aggieTEACH
Join the profession that transforms all other professions. TEACH.
Double your career potential by obtaining your Texas high school teaching certificate as you earn your bachelor’s degree! The College of Education and Human Development, through the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC), offers three (3) pathways for non-education majors to seek a secondary teacher certification through the aggieTEACH program. Explore aggieTEACH certifications that offer a minor in secondary education for undergraduate students or a secondary graduate certification program for applicants who are near degree completion or with an earned bachelor’s degree. The aggieTEACH programs are the perfect professional endorsement for those who are interested in teaching middle and high school subjects such as mathematics, science, English, history, social studies and in computer science.
For questions and more information, contact aggieteach@tamu.edu or an advisor in your home advising office.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Pathways One and Two are for those undergraduate students who seek a minor in secondary education. Pathway Three is available for undergraduates who are near completion of an undergraduate degree or for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree and who would like to pursue a secondary graduate certification.
Pathway 1
Early Entry into the Secondary Education Minor through Your Degree Program
Pathway 2
Traditional Secondary Education Minor
Pathway 3
Secondary Graduate Certification Program / Post-Baccalaureate
MINOR IN SECONDARY EDUCATION
Pathway 1, Early Entry into the Secondary Education Minor through Your Degree Program
In this approach, 18 credit hours for a Secondary Education Minor plus one semester of clinical teaching are embedded throughout students’ degree plan to support their interest for enrolling in a teaching certification program. This path is perfect for students who want to begin satisfying the requirements for the aggieTEACH Program in their freshman or sophomore year.
Pathway 2, Traditional Secondary Education Minor
This route offers 18 credit hours for a Secondary Education Minor plus one semester of clinical teaching are added in the last 2 years of the student’s degree plan. This path is ideal for students who enter the aggieTEACH Program during their junior year.
In addition, both pathways require:
- Majoring in a subject area for which teacher certification options are available, and
- Completing content courses listed on the teaching Field Plan for the desired area of certification (most will overlap with courses in the declared major), and
- Enrolling in one semester of clinical teaching after all coursework for the major degree and Secondary Education minor are completed, and
- Passing score on the TExES Teaching Certification exams.
Declare a Minor in Secondary Education (SEED)
Students interested in obtaining a minor in Secondary Education should contact the advisors in the department or college that oversees their degree program. To ensure the minor can fit within a four-year degree timeline, begin the discussion with your advisor four or more semesters before graduation to identify exactly when the minor can be added and the necessary coursework. Learn how to declare a minor in Secondary Education.
SECONDARY GRADUATE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Pathway 3, Secondary Graduate Certification / Post Baccalaureate Program
Pathway 3 is designed for students in their senior year of undergraduate studies, or those who already hold a bachelor’s degree, and are now interested in earning a secondary teaching certificate. A paid internship as a classroom teacher of record and the opportunity to apply all coursework toward the Master of Education degree are unique features of this program.
The program offers two tracks to Texas teacher certification:
Track 1: Teacher Certification only (21 graduate credits)
Track 2: Teacher Certification with a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (36 graduate credit hours, non-thesis).
Candidates must be formally admitted into the Graduate Certification Program. Interested students should contact a graduate academic advisor located in Harrington Tower.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PATHWAYS 1 + 2
Minor in Secondary Education – Early Entry and Traditional
Program Prerequisites:
- 2.75 minimum overall GPR
- 2.5 GPR in content area
- 30-80 completed college credits
- 15 hours of content coursework on the teaching Field Plan for math and science majors; 12 hours of content coursework for non-math and non-science majors
- Major in a subject area for which teacher certification options are available
- A minimum of three semesters remaining as an undergraduate student
- Teaching Field Plan signed by an academic advisor in your teaching field or College of declared major
- Complete one of the following with a B or better: INST 222, TEFB 273, or SOCI 317
- Three letters of recommendation
- Students interested in secondary mathematics or science certification (aggieTEACH-Science) must complete SCEN 201 with a B or better
Program Requirements:
- Maintain a 2.75 minimum overall GPR
- Maintain a minimum of 2.5 GPR in content area
- 18 hours of coursework in the Secondary Education minor*
- One semester of Clinical Teaching
- Passing score on the TExES Teaching Certification exams
Note: Students must be formally accepted into the aggieTEACH program before they can claim the Secondary Education minor
REQUIREMENTS FOR PATHWAY 3
Secondary Graduate Certification Program/ Post Baccalaureate Pathway
PROGRAM PREREQUISITES:
- Students with two semesters or less to complete their undergraduate degree or graduates with an earned bachelor’s degree
- 2.75 minimum overall GPR
- Minimum number of content-area credit hours
- Coursework: a. INST 210 or SPED 621 b. TEFB 324
- Passing score on TX PACT exam
- Graduate studies admissions application
- TLAC admissions application for M.Ed.
