Most coursework during this semester is focused on building subject-area expertise in your area of certification. Students have the chance to take classes in the School of Education and School of Liberal Arts and Sciences as they sharpen their intellect. These courses are important foundations to the upcoming Teacher Education courses and certification exams. This is a great time to begin a paid education internship or to join a student club like Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO), Association of Black Student Educators (ABSE) or Spanish Students Organization (SSO).

Teacher Education coursework begins with a focus on Foundations to Education, Pedagogy, and ESL/Bilingual Strategies. Students begin learning how to translate their area expertise into strategies that allow them to respond to learner’s needs. Students take diagnostic certification exams to identify where they need additional upcoming support. During this semester, students begin working with younger children to apply learning. They are supervised by faculty so they can get frequent feedback as they learn how to teach and assess student learning.  

Clinical I coursework includes methods classes focused on content-specific pedagogy. Coursework includes community based experiences, such as science presentations at the Perot Museum or visits to the Dallas Arboretum. Students also begin spending 1-2 days in the field each week in an assigned school with a mentor teacher. During Clinical I, students start by observing a teacher and end the semester responsible for leading small group learning. The semester culminates with students practicing an observation cycle complete with a video analysis to prepare for Clinical II.

Clinical II coursework is field experience based. Students are assigned to a school and two mentor teachers (in a lower and upper grade) where they will engage in six different co-teaching models throughout the semester. Students debrief their experiences during a clinical seminar class, benefit from informal feedback from a supervisor and complete four video analyses/formal observations of their teaching practice. The semester ends with opportunities for preferential hiring in local school districts, and of course—the most exciting experience of all – graduation!

The Emerging Teacher Institute is competency-based and offers its students significant experiences and opportunities to practice and co-teach in classrooms with experienced master teachers. As one of the handful of programs in the region offering a full year clinical experience before graduation, combined with video-based feedback and reflection through state-of-the-art technology, ETI facilitates a deeper understanding of the classroom setting, the challenges teachers face and what it takes to foster student wellbeing and achievement.

At ETI, students will be exposed to innovative methods in critical disciplines such as STEM, special education, bilingual education and English as a Second Language (ESL). This ensures UNT Dallas graduates will be in high-demand across the region. We prepare students to work with diverse populations with unique needs, including students in poverty and students with different racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.

UNT Dallas provides a mentor/coach to journey with each student throughout their clinical experiences and provide meaningful feedback as they hone their craft. ETI provides cutting-edge instructional techniques and practices for undergraduate and graduate students at UNT Dallas, while also providing a strong peer support network and professional development resources for graduates already in the classroom. Mental health, mindfulness, and social-emotional learning opportunities are provided to students and teachers as a means to ensure they know how to take care of themselves in a demanding profession.

At ETI, our graduates are in high demand across the region due to our innovative methods in disciplines such as STEM, special education, bilingual education and English as a Second Language (ESL). To ensure students receive the best possible training, ETI works closely with school districts, private schools and charter networks throughout North Texas, as well as partners with community-based institutions like the renowned Perot Museum of Nature and Science, The Momentous Institute, Mastermind, and The Dallas Zoo.