HOUSTON – (Feb. 13, 2025) – Rice University’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is now offering a minor in teaching, marking the school’s first undergraduate credential.
The course of study is designed to equip students with essential and transferable knowledge and skills while enabling them to earn a Texas teacher certification, directly addressing the state’s urgent need for qualified educators and aligning with the university’s and school’s missions to develop leaders prepared to address the world’s complexities.
“The minor in teaching provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to make an immediate impact in classrooms across the Houston area and throughout the state,” said Robert Bruce, dean of Rice Continuing Studies. “This aligns with the Glasscock School’s strategic vision of creating thriving communities, preparing future educators with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on classroom experience.”
The minor in teaching is an important addition to the school’s existing portfolio of programs within the Center for Education, including the Master of Arts in teaching, principal and teacher certification and several teacher development programs serving pre-K through 12th grade educators.
“The launch of this minor is a crucial step in our commitment to strengthening public education and developing the next generation of skilled teachers,” said Brenda Rangel, assistant dean for the Center for Education. “By providing rigorous academic preparation and real-world teaching experiences, we aim to empower students to become educators who will shape the future of Texas classrooms.”
“This addition offers students the opportunity to develop valuable critical thinking, communication and leadership skills with the end goal of benefiting their communities in mind,” said Amy Dittmar, Rice’s Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “The skills that students cultivate in this curriculum are applicable to a variety of fields, particularly education policy and other roles that shape the future of learning.”
Consisting of 21 credit hours across six upper-level courses, the minor is structured to offer foundational knowledge, applied learning and hands-on experience. Students will gain a deep understanding of the education profession through coursework and practical experiences, including classroom observations, collaborative research-based projects with local school districts and a 14-week, full-day clinical teaching residency.
The curriculum includes:
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Foundational Learning: Historical, Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Education
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Applied Concepts: Teaching Diverse Learners; Assessment; Theory and Methods
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Experiential Learning: Curriculum Development; Practicum for Preservice Teachers
Students enrolled in the practicum will complete approximately 490 hours of clinical teaching under the guidance of experienced mentors in Houston-area schools. Upon completing the minor plan of study, students will be eligible to apply for a Texas teaching credential through the Texas Education Agency.
Graduates of the minor will be equipped to:
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Foster culturally responsive teaching practices that reflect our school communities.
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Implement effective instructional strategies tailored to meet the needs of all learners.
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Assess student progress to enhance learning outcomes.
“By integrating research-based pedagogy and teaching methodologies with immersive field experiences, Rice’s minor in teaching stands as a vital contribution to addressing the critical need for a qualified, representative pool of educators for Texas schools,” said Christal Burnett Sánchez, director of Rice Education. “As Rice continues its commitment to educational excellence and community impact, the minor provides access to undergraduates with a passion for educating and inspiring the next generation but who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to enter the field of education.”
For more information about the minor in teaching, please visit continue.rice.edu/minor-teaching.