Teacher Education

Explore on This Page

• Our Program
• Degrees & Certificates
• How Much Time & Money to Finish?
• Earn More Choices & More Money
• Start on Your Pathway!

Our Program

Why Choose Teacher Education?

• Earn your Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) at TCC & easily transfer to one of our many partner 4-year colleges or universities to complete your bachelor's degree & earn Texas teacher certification
• Be able to balance your work or personal life with our conveniently scheduled classes
• Gain both a general education foundation & a specialization
• Share your passion for teaching & learning in a field that is intrinsically rewarding

Prepare for What You Will Do at Work

• Develop lesson plans & assignments for teaching subjects to students
• Grade exams & evaluate projects
• Prepare students for required standardized tests
• Assess students’ special needs & adapt lessons

Marketable Skills You Will Learn

• Critical thinking
• Reasoning
• Communication
• Personal and social responsibility
• Teamwork
• Computer literacy

Before You Enroll, Think About:

Academic Requirements

• Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment
  • You must earn college-ready scores or higher.
  • For our degree programs, you must pass the Math section of the TSI:
    • EC-6th or Grades 4–8 A.A.T.: Algebraic math pathway required
    • High school A.A.T.: Algebraic math pathway not required
• Graduation
  • Our A.A.T. requires a minimum GPA of 2.75.

Field Experience

You are required to observe certified teachers in a classroom setting (private or public). We schedule classroom observations on an individual basis, primarily according to your availability.

Each teacher education (EDUC) course requires you to participate in a minimum of 16 hours of field experience.

Criminal Background Checks

You must undergo a criminal background check before registering for any teacher education (EDUC) course. Once a year, criminal background checks are conducted at both campuses.

See your campus Field Placement Contact for more details.

Licensing Notice: Texas House Bill 1508

This program prepares you for an occupational license. However, you may not be eligible for licensing if you have a prior criminal history.

For more details, see Texas House Bill 1508 Licensing Requirements

Need a boost to get ready for college?

Talk to your advisor about Developmental Studies if your TSI scores say you need some help in math or reading and writing.

Degrees & Certificates

Explore the TCC Catalog and view the list of courses you will need to take for your degree or certificate.

Degrees

• Associate of Arts in Teaching: Early Childhood through Grade 6
• Associate of Arts in Teaching: Grades 7-12 (Formerly Associate of Arts in Teaching: 8-12 EC-12 Other Than Special Education).

Credits for Transfer

These courses provide transferable credit only and do not lead to a degree or certificate.

All Campuses

• Education (4-8 Core Subjects) Field of Study
• Education (EC-3 Core Subjects) Field of Study
• Education (EC-6 Core Subjects) Field of Study

Continuing Education Programs

• TCC Educator Preparation Program

How Much Time & Money to Finish?

2025–2026 Academic Year

Notes:

• Tuition is based on in-state, in-county rates.
• Totals do not include textbooks and other materials.

Continuing Education Programs

Time commitments and fees vary depending on the course.

Earn More Choices & More Money

Transfer to a college or university to continue your studies. Earning a bachelor’s degree opens the door to promotion opportunities.

While our program is designed to prepare you to enter the workforce, you may be ready to work toward:

• Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Education (Core Subjects with Special Education)
• Bachelor of Science in Education (4–8 English, Language Arts & Reading)

Next Steps

• Talk to your advisor about planning for transfer
• See a list of our Teacher Education Partner Universities to learn more about smooth transfers

Start on Your Pathway!