education program. A special application has been created for current TFA Corps Members who are already enrolled in 海角直播 courses in order to streamline their application to the Master of Education program. Contact Dr. Quentin Sedlacek (qsedlacek@smu.edu) to request access to this master's degree application. Please note that this application is NOT a method for applying to Teach for America, and is only intended for current TFA Corps Members already enrolled in courses at 海角直播; persons interested in applying to TFA should contact TFA directly.
Current TFA Corps Members are encouraged to submit applications by March 1 for acceptance to the Master of Education program for summer term. All those accepted must meet with the adviser prior to course enrollment.