The Associate of Arts in Teaching is a state-approved collegiate degree program consisting of lower-division courses intended for transfer to baccalaureate programs that lead to initial Texas teacher certification.
AWARD TYPES: Associate in Arts
AREA OF STUDY: Liberal Arts & Humanities
Learn more about the Degrees and Certificates offered by this program by visiting the HCC Catalog.
Explain the contexts of classrooms serving special populations in general and special education classrooms or settings.
Analyze and evaluate teacher preparation programs, effective teaching strategies, their own employability, and the role of educators as they decide whether teaching could be a satisfying career for them.
Describe the characteristics of exceptional learners, including legal implications.
Explore, examine, and evaluate one of the current issues affecting the field of education today, such as instructional methods, learning, curriculum, students, teachers, families, administration, school policy, or school law.
General Requirements
If a student completes any part of an AAT Field of Study (FOS) curriculum as developed by the Texas Higher Education Board, the FOS courses will be transferred to a Texas public higher educational institution and must be substituted for that institution’s lower division requirements in the degree program leading to initial Texas teacher certification. The student shall receive full academic credit for the transferred FOS courses in the related university degree program leading to initial Texas teacher certification. The following universities have approved the AAT plan below for transfer toward initial Texas teacher certification: Prairie View A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, University of Houston, University of Houston-Downtown, University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of Houston-Victoria, University of St. Thomas and Texas Tech University.
To be eligible for an Associate in Arts (AA), an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), or an Associate in Science (AS) degree from HCC, a student must successfully:
Complete at least 60 semester hours of credit as follows: (a) for the AA degree, 43 hours of required core courses and 17 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major (b) for the AAT degree, 44 hours of required core courses plus 16-18 hours of required pre-teaching courses (c) for the AS degree, 43 hours of required core courses plus six additional hours of mathematics, four additional hours of natural science, and 7 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major.
Additional Degree Requirements
A student who has received an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution must meet specific requirements to earn an additional degree from HCC.
Employment
There are 37,022 Elementary School Teachers, 17,949 Middle School Teachers, and 23,670 High School Teachers employed in the Greater Houston Area . These number are expected to increase by 18.9% over the next four years.
Online Program Restrictions
Some online programs may require up to 15% of their curriculum be taken in-person on one of HCC’s campuses. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.
Language Option Restrictions
Some online programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.
Elective Course Restrictions
Some online programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.
Required Course Restrictions
Some online programs may require students to participate in one or more campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.
Some online courses may have face-to-face requirements for exams, laboratory sessions, and other activities. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.
Learn more about the marketable skills—skills valued by employers that can be applied in variety of work settings—so you can communicate these to potential employers. Click on the relevant award title below to see descriptions of marketable skills for that area.
