UT Dallas 2025 Undergraduate Catalog

School of Interdisciplinary Studies

Education (BS) with 4-8 Science

UT Dallas offers rigorous university-based teacher certification curricula and enjoys an outstanding reputation for producing excellent teachers.

At UT Dallas, coursework and field experiences leading to teacher certification may be accomplished through either the Teacher Development Center (TDC) program in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies (972-883-2730) or through UTeach Dallas program in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NS&M) (972-883-2496).

UT Dallas School of Interdisciplinary Studies offers both a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree (BAED) and a Bachelor of Science in Education degree (BSED). Each degree emphasizes a broad understanding and wide perspective of the field of education. Becoming a teacher takes preparation and planning. To ensure the highest professional standards, the state of Texas and UT Dallas require students to pass a series of rigorous courses, complete extensive fieldwork and demonstrate their knowledge of content and educational expertise on state licensure exams to become fully certified as a highly qualified teacher in Texas. The TDC at UT Dallas offers all the preparation courses required for teacher certification, including practical classes in curriculum and instruction, educational technology, and classroom management. The TDC interfaces and engages with all academic schools at UT Dallas, as well as many area school districts, to assist students as they progress through the teacher certification program. The Teacher Development Center at UT Dallas is fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency.

All BAED and BSED students are required to select a certification focus before their junior year.

Bachelor of Science in Education with 4-8 Science

Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)

View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester

Faculty

Professors: Karen Prager, Lawrence J. Redlinger, Erin A. Smith

Professor of Instruction: Barbara Ashmore, Tonja Wissinger

Associate Professors of Instruction: Kathleen Byrnes, Patricia A. Leek, Syed Naqvi

Assistant Professors of Instruction: Kyle Hammonds, Marc Lusk, Michele McNeel, Azadeh Stark, Larissa Werhnyak

I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours

Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.

Communication: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)

Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours

MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I1

or MATH 2413 Differential Calculus1,2

or MATH 2417 Calculus I1,2

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)3

Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours

BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I1,4

BIOL 2312 Introduction to Modern Biology II1,4

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses (see advisor)3

Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)

Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)

American History: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)

Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses. (see advisor)

Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours

MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II1

or MATH 2414 Integral Calculus1,2

or MATH 2419 Calculus II1,2

MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables1,2

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses. (see advisor)3

II. Major Requirements: 61 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum

Major Preparatory Courses (1 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum)

BIS 1100 Interdisciplinary Studies First Year Experience

BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I1,4

and BIOL 2111 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop I5

BIOL 2312 Introduction to Modern Biology II1,4

and BIOL 2112 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop II5

MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I1

or MATH 2413 Differential Calculus1,2

or MATH 2417 Calculus I1,2

MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II1

or MATH 2414 Integral Calculus1,2

or MATH 2419 Calculus II1,2

MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables1,2

Major Related Courses (18 semester credit hours)

BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry

ED 4694 Student Teaching Secondary

or ED 4394 Residency 1- Secondary

and ED 4395 Residency 2- Secondary

ISNS 3373 Our Nearest Neighbors in the Sky

Choose two from the following:

ISNS 2367 The Oceans1

or ISNS 2359 Earthquakes and Volcanoes1

ISNS 2368 Weather and Climate1

or ISNS 2366 Global Climate Change

NATS 1311 The Universe, and Everything Else1

or PHYS 1301 College Physics I1,4

and PHYS 1101 College Physics Laboratory I1,5

6 semester credit hours of upper-level BIOL courses

And choose one from the following:

GEOS 1303 Physical Geology1,4

and GEOS 1103 Physical Geology Laboratory5

GEOS 1304 History of Earth and Life1,4

and GEOS 1104 History of Earth and Life Laboratory5

GEOS 2310 Environmental Geology1

Foundation II: Education (12 semester credit hours)

ED 3314 The American Public School

ED 3339 Educational Psychology for Teachers

or PSY 3339 Educational Psychology

ED 4351 ESL for K-12 Teachers

ED 4353 Reading in Secondary Content

Teaching Techniques (18 semester credit hours)

BIOL 2281 Introductory Biology Laboratory

CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I1

CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I1

CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II1,4

and CHEM 1112 General Chemistry Laboratory II5

ED 3371 Curriculum and Instruction in the Natural Sciences

ED 4361 Classroom Management Secondary

NSC 3361 Introduction to Neuroscience

BIS 4306 Strategies for Diversity in Education

ED 4372 Educational Technology

ED 4301 Exceptional Populations

Guided Electives (8 semester credit hours)

3 semester credit hours of upper-level Mathematics or Science courses (see advisor)

Both lower- and upper-division courses may count as electives to fulfill remaining requirements.

