Level Up

ACU knows every student’s journey is unique and we believe everyone can be successful, given the right tools and support. Whether you are hoping to advance in your current field or change to an entirely new one, furthering your education is the first step towards that change. Supported by a faculty of Christian scholars, we prepare undergraduate and graduate students for service and leadership in both their personal and professional lives.

One of America’s Best Colleges

Named one of America’s Top Online Colleges for the fourth year in a row by Newsweek and Statista Inc., ACU continues to set the standard for online education. With a commitment to delivering academic excellence in a flexible online format, ACU Online empowers you to achieve your goals without compromising your lifestyle. Experience a world-class education designed to help you succeed—anytime, anywhere.

Turning Paraprofessionals Into Licensed Teachers

In today’s fluctuating workforce, setting one’s self apart by gaining the skills necessary to become a competitive candidate for future career opportunities is essential. Through Level Up, students will be offered the chance to advance their education by enrolling in ACU’s online Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies program. Students will then enroll in their district’s selected educator certificate program in the last semester of courses.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies program is uniquely designed to cater to adult learners and individuals with varied educational backgrounds and focuses. With the intersectionality of studying Psychology and Communication (or other areas as appropriate and approved by ACU), students will be taught the foundational aspects of effective communication and how to create more diverse environments geared toward student success in and out of the classroom. Students can connect their strengths with their goals by joining a cohort of paraprofessional educators on the same path toward expanding their role in the classroom and the teaching profession.

Program Cost

ACU offers a dedicated scholarship to paraprofessionals in Texas who are seeking a bachelor’s degree. If they’ve already obtained an associate’s degree or have completed some college coursework, paraprofessionals can enroll in our Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies program, and receive a $2,400 scholarship, which reduces the tuition to $21,300*, plus a $300 resource fee per part of term**. Other financial aid may apply. Please speak with an admissions advisor to learn more.

*Tuition costs assume 60 hours to degree completion. The total cost of the degree program will vary depending on transfer credits.
**Assessment fees may apply. Contact us for more information.

Program Format

With 120 credit hours needed to achieve a B.S. in Integrated Studies, paraprofessionals with an existing associate’s degree could transfer up to 60 hours of credit, completing their degree in as little as two years. Developing a sense of self that integrates with personal strengths and vocational and social priorities, the cohort will focus on the vital role teachers play in their student’s development. For learners interested in entering the classroom as a new teacher, this example course progression for the final two years of the bachelor’s degree gives a better sense of the required classes needed to build their teaching skills:

Communication Courses

COMO 345 Intercultural Communication

COMO 231 Small Group Communication

COMO 485 Organizational Communication

COMO 408 Crisis Management in Organizations

COMO 291 Survey Methods and Research

COMO 486 Training and Development

Psychology Courses

PSYO 232 Developmental Psychology

PSYO 392 Child Psychology

PSYO 241 Cognition and Learning

PSYO 388 Teams and Team Leadership

PSYO 370 Social Psychology

PSYO 305 Peacemaking

Degree Requirements

INTG 420 Integrated Studies Capstone

BIBO 103 Story of the New Testament

BIBO 211 Message of the Old Testament

BIBO 325 Christian Perspectives on Vocation

Recommended Electives: Select 3

FAMO 275 Child Development Ages 0-11

FAMO 280 Child Development Ages 12-18

PSYO 345 Sexual Minorities: Identities and Communities

COMO 421 Leadership and Communication

COMO 475 Persuasion

LEAD 211 Theories and Practices of Effective Leadership

LEAD 214 Self-Assessment in Leadership

LEAD 411 Decision Making in Organizations

SOCO 442 Race and Racisms

MGMT 335 Leadership in Organizations

After completing the bachelor’s degree, students will obtain a teacher certification through the district’s selected program.

WHY GET AN ONLINE DEGREE FROM ACU?

For the fifth year in a row, ACU is the highest-ranking university in Texas in the U.S. News & World Report “Programs to Look For” benchmarks focused on student success – placing in five of eight categories this year. Combine this educational excellence with the flexibility of an online format and it’s easy to understand why earning your degree from ACU Online makes sense. Whether you’re married and juggling work and kids, or a single professional meeting the demands of a growing career, ACU Online can fit into your busy life.

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LEVEL UP YOUR PARAPROFESSIONALS TO CERTIFIED TEACHERS