Educator Preparation Resources

Education Degree Programs

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board) approves new degree programs (and program changes) for institutions interested in offering degree programs in the field of Education. Education degree programs may be developed with or without teacher certification pathways embedded in them. Institutions interested in developing new degree programs in Education should follow the same procedures as for other degree program approvals. Institutions should indicate in the proposal which certification areas, if any, are aligned with the proposed degree program. Degree programs in Education approved by the Coordinating Board are subject to the same program review requirements as all other programs.

Associate Degree Programs & Fields of Study

Community colleges may offer an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) as a Texas Direct degree that incorporates the Texas Core Curriculum and one of the Board-approved education fields of study below.

The Texas Transfer Advisory Committee selected two education Field of Study pathways to be revised first (EC-6 and 4-8 Core Subjects), as well as the addition of an new EC-3 Field of Study. The remaining AAT fields of study will be revised in future faculty subcommittee convenings.

Approved Education Fields of Study (as of Spring 2024)

Education Field of StudyRequired CoursesKey changes from previous curricula
EC-3Completed Core Curriculum
EDUC 1301 (3 SCH)
EDUC 2301 (3 SCH)
EC-3 Institutional Directed Electives (12 SCH)		N/A
EC-6Completed Core Curriculum (including MATH 1314)
EDUC 1301 (3 SCH)
EDUC 2301 (3 SCH)
MATH 1350 (3 SCH)
MATH 1351 (3 SCH)
EC-6 Institutional Directed Electives (6 SCH)		Replacement of additional 6SCH of science beyond core with 6SCH of instiutional directed electives.
4-8 Core SubjectsCompleted Core Curriculum (including MATH 1314)
EDUC 1301 (3 SCH)
EDUC 2301 (3 SCH)
MATH 1350 (3 SCH)
MATH 1351 (3 SCH)
4-8 Core Subj. Institutional Directed Electives (6 SCH)		Replacement of additional 6SCH of science beyond core with 6SCH of instiutional directed electives.
4-8 ELAR
4-8 Social Studies
4-8 Math
4-8 Science
EC-6 and 4-8 Bilingual & ESL
EC-12 Special Education		Completed Core Curriculum (including MATH 1314)
EDUC 1301 (3 SCH)
EDUC 2301 (3 SCH)
MATH 1350 (3 SCH)
MATH 1351 (3 SCH)
Additional science beyond core (6 SCH)		None, revision TTAC subcommittee not convened yet.
6-12, 7-12, 8-12, EC-12 Other Than Special EducationCompleted Core Curriculum
EDUC 1301 (3 SCH)
EDUC 2301 (3 SCH)
Academic Discipline Content Area (12 SCH)		None, revision TTAC subcommittee not convened yet.

Education Fields of Study FAQs

The Coordinating Board collects the accepted Directed Electives from each public four-year institutions that offers the aligned degree program after the Field of Study has been approved. You can find the list of Directed Electives for any field of study on the the Texas Direct website, and linked in the section above for the updated Education Fields of Study. The table below also notes which four-year institutions will accept any ACGM course for the directed electives semester credit hours requirement.

EC – 3 Lamar University
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
EC – 6Lamar University
Prairie View A&M University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Sul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University-Rio Grande
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
The University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
University of Houston
4-8 Core SubjectsLamar University
Prairie View A&M University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Sul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University-Rio Grande
The University of Texas at Dallas
The University of North Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Yes. Like all Texas Direct degrees, the full 60 SCH of the AAT or another Education Texas Direct degree must be accepted by a receiving institution upon transfer as long as the student has completed the Field of Study that includes the specific directed electives for that institution. The receiving institution is not permitted to required the student to take any additional lower-division coursework per Texas Education Code, Section 61.823(b).

For more information on how the Texas Direct works in transfer, visit the Texas Direct website. Note that the original AAT was developed in 1997 and has historically required a receiving four-year institutions to accept the full 60 SCH of an AAT (per Board rule 2.53).

Community colleges are not required to offer the education fields of study within an AAT degree, but it is the most commonly used degree designation and most broadly adopted degree format for education fields of study.

The most recently approved education fields of study (EC-3, EC-6 and 4-8 Core Subjects) were approved by the Commissioner in spring of 2024. Like all new and revised Fields of Study, it is effective immediately upon approval by the Commissioner.

The Coordinating Board understands that curricular modifications can take time to implement following approval of the fields of study. For that reason, it is strongly recommended that universities and community colleges in the same regions or with existing transfer pathways work closely with each other to implement these changes. Within a year after approval, institutions should have updated curricula and universities should be prepared to accept students with AAT/Texas Direct Education degrees into degree programs with Junior standing.

General Educator Preparation FAQs

Approval timelines vary depending on the degree level and complexity of the degree program for all new degree program proposals. Institutions should plan on a minimum of 30-60 days for associate degrees and bachelor’s and master’s degrees with less than 50% new content, 60-90 days for bachelor’s and master’s degrees with 50% or more new content, and anywhere from 6-10 months for doctoral programs.

The Texas Education Agency manages the process for Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) to offer specific teacher certifications through programs and manages the review process for EPPs.

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) oversees all aspects of educator preparation certification programs and standards of conduct of public school educators. The TEA Educator Certification division provides information and assistance for educators, school districts, and the public, especially as it pertains to becoming a teacher or administrator in Texas or renewing certification.

SBEC Texas Administrative Code Rules, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 228, Subchapter B outlines the steps necessary for approval of a new educator preparation program.

Contact

Inquiries regarding Educator Preparation should be directed to Emma Gelsinger, Senior Director, Academic and Health Affairs.

Email Emma Gelsingerhyperlink to fast program page