The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.

Bachelor of Science in Education with 4-8 Science

(UTeach/School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Option)

Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)

View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester

Faculty

Professors: Karen Prager, Lawrence J. Redlinger, Erin A. Smith

Professor of Instruction: Barbara Ashmore, Tonja Wissinger

Associate Professors of Instruction: Kathleen Byrnes, Patricia A. Leek, Syed Naqvi

Assistant Professors of Instruction: Kyle Hammonds, Marc Lusk, Michele McNeel, Azadeh Stark, Larissa Werhnyak

I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours

Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.

Communication: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)

Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours

MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I

MATH 2413 Differential Calculus2

or MATH 2417 Calculus I2

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)3

Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours

BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I4

BIOL 2312 Introduction to Modern Biology II4

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses (see advisor)3

Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)

Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)

American History: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)

Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses. (see advisor)

Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours

MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II

or MATH 2414 Integral Calculus2

or MATH 2419 Calculus II2

MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables2

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses. (see advisor)3

II. Major Requirements: 61 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum

Major Preparatory Courses (1 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum)

BIS 1100 Interdisciplinary Studies First Year Experience

BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I1,4

and BIOL 2111 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop I5

BIOL 2312 Introduction to Modern Biology II1,4

and BIOL 2112 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop II5

MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I1

or MATH 2413 Differential Calculus1,2

or MATH 2417 Calculus I1,2

MATH 1326 Applied Calculus II1

or MATH 2414 Integral Calculus1,2

or MATH 2419 Calculus II1,2

MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables1,2

Major Related Courses (18 semester credit hours)

BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry

NATS 4696 UTeach Apprentice Teaching, 4-8 Science and Mathematics

ISNS 3373 Our Nearest Neighbors in the Sky

Choose two from the following:

ISNS 2367 The Oceans1

or ISNS 2359 Earthquakes and Volcanoes1

ISNS 2368 Weather and Climate1

or ISNS 2366 Global Climate Change

NATS 1311 The Universe, and Everything Else1

or PHYS 1301 College Physics I1,4

and PHYS 1101 College Physics Laboratory I1,5

6 semester credit hours of upper-level BIOL courses

And choose one from the following:

GEOS 1303 Physical Geology1,4

and GEOS 1103 Physical Geology Laboratory5

GEOS 1304 History of Earth and Life1,4

and GEOS 1104 History of Earth and Life Laboratory5

GEOS 2310 Environmental Geology1

Foundation II: Education (12 semester credit hours)

NATS 3341 Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science

ED 3339 Educational Psychology for Teachers

or PSY 3339 Educational Psychology

NATS 3343 Classroom Interactions

ED 4353 Reading in Secondary Content

Teaching Techniques (18 semester credit hours)

BIOL 2281 Introductory Biology Laboratory

CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I1,4

and CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I1,5

CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II1,4

and CHEM 1112 General Chemistry Laboratory II5

HIST 3328 History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine

or ED 4351 ESL for K-12 Teachers

or SMED 5301 Science, Mathematics, and Society (see Fast-Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees section)

or other course approved by the department

NATS 4341 Project-Based Instruction

NSC 3361 Introduction to Neuroscience

NATS 1141 UTeach STEP 1

NATS 1143 UTeach STEP 2

NATS 4141 UTeach Apprentice Teaching Seminar

NATS 4390 Research Methods

Guided Electives (11 semester credit hours)

3 semester credit hours of upper-level Mathematics or Science courses (see advisor)

Both lower- and upper-division courses may count as electives to fulfill remaining requirements.

The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 45 upper-division semester credit hours.

1. A required Major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours may be counted in Core Curriculum.

2. Three semester credit hours of Calculus to be used to fulfill Core Requirement with the remaining one semester credit hour to be counted in Guided Electives.

3. Students are strongly encouraged to take core courses that are closely related to their foundations, concentrations, and career goals.

4. Requires enrollment in a corequisite lab course. Lab semester credit hours to be counted in Guided Electives.

5. Requires enrollment in corequisite course. Lab semester credit hours to be counted in Guided Electives.

Updated: 2025-05-22 11:08:41 v6.4c21d8