ATCP Prerequisite Coursework
Before admission, applicants must demonstrate subject mastery for the desired certificate by completing prerequisite coursework or passing a PACT TExES content exam.
Transcripts must show completion of the required coursework with a “C” or better grade. Courses must be at the 1000-2000 level (freshman-sophomore) or, if specified, upper-level (3000-4000/Junior-Senior), including graduate-level courses.
Courses starting with zero are developmental and do not count toward degree mastery.
Applicants who do not meet these prerequisites are ineligible but may complete the required coursework or exam to apply for a future semester.
Accepted Course Prefixes:
- English Language Arts & Reading (ELAR): ENGL, LITR, WRIT
- Mathematics: MATH
- Science: BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, GEOL, ASTR
- Social Studies: HIST, GEOG, ECON, GOVT
Please review the following required coursework and Semester Credit Hours (SCH) per certification area for eligibility.
Core-Subjects (EC-6)
Early Childhood through 6th Grade
3 SCH in each subject area totaling 12 SCH:
- English Language Arts and Reading
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Special Education (EC-12)
Early Childhood through Grade 12
3 SCH in each subject area totaling 12 SCH:
- English Language Arts and Reading
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Note: Special Education teachers must also demonstrate knowledge of each subject by passing a specific content area exam.
- Core Subjects EC-6 or
- Core Subjects 4-8
Core Subjects (4-8)
Middle School: Grades 4 through 8
18 SCH of the following with at least 3 SCH in each:
- English Language Arts and Reading
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
The remaining 6 SCH may be from any listed subject.
English Language Arts, Reading (ELAR), and Social Studies
Middle School: Grades 4 through 8
18 SCH of the following with at least 3 SCH in each:
- History
- Geography
- Economics
- Government
The remaining 6 SCH may be from any listed subject.
Mathematics (4-8)
Middle School: Grades 4 through 8
18 SCH of Mathematics with at least 6 SCH of upper-level courses:
The first digit describes the grade level.
- MATH 1314: College Algebra is a 1st year course.
- MATH 3349: Inferential Statistics is a 3rd year-level course.
Mathematics (7-12)
High School: Grades 7 through 12
18 SCH of Mathematics with at least 12 SCH of upper-level courses:
The first digit describes the grade level.
- MATH 2305: Discrete Mathematics is a 2nd year course.
- MATH 4355: Mathematices of Signal Representation is a 4th year course
Science (4-12)
Middle School: Grades 4 through 8
High School: Grades 8 through 12)
18 SCH of the following with 3 SCH in each:
- Life Science/Biology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Earth or Space Science
The remaining 6 SCH may be from any listed subject.
This option allows any science within grades 4-8 or 7-12.
Life Science (7-12)
High School: Grades 7 through 12
18 SCH of Biology with at least 12 SCH of upper-level courses:
The first digit describes the grade level.
- BIOL 1306: Biology for Science Majors is a 1st-year course.
- BIOL 4374: Cell Biology is a 4th year course.
The remaining 6 SCH may be from any listed subject.
This option limits the teaching options to Biology.
Social Studies (4-8)
Middle School: Grades 4 through 8
18 SCH of the following with 3 SCH in each:
- History
- Geography
- Economics
- Government
The remaining 6 SCH may be from any listed subject.
Physical Science (6-12)
High School: Grades 6 through 12
18 SCH with at least 3 SCH each in the following.
- Biology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Earth/Space Science
The remaining 6 SCH may be from any listed subject.
Bilingual Education
Supplemental
Students interested in the Core Subjects for Elementary or Middle School may add bilingual education to the base certificate.
This is not a standalone certificate.
English as a Second Language
Supplemental
Students interested in the Core Subjects for Elementary or Middle School may add ESL to the base certificate.
This is not a standalone certificate.
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