- Three letters of recommendation
PATHWAY 1 CERTIFICATIONS AVAILABLE
Pathway 1 Certifications Available
Chemistry (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Chemistry
BA-CHEM Chemistry Education Track (BA-CHEM-CET)
Elmo Mawk
Email: mawk@tamu.edu
English Language and Reading (Grades 7-12)
(In Development)
College of Liberal Arts
Department of English
Advisor: Sarah Borden
Email: sborden@tamu.edu
Faculty: Apostolos Vasilakis
Email: vasilakis@tamu.edu
PATHWAY 2 CERTIFICATIONS AVAILABLE
Pathway 2 Certifications Available
Social Studies (Composite) (Grades 7-12)
College of Liberal Arts
Department of History
Advisor: Robyn Konrad
Email: robyn-konrad@tamu.edu
History (Grades 7-12) and Social Studies Composite
College of Liberal Arts
Department of History
Robyn Konrad
Academic Advisor III
Email: robyn-konrad@tamu.edu
English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 7-12)
College of Liberal Arts
Sarah Borden
Email: sborden@tamu.edu
Apostolos Vasilakis
Email: vasilakis@tamu.edu
Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering (Grades 6-12)
College of Engineering
Engineering Technology and
Industrial Distribution
Bianca Cerda
Email: bianca.cerda@tamu.edu
Garth Crosby
Email: gvcrosby@tamu.edu
Physics/Mathematics (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Physics
Sherree Kessler
Email: skessler@tamu.edu
Mathematics (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Mathematics
Heather Ramsey
Email: ramsey@math.tamu.edu
Kathryn Bollinger
Email: k-bollinger@tamu.edu
College of Science
Department of Statistics
Alyssa Brigham
Email: abrigham@stat.tamu.edu
College of Science
University Studies
Dr. Vince Schielack
Email: vinces@math.tamu.edu
Physical Science (Grades 6-12)
College of Science
Department of Chemistry
Elmo Mawk
Instructional Assistant Professor
Email: mawk@tamu.edu
College of Science
Department of Physics
Sherree Kessler
Email: skessler@tamu.edu
College of Geosciences
Roxanna Russell
Email: rrussell@geos.tamu.edu
Judy Nunez
Director, College Recruitment
Email: jnunez@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
Poppy Capehart
Academic Advisor IV
Email: poppy@tamu.edu
Chemistry (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Chemistry
Elmo Mawk
Instructional Assistant Professor
Email: mawk@tamu.edu
College of Geosciences
Roxanna Russell
Email: rrussell@geos.tamu.edu
Judy Nunez
Director, College Recruitment
Email: jnunez@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
Poppy Capehart
Academic Advisor IV
Email: poppy@tamu.edu
College of Vet Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences
Sabrina Niemeyer
Advisor
Email: sniemeyer@tamu.edu
Agriculture, Food & Natural
Resources (AFNR) (Grades 6-12)
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Department of Agricultural Leadership,
Education, and Communications (ALEC)
Advisor: Rebecca Thompson
Email: r_thompson12@tamu.edu
Computer Science (Grades 8-12)
College of Engineering
Department of Computer Science
Richard Furuta
Email: undergraduate-advisors@cse.tamu.edu
Applied Learning in STEM (Grades 7-12)
TAMU-Galveston
Marine Biology and Marine Sciences
Donna Lang
Email: langd@tamu.edu
Melanie Moser, Phd
Email: moserm@tamug.edu
Composite Science (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Chemistry
Elmo Mawk
Instructional Assistant Professor
Email: mawk@tamu.edu
College of Science
Department of Biology
Advisor: Christine Farris
Email: cfarris@bio.tamu.edu
College of Science
University Studies
Advisor: Christine Farris
Email: cfarris@bio.tamu.edu
Faculty: Laura Wilding
Email: ljwilding@tamu.edu
College of Geosciences
Roxanna Russell
Email: rrussell@geos.tamu.edu
Judy Nunez
Director, College Recruitment
Email: jnunez@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
Advisor: Poppy Capehart
Email: poppy@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Animal Science
Advisor: Amber Salvato
Email: amber.salvato@tamu.edu
College of Vet Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences
Advisor: Sabrina Niemeyer
Email: sniemeyer@tamu.edu
Life Science (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Biology
Christine Farris
Email: christinefarris@tamu.edu
College of Geosciences
Roxanna Russell
Email: rrussell@geos.tamu.edu
Judy Nunez
Director, College Recruitment
Email: jnunez@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
Advisor: Poppy Capehart
Email: poppy@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Advisor: Faegen Lee
Email: Faegen.Lee@ag.tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Horticulture
LeAnn Hague
Email: leann.hague@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Animal Science
Advisor: Amber Salvato
Email: amber.salvato@tamu.edu
College of Vet Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences
Advisor: Sabrina Niemeyer
Email: sniemeyer@tamu.edu
Dance (Grades 7-12)
College of Education and Human Development: Department of Health and Kinesiology
Kayla McGee
Email: kmcgee@tamu.edu
