Glasscock School introduces undergrad teaching minor

By Valentina Kuschnir     3/4/25 10:38pm

The Glasscock School for Continuing Studies introduced a new teaching minor, which is now available to declare. The minor is the first undergraduate program offered by the Glasscock School.

The minor consists of six upper-level courses totaling 21 credit hours. Topics covered include the historical, philosophical and sociological foundations of education as well as assessment techniques, teaching diverse learners, curriculum development and teaching methods. 

Brenda Rangel, the assistant dean of the Rice Center for Education, said that the program was in part developed due to the state of public education in Texas.

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“There are more teachers retiring and less joining the field of education, so what is really important for us is that we really strengthen the teacher pipeline here in Houston and beyond,” Rangel said.

Provost Amy Dittmar said that the minor would contribute directly to increasing qualified public school teachers in Texas and Houston. 

“This teaching minor is yet another way we can help build thriving urban communities, which is a priority of Momentous, the university’s 10-year strategic plan,” Dittmar wrote in an email to the Thresher.

The program includes EDUC 467, a 14-week practicum where students teach alongside mentors in Houston-area schools. Rangel said the program will be structured around the needs of both students and schools.

 “Every student is different, and we want it to be a good fit for them, a good fit for that school community,” Rangel said.

This program, combined with an undergraduate degree, can allow students to apply for a Texas Teacher Certification. Glasscock has tutoring services and faculty that will provide feedback on the required video portfolio and content exam to be a certified teacher in Texas. 

“Everyone’s had an amazing teacher that has impacted them. And when they think about that amazing teacher, that’s what they want for all of the students in the Houston area and beyond,” Rangel said.

Dittmar said that the minor will have a wide range of professional applications.

“In addition to [pre-K and K-12] education careers, this minor could be beneficial to students who go on to careers in educational technology, human resources, psychology, public policy and more,” Dittmar wrote.

Chaitanya Ghatty, a Wiess College freshman, said that he would be interested in taking teaching and education courses to improve his professional skills as an aspiring professor.

“Something that’s really valuable to me as a teacher, tutor, whatever, is just knowing how different kinds of people work, knowing how to write my lessons, write pedagogy, stuff like that,” Ghatty said. And I think taking an education course or a teaching course could just be really valuable for me. I think a teaching course could be valuable for most everybody.”

Chaitanya said that while he will be taking courses in the program, he does not expect to complete the minor because of the commitment. He also said he was concerned about whether the minor will address broader challenges such as teacher compensation, respect and overall treatment. 

“Education is baked into everything we do and into every facet of our society, so people who are able to teach others, I think those people are just inherently valuable,” Chaitanya said.

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