The Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree offers the first two years of initial teacher certification classes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approves this degree (THECB)-approved collegiate degree program consisting of lower-division courses intended for transfer to baccalaureate programs that lead to initial Texas teacher certification.
North Central Texas College has particular transfer agreements for this degree program with the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University, Midwestern State University, and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Early Childhood-Grade 6 degree program is also designed to help teacher aides and paraprofessionals who seek college credit hours. Substitute teachers would also benefit from the education courses offered in the degree program.
The AAT degree includes the complete core degree requirements, the Field of Study, and additional mathematics and science courses. All courses lead to initial teacher certification programs at the four-year university. Students are strongly encouraged to seek advice for all AAT degree programs.
Most university teacher education programs require a 2.50 overall GPA and a 3.0 or higher in Field of Study courses. Each university also specifies a required minimum THEA score for entrance to their respective Colleges of Education.
AAT Secondary Grades 7-12
AAT Secondary Grades 7-12 degree is appropriate for students who seek teacher certification in the following areas:
- Mathematics,
- Science (Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science, or General Science)
- English Language Arts and Reading,
- History, and
- Foreign Language.
In order to successfully complete any of the AAT degree programs, students will be required to pass a criminal background check and complete a field experience lab component in each of their field of study courses.
Associate of Arts in Teaching
The Associate of Arts in Teaching degree (AAT) is a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)-approved collegiate degree program consisting of lower division courses intended for transfer to baccalaureate programs that lead to initial Texas teacher certification. The AAT degree as defined by THECB is fully transferable to all Texas public universities. Because the AAT fulfills the requirements of the field of study curriculum statutes and THECB rules, all Texas public universities must accept the AAT curricula if they offer the applicable baccalaureate degrees leading to initial teacher certification. However, students who complete the AAT will be required to meet any and all entrance requirements of the receiving university and the educator preparation program, including grade point averages and/or testing requirements.
Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the teaching profession’s main tenets.
- Demonstrate an understanding of multicultural perspectives in education, including special education, English as a Second Language (ESL), cultural differences, socioeconomic differences, and issues dealing with urban, rural, and suburban schools.
- Identify the major ideas and influences of major educational theorists.
- Categorize methods of teacher/parent communication into two distinct categories, one-way and two-way communication.
This program is designed to take 4 full-long semesters to complete and is comprised of the following suggested pathway or course of study. This degree can be completed either online or face-to-face, contingent on course scheduling and availability.
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