Arizona Teachers Academy

AETI: Agricultural Education Teaching, K-12 (Bachelor of Science) prepares undergraduate students to become high school teachers and FFA advisors in Arizona and surrounding states. Students will complete a course of study that encompasses multiple technical agriculture content areas as well as participate in a series of teacher preparation courses. The program concludes with a 14-week student teaching internship experience at one of its many cooperating centers throughout Arizona. This program is designed for students to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate.

For more information, please contact:
Matt Lewis
Agricultural Education Teacher Coordinator
480-277-3255

Education: Early Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 3 (Bachelor of Arts) offers students a bachelor’s degree and certification to teach children from birth through Grade 3.  And before student teaching even begins, students take methods courses at a local school and work in early childhood classrooms. This allows students to apply what they’re learning in a real classroom with real children. Other benefits include: school sites selected for their excellent teachers and programs, and a cohort setting where students proceed through the program in focused, dedicated, and supportive groups.

For more information, please contact COE Academic Advising.

Education: Elementary Education, K-8 (Bachelor of Arts) prepares undergraduate students to be certified to teach in Arizona dual-language, bilingual, ELL, and traditional elementary classrooms, with an option to obtain an endorsement for either Bilingual Education or English as a Second Language. To complete this program, students will take a semester of foundation courses, followed by three semesters of extensive fieldwork. Specialized opportunities offered through this program that are eligible for ATA funding include the Indigenous Teacher Education Program and Pathways to Teaching.

For more information, please contact COE Academic Advising.

Fine Arts: Art Education, K-12 (Bachelor of Fine Arts) prepares undergraduate art students to study the theoretical foundations of the discipline and interact with practitioners via hands-on experiences, field observations, student teaching, and community and museum internships. Students who complete the program are qualified to teach K-12 Art in Arizona and, with minor adjustments, in many other U.S. states.

For more information, please contact the School of Art’s Academic Advising Team.

Fine Arts: Music Education, PK-12 (Bachelor of Music) is committed to helping undergraduate music students develop into the finest musician-teacher possible. Classes are taught by full-time faculty who are dedicated to the field of education, and upon graduation, students will be certified to teach all aspects of music in grades PK-12 in Arizona and many other states. This degree also provides an excellent foundation for becoming a professional conductor, college professor, or professional performer.

For more information, please contact the School of Music's Academic Advising Team.

Mathematics: Secondary Mathematics Education, 6-12 (Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science) prepares Mathematics majors to be teachers using an inquiry-based approach and hands-on experiences at partner schools throughout Pima County. The goal is to not only train teachers who have strong Mathematical content knowledge but also provide them with the pedagogical tools to be reflective and innovative practitioners. This program is designed for students to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate.

For more information, please contact the Math Center.

Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities, K-12 (Bachelor of Science) prepares undergraduate participants to work with younger students with mild to moderate disabilities in the areas of learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders. Upon successful completion of all coursework, the student teaching internship, and a standardized proficiency assessment, participants will be certified in Arizona to teach students with mild to moderate disabilities in K-12 settings. A 100% online version of the MMD program is also available through Arizona Online.

For more information, please contact COE Academic Advising.

AETI: Agricultural Education Training, K-12 (Master of Agricultural Education; Master of Science) prepares individuals who have completed a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to teach agriculture at the secondary level. Once students have completed the program, they will qualify for Arizona certification to teach in K-12 settings.

For more information, please contact:
Matt Lewis
Agricultural Education Teacher Coordinator
480-277-3255

Applied Science and Technology: Cybersecurity Dual Enrollment Graduate Certificate is a fully online 18-credit program for educators interested in teaching cybersecurity as a dual enrollment course in an Arizona high school setting. The coursework is a blend of introductory principles in security scripting and cybersecurity principles, followed by more advanced courses in offensive and defensive cyber operations. Please note: this program is not designed for students to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate, only dual enrollment certification.

For more information, please contact the College of Applied Science and Technology.

Education: Humanizing and Culturally Affirming Teacher Program, 6-12 (Master of Education, South campuses) is a two-year alternative certificate program where teacher candidates from non-education backgrounds develop as teachers, meet certification requirements, and earn a master’s degree while employed full-time in middle schools and high schools throughout Arizona. With a robust conceptual framework based on equity literacy, the program uses context-specific pedagogy to help nurture teachers’ appreciation for the unique schools and students they serve.