Program Director: Christine Bergeron
Email: cbergeron@tamu.edu
Pathway 3 Certifications Available
Social Studies (Composite) (Grades 7-12)
College of Liberal Arts
Department of History
Robyn Konrad
Academic Advisor III
Email: robyn-konrad@tamu.edu
History (Grades 7-12) and Social Studies Composite
College of Liberal Arts
Department of History
Robyn Konrad
Academic Advisor III
Email: robyn-konrad@tamu.edu
English Language and Reading (Grades 7-12)
College of Liberal Arts
Department of English
Advisor: Sarah Borden
Email: sborden@tamu.edu
Faculty: Apostolos Vasilakis
Email: vasilakis@tamu.edu
Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering (Grades 6-12)
College of Engineering
Engineering Technology and
Industrial Distribution
Bianca Cerda
Email: bianca.cerda@tamu.edu
Garth Crosby
Email: gvcrosby@tamu.edu
Physics/Mathematics (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Physics
Sherree Kessler
Email: skessler@tamu.edu
Mathematics (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Mathematics
Advisor: Heather Ramsey
Email: ramsey@math.tamu.edu
Faculty: Kathryn Bollinger
Email: k-bollinger@tamu.edu
College of Science
Department of Statistics
Courtney Shuttlesworth
Email: cshuttles@stat.tamu.edu
College of Science
University Studies
Dr. Vince Schielack
Email: vinces@math.tamu.edu
Physical Science (Grades 6-12)
College of Science
Department of Chemistry
Elmo Mawk
Instructional Assistant Professor
Email: mawk@tamu.edu
College of Science
Department of Physics
Sherree Kessler
Email: skessler@tamu.edu
College of Geosciences
Roxanna Russell
Email: rrussell@geos.tamu.edu
Judy Nunez
Director, College Recruitment
Email: jnunez@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
Poppy Capehart
Academic Advisor IV
Email: poppy@tamu.edu
Chemistry (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Chemistry
Elmo Mawk
Instructional Assistant Professor
Email: mawk@tamu.edu
College of Geosciences
Roxanna Russell
Email: rrussell@geos.tamu.edu
Judy Nunez
Director, College Recruitment
Email: jnunez@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
Poppy Capehart
Academic Advisor IV
Email: poppy@tamu.edu
College of Vet Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences
Sabrina Niemeyer
Advisor
Email: sniemeyer@tamu.edu
Agriculture, Food & Natural
Resources (AFNR) (Grades 6-12)
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Department of Agricultural Leadership,
Education, and Communications (ALEC)
Advisor: Rebecca Thompson
Email: r_thompson12@tamu.edu
Computer Science (Grades 8-12)
College of Engineering
Department of Computer Science
Advisor: Richard Furuta
Email: undergraduate-advisors@cse.tamu.edu
Applied Learning in STEM (Grades 7-12)
TAMU-Galveston
Marine Biology and Marine Sciences
Advisor: Donna Lang
Email: langd@tamu.edu
Faculty: Melanie Moser, Phd
Email: moserm@tamug.edu
Composite Science (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Chemistry
Elmo Mawk
Instructional Assistant Professor
Email: mawk@tamu.edu
College of Science
Department of Biology
Christine Farris
Email: christinefarris@tamu.edu
College of Science
University Studies
Advisor: Christine Farris
Email: christinefarris@tamu.edu
Faculty: Laura Wilding
Email: ljwilding@tamu.edu
College of Geosciences
Roxanna Russell
Email: rrussell@geos.tamu.edu
Judy Nunez
Director, College Recruitment
Email: jnunez@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
Poppy Capehart
Academic Advisor IV
Email: poppy@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Animal Science
Advisor: Amber Salvato
Email: amber.salvato@tamu.edu
College of Vet Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences
Sabrina Niemeyer
Advisor
Email: sniemeyer@tamu.edu
Life Science (Grades 7-12)
College of Science
Department of Biology
Christine Farris
Email: christinefarris@tamu.edu
College of Geosciences
Roxanna Russell
Email: rrussell@geos.tamu.edu
Judy Nunez
Director, College Recruitment
Email: jnunez@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
Poppy Capehart
Academic Advisor IV
Email: poppy@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Faegen Lee
Academic Advisor I
Email: fdlee@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Horticulture
Advisor: LeAnn Hague
Email: leann.hague@tamu.edu
College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences
Department of Animal Science
Advisor: Amber Salvato
Email: amber.salvato@tamu.edu
College of Vet Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences
Advisor: Sabrina Niemeyer
Email: sniemeyer@tamu.edu
CONTACT INFORMATION
Pathways 1 and 2: Minor in Secondary Education Program
For questions and more information, contact Suzanne Bettencourt, sbettencourt@tamu.edu, Program Manager.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Pathway 3: Secondary Graduate Certification Program
Graduate Academic Leaders and Advisors
For questions and more information, contact aggieteach@tamu.edu or an advisor in your home advising office.
