Admission Requirements

Education 351 students must meet the following requirements  to be eligible for the undergraduate portion of the Austin Teacher Graduate Program

Checkpoint Requirement at the end of Education 351 to continue coursework for certification:

1. Completion of Education 225 and 351 with a grade point average of 2.50 and a grade of B- or better in Education 351;
2. Successful teaching evaluations in Education 351;
3. Cumulative grade point average of 2.5 for all courses;
4. Evidence of sound physical, mental, and emotional health as attested to by the student’s signature on the Health Release Form;
5. Completion of the ATP Background Check Information Form.
6. Completion of the Texas Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educator’s Form.
7. Evidence of personal and social qualities appropriate for the teacher profession assessed by the vice president for student affairs and athletics and observations of ATP faculty in Education 225 and 351;
8. Approval by the Austin Teacher Program Admission Committee.

Note: Students may not take Education 475 prior to formal review of eligibility status in the ATP

Education 475 students must meet the following requirements to be admitted to the Austin Teacher Graduate Program:

1. Satisfactory completion of Education 475 with a grade of B- or better.
2. Successful teaching evaluations in both Education 351 and Education 475.
3. A liberal arts bachelor’s degree from Austin College or another institution and official transcripts of all undergraduate credits earned at any institution of higher education.
4. Completion of all undergraduate certification requirements including general education and teaching field(s); (Advanced level courses (300-400) which satisfy certification requirements in teaching fields and which exceed major requirements may be completed as graduate electives).
5. A basic proficiency in a language other than English; this requirement may be satisfied by passing a language course at the 200 level.
6. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 in all courses at the undergraduate level and 3.00 in the major area or teaching field(s).
7. Three recommendations including at least one Austin College faculty member in the students’ major or in each teaching field (exception: provisional graduate students with degrees from institutions other than Austin College) and recommendation from their ATP adviser or another ATP faculty member with whom they have worked. Students have the option of requesting members.
8. Approval by the Austin Teacher Program Admission Committee.
9. Completion of the Austin College writing, quantitative, and foreign language competencies.
10. Mandated Basic Skills and Critical Thinking Skills testing as set forth by the Texas State Board of Education.

Note: Students may petition to take up to a maximum of two graduate courses prior to formal admission to the graduate program. Students must be in good academic and social standing, and their requests must be approved by their ATP adviser as well as the program chair.

Provisional Admission to the Austin Teacher Graduate Program

Although the ATP is a five-year program rather than a fifth-year program, it is possible for a qualified student who has a bachelor’s degree from Austin College or another institution to apply to enter the ATP as a provisional graduate student, completing first the necessary undergraduate courses required either by Austin College or the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. Details concerning admission to the ATP through this route may be obtained from the ATP office.  Austin College is an initial certifying agency and cannot grant a MAT degree to anyone already holding any type of teaching certificate.

Admitted individuals may be eligible to substitute experience and/or professional training directly related to the certificate being sought for part of the preparation requirements.  The candidate must submit a letter to the director of the program who will then bring the matter before the Austin Teacher Program faculty.  Final approval for waiver of requirements rests with that body.

Transfer students are also encouraged to apply.