For more information, please contact:
Jeanette Gabaldón
Program Co-Director
520-240-7691

Education: Language, Reading, and Culture, K-12 (Master of Arts) is a two-year program that provides a foundational understanding of theory, research, and practice in language, literacy, biliteracy, youth literature, and culture. Students are encouraged to examine through inquiry-based processes a range of critical issues within teaching and learning. Please note: this program is not designed for students to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate.

For more information, please contact:
Suzanne Kaplan, Ph.D.
Program Advisor
520-444-9029

Education: Teach Arizona, 6-12 (Master of Education, Tucson and Statewide cohorts) is a one-year program that provides a unique blend of theoretical study and extensive real-world training for professionals interested in leveraging their non-education backgrounds to become expertly-prepared high school or middle school teachers. The state-wide program offers participants a full-time course of study that includes a full year of field experiences in a local classroom. Supported by both a cohort community and experienced faculty members, participants will graduate and be eligible for an Arizona secondary teaching certificate in English, Math, Science, Social Studies and World Languages.

For more information, please contact:
Patty Stowers, Ed.D.
Program Director
520-621-6993

Education: Teachers in Industry, K-12 (Master of Arts or Professional Development Credit) provides practicing K-12 classroom teachers with either (1) graduate coursework and professional development credit during the summer over the course of three years, or (2) a master’s degree through the two-year Teaching and Learning program. Along the way, teachers are eligible for paid summer internships in collaboration with industry partners, allowing them to gain valuable firsthand experience and insights into various professions. This initiative helps teachers integrate real-world knowledge into their classrooms and equips them to better prepare students for future careers. Please note: this program is not designed for students to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate.

For more information, please contact:
Suzanne Kaplan, Ph.D.
Program Director
520-444-9029

Education: Teaching and Learning, K-12 (Master of Arts) is a two-year program that provides a greater understanding of teaching and learning both within the traditional K-12 classroom setting and outside of it. With flexible degree options, students have the opportunity to focus on their own educational interests and/or areas of growth. Students meet synchronously via Zoom for classes. Please note: this program is not designed for students to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate.

For more information, please contact:
Suzanne Kaplan, Ph.D.
Program Advisor
520-444-9029

Fine Arts: Art Education, K-12 (Master of Arts) prepares students who wish to have an advanced understanding within the field of Art Education, with a pathway leading to certification to teach K-12 Art in Arizona and, with minor adjustments, in many other U.S. states.

For more information, please contact:
Ryan Shin, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
520-621-1253

Social and Behavioral Sciences: Mexican American Studies Dual Enrollment Graduate Certificate is a dynamic course of study that has been developed for high school teachers to (1) advance their understanding of the large Mexican American and Latino populations in the United States and (2) obtain graduate credit to teach high school dual enrollment courses on Mexican American Studies through Pima Community College (PCC). Please note: this program is not designed for students to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate, only dual enrollment certification though PCC.

For more information, please contact:
Lucia Echeverria Madera
Program Coordinator
520-621-0039

Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Birth-Grade 12 (Master of Arts) prepares participants to support families and teach students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The program is accredited through the Council on Education of the Deaf and leads to Arizona state certification in "Hearing Impaired". This fully online program can be completed in two years.

For more information, please contact:
M. Christina Rivera, Ph.D.
Program Director
520-621-7822

Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities, K-12 (Master of Arts) prepares participants, many from non-education backgrounds, to teach K-12 students with mild to moderate disabilities and is accredited by the Arizona Department of Education. Participants who successfully complete the program are eligible to apply for the Provisional Mild-Moderate (K-12) Special Education Teaching Certificate. Participants have the option of completing the program in either two years or one.

For more information, please contact:
Toni Sparks, Ph.D.
Program Director
520-626-0419

Special Education: Severe and Multiple Disabilities, K-12 (Master of Arts) prepares participants through two years of coursework and internship experiences to apply for an Arizona K-12 teaching certificate in moderate to severe disabilities. The program emphasizes both inclusive education and evidence-based practices in the instruction of individuals with moderate to severe multiple disabilities, including autism and deafblindness.

For more information, please contact:
Stephanie MacFarland, Ph.D.
Program Director
520-621-5165

Special Education: Visual Impairments Specialization, Birth-Grade 12 (Master of Arts) is a nationally recognized program — accredited through the Arizona Department of Education and the Association of Education and Rehabilitation for People with Visual Impairments and Blindness — that prepares its participants for the challenging and rewarding profession of teaching children who are visually impaired. Upon completion of this program, graduates can apply for an Arizona teacher certificate in Visually Impaired Special Education.

For more information, please contact:
Garrison Tsinajinie, Ph.D.
Program Director
520-621-7822