ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Graduate Certification Program at Texas A&M University serves as Pathway 3 of the aggieTEACH program, whose mission is to prepare non-education students as future educators for initial teacher certification. Learn more here: https://tlac.tamu.edu/academics/aggieteach-secondary-education
The Graduate Certification Program is designed for individuals 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
Track 2: M.Ed. + Teacher Certification
Program Overview
Candidates are formally admitted upon recommendation of Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC) faculty and progress through the summer, fall and spring semesters as a cohort.
Per Texas Education Agency (TEA), to be certified as a Texas teacher an individual must
- Apply for certification with the Texas Education Agency (TEA)
- Pass state exams in content and professional responsibilities and pedagogy
- Be recommended to the State by a University Supervisor and school administrator or cooperating teacher
- Complete a paid internship as a teacher in a Texas public, charter or TEA-recognized private school setting, or complete an unpaid 16-week clinical teaching assignment
- Have previously earned a Bachelor’s degree
- Demonstrate competency in the basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics
Program Details
Degrees Offered: Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction, non-thesis
Texas Teacher Certifications Offered: EC-6, 4-8 content areas, 7-12 content areas
Program Delivery: On-campus and online (51% distance learning)
TRACK 1: Teacher Certification Only
Intended for individuals interested only in obtaining Texas teacher certification. Candidates earn a teaching certificate and 21 graduate credits.
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning*
- Undergraduate students may apply in the fall of their final year of undergraduate study (Application deadlines: October 1 or December 1)
- An overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- Minimum number of content-area credit hours (see below)
- Meeting with Program Advisor prior to application submission (Zoom or phone)
- Passing score on TX PACT exam uploaded in AIS
- Application and acceptance to both TAMU Graduate School & Graduate Certification Program
- Step-by-step instructions may be found on TLAC’s Graduate Admission’s Page (scroll to the bottom of the page)
- Specify that you are enrolling in “Distance Learning”
- *If you graduated from a non-US college or university:
- Submit foreign transcripts evaluated and translated by a TEA approved foreign credential service. The report should specifically state if you received the U. S. equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in your subject area and provide a detailed list of all coursework.
- Demonstrate English language proficiency.
Pre-Requisite Coursework
TEFB 324: Teaching in Secondary School*
INST 210: Understanding Special Populations* OR SPED 621: Overview of Exceptional Children*
Required Coursework (21 hours)
EDCI 611: Teaching English as a Second Language OR RDNG 603: Reading Instruction in High School
TEED 602: Contemporary Perspectives on Education
TEED 649: Instructional Strategies
TEED 682 (Fall): Seminar (online with two Saturday face-to-face)
TEED 684 (Fall): Internship
TEED 682 (Spring): Seminar (online with two Saturday face-to-face)
TEED 684 (Spring): Internship
TRACK 2: M.Ed. + Teacher Certification
Intended for individuals interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction and obtaining Texas teacher certification.
Candidates earn a teaching certificate and masters degree within a 36 credit hour program.
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning*
- Undergraduate students may apply in the fall of their final year of undergraduate study (Application deadlines: October 1 or December 1)
- An overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- Minimum number of content-area credit hours (see below)
- Meeting with Program Advisor prior to application submission (Zoom or phone)
- Passing score on TX PACT exam uploaded in AIS
- Application and acceptance to both TAMU Graduate School & Graduate Certification Program
- Step-by-step instructions may be found on TLAC’s Graduate Admission’s Page (scroll to the bottom of the page)
- Specify that you are enrolling in “Distance Learning”
*If you graduated from a non-US college or university:
- Submit foreign transcripts evaluated and translated by a TEA approved foreign credential service. The report should specifically state if you received the U. S. equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in your subject area and provide a detailed list of all coursework.
- Demonstrate English language proficiency.
Pre-Requisite Coursework
TEFB 324: Teaching in Secondary School*
INST 210: Understanding Special Populations* OR SPED 621: Overview of Exceptional Children*
Required Coursework (36 hours)
EDCI 611: Teaching English as a Second Language OR RDNG 603:
Reading Instruction in High School
TEED 602: Contemporary Perspectives on Education
TEED 649: Instructional Strategies
TEED 682 (Fall): Seminar (online with two Saturday face-to-face)
TEED 684 (Fall): Internship
TEED 682 (Spring): Seminar (online with two Saturday face-to-face)
TEED 684 (Spring: Internship
EDCI 602: Cultural Foundations of Education
EDCI 644: Curriculum Development
EDCI: 673: Analysis of Teacher Behavior
*These courses may count as electives for the M.Ed.
Certifications Offered
| Certification | Minimum Credit Hours Required | TX Pact Exam |
|---|---|---|
| EC-6 Generalist | 27 total- 6 English, 3 reading, 6 math, 6 science, 6 social studies | TX PACT (700) |
| 4-8 Core Subjects | 27 total- 6 English, 3 reading, 6 math, 6 science, 6 social studies | TX PACT (790) |
| Chemistry 7-12 | 18 chemistry | TX PACT (740) |
| Computer Science 8-12 | 18 computer science | TX PACT (741) |
| English Language Arts, Reading 4-8 | 15 English, 3 reading | TX PACT (717) |
| English Language Arts, Reading 7-12 | 15 English, 3 reading | TX PACT (731) |
| History 7-12 | 18 history | TX PACT (733) |
| LOTE French EC-12 | 18 French | TX PACT (710) |
| LOTE: German EC-12 | 18 German | TX PACT (711) |
| LOTE: Latin EC-12 | 18 Latin | TX PACT (712) |
| LOTE: Spanish EC-12 | 18 Spanish | TX PACT (713) |
| Life Science 7-12 | 18 total biology/chemistry | TX PACT (738) |
| Mathematics 4-8 | 18 mathematics | TX PACT (715) |
| Mathematics 7-12 | 18 mathematics | TX PACT (735) |
| Physical Science 6-12 | 18 total physics/chemistry | TX PACT (737) |
| Physics 7-12 | 18 physics | TX PACT (739) |
| Science 4-8 | 24 total- biology, chemistry, geology, and physics | TX PACT (716) |
| Science 7-12 | 24 total- biology, chemistry, geology, and physics | TX PACT (736) |
| Social Studies 4-8 | 24 total- economics, geography, history, and political science | TX PACT (718) |
| Social Studies 7-12 | 24 total- economics, geography, history, and political science | TX PACT (732) |
For more information about the process of becoming a certified teacher in Texas, please click the link below.
Internship
Candidates can meet the internship requirements of the Texas Education Agency and Graduate Certification program by being hired as a teacher of record and teaching full-time in their certification field.* Internships may be completed in any public, charter or private school recognized by TEA.
Students are responsible for
- Applying to Texas districts/schools
- Interviewing
- Signing a teacher contract
- Applying for certification with TEA
- Completing a Criminal History check with the hiring district
- Fulfilling job responsibilities and TX Educator Code of Ethics
*Admission to the Graduate Certification program does not guarantee employment.
Resources
Tuition & Fees
Texas A&M University Tuition Calculator
* be sure to change your credit hours based on the program of interest. Please note, with the exception of the first summer term when classes are taken on-campus, the remainder of the program is delivered in an online/distance education format. Courses taken on-campus are assessed campus-based fees. Courses taken online/distance education are assessed distance education differential tuition and fees.
Contact Advisors
Program Inquiries
Jane Rankin
Program Manager
Admissions Processing
Kara Bond
Academic Advisor III
Contact Faculty
