You will focus on completing the required Texas Core Curriculum during your first year.

In your second year, you’ll continue completing the core curriculum and begin your education degree core courses.

Your third year is called your Pre-Clinical Year.

During this year, you will:

• Complete 38 credit hours throughout the fall, spring and summer semesters.
• Apply to the teacher certification program.
• Complete up to 80 hours of hands-on field experiences in local classrooms.
• Start to prepare for your required Texas state teacher certification exams.
• Apply for your clinical teaching experience a semester in advance. Turn in your application for approval by March 15 for fall term clinical teaching, and October 15 for spring term clinical teaching.

This year is called your Year-Long Clinical Year, where you will transition to your role as a Clinical Teacher Candidate.

During this year, you will:

• Work in a local San Antonio area ISD classroom under the guidance of a carefully selected mentor teacher.
• Complete 26 credit hours of coursework focused on teaching literacy and math and how to work with English Language Learners.
• Complete the remaining required teacher certification exams.

UTSA believes that the best learning for future teachers happens in local classrooms and communities.

• Field experiences connect directly to the courses you will take each semester.
• The university offers different hands-on experiences in classrooms and other learning spaces city-wide, such as HEB Read 3 and Communities in Schools.
• During clinical teaching, you will be placed in a local school for a full academic year, where you'll learn to teach under the guidance of a host teacher and a UTSA supervisor.
• The residency model enables you to experience the realities of the classroom with support so you're ready for your own classroom.

UTSA is dedicated to preparing teachers skilled in working with diverse populations.

• Coursework and field experiences prepare you to work with bilingual and multilingual learners through English as a Second Language (ESL) and bilingual education supplemental certification.
• UTSA also offers a certification pathway in special education.
• Teaching methods like differentiation and Understanding by Design also prepare you for the wide range of students you'll meet in today’s classrooms.

You can expect the following mentor and coaching experiences. You will:

• Work directly with highly qualified faculty, mentor teachers and supervisors to plan, deliver and reflect on your field experiences and lessons.
• Participate in weekly seminars during your clinical teaching.
• Be evaluated by UTSA supervisors using the same observation tool as school principals across Texas, ensuring that you learn the professional expectations of your job before it even begins.

UTSA is committed to constant improvement and innovation by combining research and practice.

• The new Equity and Education degree centers on the teacher's role as an agent of change for students and their families.
• The Academy for Teacher Excellence and the Student Success Center provide events dedicated to student health and well-being, certification exam preparation and student life as Roadrunners.
• UTSA was one of the first in Texas to offer a clinical residency model, which continues to evolve and now offers paid options for participating teachers. The university partners with over 22 school districts, and the alum network covers the greater San Antonio area.