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 4-8 Generalist 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 was revised in July 2024 as a Texas Direct Field of Study, which includes the complete core degree requirements, discipline foundation courses, and directed electives. All courses lead to initial teacher certification programs at the four-year university. The Texas Direct AAT Field of Study is designed to transfer and apply to academic teaching institutions. Students are strongly encouraged to take the recommended courses in the degree plan and 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 Grades 4-8
AAT Grades 4-8 degree is appropriate for students who seek teacher certification in the following areas:
- 4-8 Generalist,
- 4-8 Bilingual Generalist,
- 4-8 ESL Generalist,
- 4-8 English Language Arts and Reading,
- 4-8 English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies,
- 4-8 Mathematics,
- 4-8 Mathematics/Science,
- 4-8 Science,
- 4-8 Social Studies, and
- 4-8 other content area teaching fields/academic disciplines/interdisciplinary majors.
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 Texas Direct 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 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.
Return to: