Pride Pathway
Affordable and Flexible Bachelor’s Leading to Teacher Certification
Texas schools need your talent and experience working in local schools. As an ISD employee, you can complete your bachelor’s and earn a teacher certification online without quitting your full-time job.
Ready to teach the next generation and shape the future? Whether you need to start or finish your degree, or just need teacher certification, our Pride Pathway program offers a competency-based path to teaching that fits your busy life. Gain the skills and knowledge to embark on your teaching career while benefiting from low tuition and accelerated, seven-week terms designed to get you into the classroom quickly and affordably.
I ALREADY HAVE A BACHELOR’S
Alternative Teacher Certification, Competency-Based
Become an educator with a competency-based program that helps you prepare for an impactful career leading the next generation. Designed for working professionals, this program offers fully online coursework so you can plan your studies around your busy life. Accelerate your degree completion and get in the classroom sooner.
I DO NOT HAVE A BACHELOR’S
Bachelor’s Leading to Certification
If you are a current ISD employee and do not currently hold a bachelor’s degree, this pathway is perfect for you. You will begin by completing your bachelor’s degree followed by obtaining your teacher certification through our alternative certification program. This program takes approximately two years.
Through targeted coursework within the General Studies program, you’ll integrate your prior achievements, gaining the credibility and knowledge necessary to excel in the field of education. You’ll develop a versatile skill set, including adaptability and critical thinking, essential for success as an educator in today's dynamic educational landscape.
Submit your application.
- Select “General Studies Pride Pathway (GSCB) ” as your “Major.”
Send your school transcript via our secure document upload or request that your official high school transcript and transcripts for any college credit you have completed be sent to [email protected].
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: College of Innovation and Design
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011We will need official/original documents.
ACT or SAT scores are optional for admission. If submitting scores, use the A&M-Commerce codes 4088 (ACT) and 6188 (SAT) from encoura.org or collegeboard.org.
Your myLEO username is your CWID and your default password is your date of birth beginning with the three-letter abbreviated month (MonDDYYYY). You may refer to our guide for first-time login instructions.
- Username: CWID
- Password: Date of Birth (MonDDYYYY)
- Within myLeo, check out the APPS tab for LeoMail, LeoPay and D2L Brightspace, where you will access your online classes, and more.
- Check out the Student Resources tab for student information, including Undergrad DegreeWorks, your interactive degree audit, class schedules, financial aid status and awards, and more.
When you sign in to myLEO, the Financial Agreement will pop up. You’ll need to read over the agreement, select the checkbox and select “Continue.”
If you missed it or accidentally closed the window, you can get the agreement to pop up again by following these steps.
- Sign in to myLEO.
- Go to the Student Resources Tab.
- Scroll to Student Information,
- Click on Registration Menu. If you have not already completed the Financial Responsibility, it will appear here.
If you are not a self-pay student, you may qualify for financial aid to help pay for your classes.
Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
You do not have to complete the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) if you have met one of the following:
- Met minimum college readiness standard on the SAT or ACT
- Obtained the minimum required score(s) on the statewide high school STAAR EOCs Algebra II and English III exams (these are optional for high schools)
- Met a veteran or active military waiver (must meet specific requirements for each category)
- Received exemption based on earning a prior degree
- Received a transfer exemption (declaration by another institution)
- Completed prior college-level coursework
Students are responsible for providing proof of exemption and will be considered assessment required until documentation is provided of state exemption. For more information, please contact the Testing Center at [email protected].
To access your Undergrad DegreeWorks online degree plan:
- Log into myLEO.
- Select the Student Resources tab from the home screen.
- Scroll to Student Information
- Select Undergrad DegreeWorks.
Course Delivery and Resources General Studies Competency-Based
There are three components to the 120-credit-hour degree. You may customize your professional development and career readiness courses. You may also transfer previous college credits, WECM and military experience to apply toward your degree.
- General Education/Core Curriculum (42 semester credit hours)
You have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of general education competencies without needlessly sitting through introductory courses. - Professional Development Electives (66 semester credit hours*)
You are able to demonstrate competency in a variety of related fields. - Upper Division Applied Coursework (12 semester credit hours)
You will build on and apply work-related skills.
You begin each term by registering for up to two courses. When you complete all of your current courses before the end of a term, you have the opportunity to take and complete another course by the end of the term. You can accelerate an unlimited number of times in a given term. Using this method, you are able to shorten your time to degree completion. You are not allowed to add courses during the final week of the term.
Did you miss the registration window? Don’t worry! You have two available registration opportunities each semester!
For specific dates, email our advising office at [email protected]
*A total of 36 semester credit hours must be upper-level courses.
Back to menuAfter graduating with your competency-based bachelor’s in general studies, apply for and complete your teacher certification.
Coursework includes:
- EDCB 514: Management and Curriculum Development for Diverse Learners
- EDCB 517: Reading and Learning in K-12 Content Area
- EDCB 519: Response To Intervention
- EDCB 566: Learning Environments and Instructional Design for the K-12 Classroom
- RDCB 516: Fundamentals of Reading
- EDCB 515: Evidence-Based Teaching (taken in conjunction with teaching assignment)
A degree in organizational leadership can prepare you for teaching by honing your communication skills, fostering effective collaboration, and instilling leadership qualities that are crucial for managing a classroom. Additionally, your problem-solving and critical thinking training will equip you to adapt lesson plans, address classroom dynamics and advocate for students’ needs, ensuring a dynamic learning environment conducive to student success.
Submit your application through ApplyTexas.
- Select “Create a new undergraduate admissions application.”
- Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
- Select “ORGL – Organizational Leadership” as your “Major.”
Send your school transcript via our secure document upload or request that your official high school transcript and transcripts for any college credit you have completed be sent to [email protected].
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: College of Innovation and Design
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011We will need official/original documents.
ACT or SAT scores are optional for admission. If submitting scores, use the A&M-Commerce codes 4088 (ACT) and 6188 (SAT) from encoura.org or collegeboard.org.
Your myLEO username is your CWID and your default password is your date of birth beginning with the three-letter abbreviated month (MonDDYYYY). You may refer to our guide for first-time login instructions.
- Username: CWID
- Password: Date of Birth (MonDDYYYY)
- Within myLeo, check out the APPS tab for LeoMail, LeoPay and D2L Brightspace, where you will access your online classes, and more.
- Check out the Student Resources tab for student information, including Undergrad DegreeWorks, your interactive degree audit, class schedules, financial aid status and awards, and more.
When you sign in to myLEO, the Financial Agreement will pop up. You’ll need to read over the agreement, select the checkbox and select “Continue.”
If you missed it or accidentally closed the window, you can get the agreement to pop up again by following these steps.
- Sign in to myLEO.
- Go to the Student Resources Tab.
- Scroll to Student Information,
- Click on Registration Menu. If you have not already completed the Financial Responsibility, it will appear here.
If you are not a self-pay student, you may qualify for financial aid to help pay for your classes.
Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
You do not have to complete the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) if you have met one of the following:
- Met minimum college readiness standard on the SAT or ACT
- Obtained the minimum required score(s) on the statewide high school STAAR EOCs Algebra II and English III exams (these are optional for high schools)
- Met a veteran or active military waiver (must meet specific requirements for each category)
- Received exemption based on earning a prior degree
- Received a transfer exemption (declaration by another institution)
- Completed prior college-level coursework
Students are responsible for providing proof of exemption and will be considered assessment required until documentation is provided of state exemption. For more information, please contact the Testing Center at [email protected].
To access your Undergrad DegreeWorks online degree plan:
- Log into myLEO.
- Select the Student Resources tab from the home screen.
- Scroll to Student Information
- Select Undergrad DegreeWorks.
- Once admitted, your advisor will contact you by email.
- Complete Online New Student Orientation. Your advisor will register you for this course and all future courses.
- Review Texas Success Initiative (TSI) if required
Course Delivery and Resources Organizational Leadership (BAAS)
There are three components to the 120-credit-hour degree
- General Education/Core Curriculum (42 semester credit hours)
You have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of general education competencies without needlessly sitting through introductory courses. - Professional Development Electives (48 semester credit hours)
You are able to demonstrate competency in a variety of related fields. - Upper Division Applied Coursework (30 semester credit hours)
You will build on and apply work-related skills in four mastery areas.
Through competency-based education, you begin each term by registering for up to two courses. When you complete all of your current courses before the end of a term, you have the opportunity to take and complete another course by the end of the term. You can accelerate an unlimited number of times in a given term. Using this method, you are able to shorten your time to degree completion. You are not allowed to add courses during the final week of the term.
Did you miss the registration window? Don’t worry! You have two available registration opportunities each semester! For specific dates, email our advising office at [email protected].
After graduating with your competency-based bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, apply for and complete your teacher certification.
Coursework includes:
- EDCB 514: Management and Curriculum Development for Diverse Learners
- EDCB 517: Reading and Learning in K-12 Content Area
- EDCB 519: Response To Intervention
- EDCB 566: Learning Environments and Instructional Design for the K-12 Classroom
- RDCB 516: Fundamentals of Reading
- EDCB 515: Evidence-Based Teaching (taken in conjunction with teaching assignment)
We’re Here to Help
Contact Us
- Pride Pathway
- 903.468.3318
- 903.468.3318
- [email protected]
- P.O. Box 3011
- Commerce, TX 75429-3011