Kara Bond
Academic Advisor IV
Jane Rankin
Program Manager
Certification Process
Information about the certification process can be found on the College of Education and Human Development link below.
Frequently Asked Questions
aggieTEACH
How did the aggieTEACH program get started? What is the history of the aggieTEACH program?
The aggieTEACH program started in the College of Science at Texas A&M University in 2001. Now housed in the College of Education and Human Development and led by the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture, the aggieTEACH program represents the brand name for the minor in secondary education for a myriad of colleges across Texas A&M University. Download the full story here.
I am not an education student but interested in becoming certified to teach. What are the steps to declare a minor in education?
In order to declare a minor in Secondary Education (SEED), students who are non-education majors must be formally admitted into the aggieTEACH Program (see prerequisites below) in order to be eligible for the minor in Secondary Education. Students interested in obtaining a minor in Secondary Education should contact <a href=”mailto:sbettencourt@tamu.edu“>Suzanne Bettencourt</a> in Harrington Tower. To ensure the minor can fit within a four-year degree timeline, begin the discussion 4+ semesters before graduation to identify exactly when the minor can be added and the necessary coursework. Learn how to declare a minor in Secondary Education here.
I’m a student in the College of Science and am interested in teacher certification as well as information on the Mentoring and Induction Program. Where can I learn more about both programs?
The aggieTEACH program has been expanded to offer pathways to teacher certification in multiple subject areas and across eight colleges and programs within the Texas A&M System.
College of Science students interested in teacher certification as well as aggieTEACH graduates seeking information on the Mentoring and Induction Program can learn more about both at aggieteachscience.tamu.edu.
Once I graduate with my bachelor’s degree, can’t I just take a test to be a teacher?
TEA (Texas Education Agency) requires individuals to complete an Educator Preparation Program (EPP). You can find out more about the certification process at this site, http://certification.tamu.edu/certification-process.
I’m certified in another state. How can I transfer my certificate to Texas?
You will need to follow the instructions on the TEA website at https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/out-of-state-certification/out-of-state-certified-educators.
I’m interested in teaching early childhood (EC-6) or grades 4 through 8. How can I get teacher certification through Texas A&M University?
There are two ways to obtain certification in EC-6 or grades 4-8. One, is to major in Interdisciplinary Studies as an undergraduate at Texas A&M University. The other way is to join the Graduate Certification program if you are in another major. If you are interested in the Graduate Certification program, you should plan to speak with Kara Bond (karabond@tamu.edu) as soon as possible.
The English department in the College of Liberal Arts will be offering a grades 4-8 certification in the near future.
I am a senior about to graduate. Is it too late to get my teacher certification?
No, it’s not! At this point, you will be on our “Pathway 3.” If you have completed most of your major’s degree plan requirements, you can look at our Graduate Certification Program that is designed to help seniors and those who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree obtain teacher certification as well as a master’s degree.
Do I need to major in the same field I want to teach?
No, you do not have to major in the same field you teach. For example, an English major could seek teacher certification in mathematics or science. However, sometimes when your teaching field is similar to your major it can reduce the number of hours required for certification. You need to visit with your major advisor to see how the required certification courses can be used with your degree plan.