Pathway to Teaching
Whether you begin as a Trinity undergraduate student or apply from another institution, Trinity’s teacher preparation pathway combines graduate coursework, classroom experience, mentorship, and professional certification preparation into a cohesive learning journey.
Prerequisites
General Prerequisites
- Baccalaureate degree
- 50 field experience observation hours in a state school classroom
- Google Certified Educator, Level 1 or a computer or technology course
- EDUC 1431: Understanding Learners with Exceptionalities (similar course can be substituted)
- EDUC 3420: Child and Adolescent Development (similar course can be substituted)
Prerequisites - Elementary
- EDUC 2301: Practicum Early Childhood Teaching Exploration (similar course can be substituted)
- EDUC 3301: Field Seminar in Elementary Literacy (similar course can be substituted)
- EDUC 3341: Teaching Science in Elementary (similar course can be substituted)
- EDUC 3351: Teaching Mathematics in Elementary School (similar course can be substituted)
Prerequisites - Secondary
- EDUC 2302: Practicum Secondary Teaching Exploration (similar course can be substituted)
- EDUC 3302: Field Seminar in Secondary Teaching (similar course can be substituted)
Prerequisites - Music
- EDUC 2204: Practicum: Music EC-6
- EDUC 2205: Practicum: Music 5-12
12-Month Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Teaching is a 30-hour graduate program completed across three semesters beginning in the summer term. Students move through the program as part of a close-knit cohort while completing immersive classroom experiences under the guidance of mentor teachers and university faculty.
Summer Semester
Students begin with foundational coursework focused on:
- Curriculum inquiry and instructional practice
- Teaching methods
- Literacy and content-area pedagogy
Fall Semester
During the fall, students:
- Complete clinical teaching experiences
- Study pedagogical theory and instructional design
- Learn strategies for teaching diverse learners
- Continue mentorship and classroom observation
Spring Semester
In the final semester, students:
- Complete advanced clinical practice
- Participate in graduate internship seminars
- Explore school leadership and innovative practices evaluation
- Refine instructional practice through sustained classroom engagement
Throughout the program, students complete field experiences in Trinity’s Professional Development Schools and partner districts.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in Teaching combines graduate coursework and clinical teaching experiences to prepare candidates for successful teaching careers.
- Complete Graduate coursework with a GPA of 3.0
- Complete any additional program requirements not listed
View all requirements and courses
Certification Requirements
Register, pay, and pass certification exams (and/or edTPA portfolio assessment)
- Earn a master’s degree
- Complete clinical teaching experience
- Apply for TEA state application fee
- Receive certification recommendation. *Note: Prices may change.
- Complete a fingerprinting/background check. *There is potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate; however, the individual has a right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation from TEA.
Military and Experience Policy
In accordance with 19 TAC 228.35(a)(5), the Department of Education at Trinity University evaluates, and may accept, military service, training, or education toward fulfillment of program prerequisite admission requirements. Military service, training, or education must be directly related to the certificate being sought and may not take the place of certification examinations. To be eligible, individuals must meet one or both of the following requirements:
- Honorably discharged from the U.S. military, or
- Completed a minimum of two years of service in the U.S. military and have been discharged as a result of a service-related disability.
For more information, contact the Department of Education at @email or (210) 999-7501.
Applicants should include a Joint Services Transcript or other verifiable documentation of military service, training, or education with their application to graduate study.
Applicants who are not military service members or military veterans can request the Department of Education to evaluate previous service, training, or education toward fulfillment of program prerequisite admission requirements. Service, training, or education may not count as part of internship, clinical teaching, or practicum requirements, must be directly related to the certificate being sought, and must be provided by an approved EPP or accredited institution of higher education within the past five years. Applicants should include official transcripts or other verifiable documentation with their application to graduate study.