Entrance Requirements

Before enrolling in the Department of Teaching and Learning program, students must provide the following:

Undergraduates:

• Successful completion of 45 credit hours
• Successful completion of prerequisite EDU 2350 - Educational Psychology with final grade no lower than a B- (2.7) 
• For those applying for EC-6 grades, at least 3 credit hours each in English, math, history and science with no grade lower than a C (2.0)
• For those applying for middle or high school, at least 12 credit hours in a declared teaching field major with no grade lower than a C (2.0)
• Current unofficial transcript
• An overall GPA of 2.50
• Letter of reference from an employer or professor
• Pass scores on the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) - Required scores: Reading - Minimum 260, Writing - Minimum 220, and Math - Minimum 230. THEA can be waived with a copy of SAT or ACT. SAT required scores of at least 1600 with equal parts of 500+ and ACT required scores of at least 23. Scores from any of these tests are accepted if taken within the last 5 years.
• Official interview with advisers in the Department of Teaching and Learning office
• Written essay
• Personal Character and Professional Fitness Statement
• Completion of application packet documents

Post Baccalaureates:

• Official transcript(s) showing degree confirmed. Transcripts from countries outside the USA must be accompanied by official evaluations of the transcript by a recognized SMU evaluation agency
• If Baccalaureate Degree is conferred from an institution of higher education outside the United States, evidence must be provided to establish English language proficiency by one of the following: 1) Completion of a graduate degree at an institute of higher education in the United States or 2) Verification of satisfactory scores on an English language proficiency examination approved by the Texas Education Agency.
• For those applying for EC-6 grades, at least 3 credit hours each in English, math, history and science with no grade lower than a C (2.0)
• For those applying for middle or high school, a major or at least 24 credit hours (half of which must be in upper division courses) in an approved teaching field with a GPA of at least 2.0
• International students applying from countries where English is not the native language are required to provide scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• An overall GPA of 2.50
• Letter of reference from an employer or professor
• Pass scores on the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) - Required scores: Reading - Minimum 260, Writing - Minimum 220, and Math - Minimum 230. THEA can be waived with a copy of SAT or ACT. SAT required scores of at least 1600 with equal parts of 500+ and ACT required scores of at least 23. Scores from any of these tests are acceptable if taken within the last 5 years.
• Official interview with advisers in the Department of Teaching and Learning office
• Written essay
• Personal Character and Professional Fitness Statement
• Completion of application packet of documents

Special Note: The required courses in the teacher education program at SMU are 5000-level courses. Education courses taken at other institutions generally are not eligible to fulfill SMU's program requirements.