Level Up Your Career With a Degree from ACU

Abilene Christian University (ACU) and Education Service Center Region 13 have partnered to offer a unique set of fully online courses and exclusive pathways for motivated paraprofessionals in Central Texas. Dedicated to improving and developing future Texas educators, Level Up guides existing paraprofessionals like you toward achieving teacher certification in Texas and obtaining your online Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies degree during your co-enrollment in ESC Region 13’s Educator Certificate Program.
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Abilene Christian University (ACU) and Education Service Center Region 13 have partnered to offer a unique set of fully online courses and exclusive pathways for motivated paraprofessionals in Central Texas. Dedicated to improving and developing future Texas educators, Level Up guides existing paraprofessionals like you toward achieving teacher certification in Texas and obtaining your online Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies degree during your co-enrollment in ESC Region 13’s Educator Certificate Program.

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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

For the fifth straight year, Newsweek and Statista Inc. have named Abilene Christian University one of America’s Top Online Colleges. ACU Online blends academic excellence with unmatched flexibility, so you can earn a world-class degree on your terms, wherever life takes you.

Level Up

Turning Paraprofessionals Into Licensed Teachers

In today’s fluctuating workforce, setting yourself apart by gaining the skills necessary to become a competitive candidate for future career opportunities is essential. Through Level Up, you will be offered the chance to advance your education by enrolling in ACU’s online Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies program while simultaneously co-enrolled in the ESC Region 13’s Educator Certificate Program.

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), you 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. You can connect your strengths with your goals by joining a cohort of paraprofessional educators on the same path toward expanding their role in the classroom and the teaching profession.

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, your 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 your bachelor’s degree gives you a better sense of the required classes needed to build your teaching skills:

Communication Courses

COMO 345Intercultural Communication
COMO 231Small Group Communication
COMO 485Organizational Communication
COMO 408Crisis Management in Organizations
COMO 291Survey Methods and Research
COMO 486Training and Development

Psychology Courses

PSYO 232Developmental Psychology
PSYO 392Child Psychology
PSYO 241Cognition and Learning
PSYO 388Teams and Team Leadership
PSYO 370Social Psychology
PSYO 305Peacemaking

Recommended Electives: Select 3

FAMO 275Child Development Ages 0-11
FAMO 280Child Development Ages 12-18
PSYO 345Sexual Minorities: Identities and Communities
COMO 421Leadership and Communication
COMO 475Persuasion
LEAD 211Theories and Practices of Effective Leadership
LEAD 214Self-Assessment in Leadership
LEAD 411Decision Making in Organizations
SOCO 442Race and Racisms
MGMT 335Leadership in Organizations
 After completing your bachelor’s degree, you will obtain your teacher certification through ESC Region 13’s highly-regarded 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.