Department of Urban Education

Myrna Cohen
Department Chair 

Viola Garcia
Assistant Chair
Undergraduate Coordinator

Sue Mahoney
Assistant Chair
Graduate Coordinator

Department Telephone: (713) 221-2759

Introduction

Welcome to the University of Houston-Downtown’s Department of Urban Education. The University of Houston-Downtown’s teacher education program is a state approved Center for Professional Development and Technology (UHD-CPDT). The center trains new elementary, secondary and bilingual teachers, and also provides staff development and technology support for public schools. The mission of the UHD-CPDT is to prepare future teachers for the urban classroom who will enhance the chances of academic success for at-risk children and adolescents in inner-city schools. 

The goals of the UHD-CPDT are to prepare urban teachers who will: 

• possess strong working knowledge of general and teaching field content and pedagogy; 
• demonstrate understanding of appropriate instructional strategies to ensure that each child achieves academic success; 
• use technology efficiently and productively for instructive and administrative purposes; 
• work collaboratively with others; 
• demonstrate appreciation of diversity by structuring the environment so that each child can learn; 
• use effective communication skills and encourage effective communication from others; and 
• demonstrate reflective practices which lead to an ever increasing level of professionalism. 

The department offers programs in the following areas:

Undergraduate Programs
EC-4 Generalist
EC-4 Bilingual Generalist
4-8 Generalist
8-12 Secondary

Graduate Programs
Master of Arts in Teaching, Curriculum & Instruction (MAT)
Master of Arts in Teaching with Certification (ACP-MAT)

Post Baccalaureate Programs
Alternative Certification
Post-Bac Certification Plan