Associate of Arts in Teaching

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Child development educators nurture and care for children by helping them explore interests, develop talents and independence, and learn how to get along with others. Public school teachers work with older children to facilitate learning through interactive discussions and hands-on approaches to help them learn concepts. As children get older, teachers use more sophisticated materials. Secondary school teachers often specialize in one subject area.

The Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree is a state-approved collegiate degree consisting of 60 semester hours of lower division courses that are fully transferable to any Texas public university offering baccalaureate degree programs leading to initial teacher certification in one of the following three curricula: EC-Grade 6; Grades 4-8 & EC-12 Special Education; Grades 8-12 & EC-12 Subject Specific.

EC - Grade 6 Certification Areas: Generalist, Bilingual, ESL, Other Content Areas
Grades 4-8 Certification Areas: Generalist, Bilingual, ESL, English Language Arts & Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Grades 8-12 Certification Areas: History, Social Studies, Mathematics, Life Science, Physical Sciences, English Language Arts, Foreign Languages, Technology Education, Consumer Science, and other areas. Contact the Director of Early Childhood Development and Education for further information.

While the AAT degree is designed as the beginning point of a baccalaureate program leading to a teacher certification, it also meets the paraprofessional requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.

EC-6 Option & Grades 4-8 Option

Please note that the degree requirements for the EC-6 Option and the Grades 4-8/ EC-12 Option are the same.

Foundations

Foundations courses provide the footing for the remainder of the Associates Degree and beyond. They provide the knowledge and skills upon which other courses will build. Whether attending full or part time, plan to complete most if not all of Foundations prior to taking courses under Knowledge Building or Preparing for Completion.

PSYC 1300 - Learning Framework Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I Credit Hours: 3
SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Credit Hours: 3 OR SPCH 1315 OR SPCH 1321
HIST 1301 - United States History to 1877 Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation Credit Hours: 3 OR any course from the
Creative Arts Core
EDUC 1301 - Introduction to the Teaching Profession Credit Hours: 3

Knowledge Building

Knowledge Building courses expand upon foundational learning and develop skills at a deeper level. It is recommended that students complete these courses prior to moving forward to Preparing for Completion.

MATH 1314 - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1306 - General Biology I Credit Hours: 3 AND BIOL 1106 OR other science and laboratory from the General Education Core
HIST 1302 - United States History from 1877 to Present Credit Hours: 3 OR HIST 2301
EDUC 2301 - Introduction to Special Populations Credit Hours: 3
GOVT 2305 - Federal Government Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II Credit Hours: 3
TECA 1354 - Child Growth and Development Credit Hours: 3 OR PSYC 2308

Preparing for Completion

These courses provide capstone knowledge and skills, which prepares students for their next steps. Before beginning the third set of courses in this pathway, complete the Application for Graduation at the Admission’s Office. You should also meet with your coach/advisor to begin preparing applications for transfer.

MATH 1350 - Fundamentals of Math I Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1307 - General Biology II Credit Hours: 3 AND BIOL 1107 OR other science and laboratory from the General Education Core
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
GOVT 2306 - Texas Government Credit Hours: 3
Language, Philosphy, Culture Core Click to view/hide options. Credit Hours: 3
Additional Laboratory Science Course. Credit Hours: 4

Grades 8-12 Option

Foundations

PSYC 1300 - Learning Framework Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I Credit Hours: 3
SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Credit Hours: 3 OR SPCH 1315 OR SPCH 1321
HIST 1301 - United States History to 1877 Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation Credit Hours: 3 OR any course from the Creative Arts Core
EDUC 1301 - Introduction to the Teaching Profession Credit Hours: 3

Knowledge Building

MATH 1314 - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1306 - General Biology I Credit Hours: 3 AND BIOL 1106 OR other science and laboratory from the General Education Core
HIST 1302 - United States History from 1877 to Present Credit Hours: 3 OR HIST 2301
EDUC 2301 - Introduction to Special Populations Credit Hours: 3
GOVT 2305 - Federal Government Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II Credit Hours: 3
Teaching Content Area Course. Credit Hours: 3

Preparing for Completion

BIOL 1307 - General Biology II Credit Hours: 3 AND BIOL 1107 OR other science and laboratory from the General Education Core
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
GOVT 2306 - Texas Government Credit Hours: 3
Language, Philosphy, Culture Core Click to view/hide options. Credit Hours: 3
Additional Laboratory Science. Credit Hours: 4
Teaching Content Area Course. Credit Hours: 3