BS in Chemistry/Biochemistry with Teacher Certification

As an undergraduate student, you will participate in cutting-edge research with knowledgeable faculty. You will have opportunities to present your work at local, regional and national scientific conferences. Many of our undergraduate students are co-authors on peer-reviewed papers published in prestigious journals such as The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, ACS Omega, Biochemical Biophysical Research Communications, and Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Our undergraduate students have gone on to Ph.D. programs at institutions such as Washington University, Duke University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Learn the theory and practice of instrumental analysis in our outstanding, state of the art chemistry laboratories. Our undergraduate teaching labs are equipped with instrumentation such as GC-MS, AA Spectrometer, UV/Vis and fluorescence spectrometers, and a 90 MHz NMR spectrometer.

The development of GLPs (Good Laboratory Practices) includes learning and using safe practices in the chemical laboratory. We have developed a culture in which safety is both a personal and social responsibility. We are also incorporating more environmentally sound practices into our undergraduate laboratory courses. As an example of "Green Chemistry" in action, we have incorporated microwave synthesis experiments into our second-year organic lab.

For “graduating chemists with civic lenses” and addressing such social issues as sustainability, water quality and safety, the TWU Division of Chemistry and Biochemistry was recently singled out for special recognition by the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

Faculty from the division also received the William E. Bennet Award, presented by the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement, for their success in promoting civic engagement and social responsibility through their courses and degree programs.

When you apply to TWU, we will evaluate your academic achievement and preparation, as well as your standardized test scores. Admission to TWU is valid for four terms, unless you have attended another higher education institution.

Check out the links below for specific admissions information:

• How to apply
• Freshman Student Admissions
• Transfer Student Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Other Types of Undergraduate Admissions

Questions about the admissions process? Contact the Office of Admissions Processing.

Office of Admissions
Texas Woman’s University
P.O. Box 425649
Denton, TX 76204-5649
oap@twu.edu
940-898-3076 or 1-866-809-6130 ext. 3076

Teacher Certification

Application Deadlines

There are three application periods per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Students must have their applications in by the deadline the semester before they intend to take ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only).  (see schedule below).

Spring Application Deadlines*  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Summer)

• May 1 - Deadline to apply for Summer admission
• May 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement

Summer Application Deadlines  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Fall)

• July 1 - Deadline to apply for Fall admission
• July 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement

Fall Application Deadlines*  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Spring)

• December 1 - Deadline to apply for Spring admission
• December 21 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement

Guidelines

Please adhere to the following guidelines: 

• We recommend preparing your application well in advance of the deadline. That way you will be able to identify and resolve any potential issues before the deadline date. 
• If you intend to register early for ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only) for the Summer or Fall semesters and have met all admission requirements, it is recommended that you apply to the EPP by December 1.
• If you apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program while enrolled in EDUC 2003 or are taking coursework to increase your GPA to a 2.75, the Office of Educator Preparation Services will process your application. If the GPA requirement, along with all other admission requirements are met at the end of the semester, an admission decision will be made at that time.
• No late applications will be accepted. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or a day that TWU is closed, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on the next day that TWU is open after the deadline day.

Requirements

In addition to the general undergraduate admissions requirements, to obtain acceptance into the undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (and prior to taking ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113, EDUC 4243, READ 4223 (EC-3 only), and Clinical Student Teaching) students must have:

• A cumulative GPA of 2.75 (includes all courses, whether posted to TWU transcript or used on a degree plan. Excludes developmental and repeated courses);
• Demonstrated basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics by meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative;
• A minimum of 12 to 15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought;
• Completed EDUC 2003 with a C or higher;
• Completed department application for admission to the Educator Preparation Program in Tk20;
  • Important: Purchase and creation of a Tk20 account is required
• Submitted a non-refundable Texas Education Agency Fee;
• Completed a Commitment Contract acknowledging awareness and understanding of the Professional Dispositions Policy and Educators’ Code of Ethics;
• Successfully completed a pre-admission departmental interview with an interview panel; and
• Acknowledged and accepted admission to the Educator Preparation Program.

Please note: 

• All accepted students must maintain the admission requirements to remain in the TWU Education Preparation Program.
• Admission requirements are determined by Texas Education Agency policies and are subject to change without notice.
• Students seeking Bilingual certification must meet minimum proficiency in Spanish.
• Students seeking Deaf/Hard of Hearing certification must meet minimum proficiency in sign.

All admission decisions are based on the successful completion of the above requirements. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation may affect certification. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Texas Education Agency. Any previous or current issues of academic dishonesty, disruptive behavior, or professional dispositions infractions at TWU, another university, or another Educator Preparation Program may result in denial of admission. Any decision may be appealed by contacting the Office of Educator Preparation Services at 940-898-2829.

Contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services (OEPS) at copeadvising@twu.edu or 940-898-2829 with any questions.

Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Requirements

• Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(1)]
• Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(2)]
• The potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(1)]
• The right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation from TEA. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(3)]