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LCU LEAP (Lubbock Educator Alternative-Certification Program) is a program designed for individuals seeking to transition into a rewarding career in education without a traditional teaching degree. This comprehensive program combines rigorous coursework, hands-on classroom experience, and mentorship opportunities, enabling participants to:
- Design instruction to promote student learning
- Create a positive, productive classroom environment
- Implement effective and responsive instruction/assessment
- Earn transferable graduate credit toward a master’s degree
The total cost of the program is $7,015. Students will also need to budget for the cost of books and course materials.
Complete FAFSA for financial aid opportunities.
Students applying to the Teacher Alternative Certification Program will need:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- 3.0 GPA
- Pass PACT exam in chosen certification area
Deadline for 2025 Cohort due by Tuesday, April 15th, 2025.
2025 Cohort begins Monday, May 12th, 2025.
Rolling admission for 2026 Cohort begins Wednesday, April 16th, 2025.
Once we receive your application, a Graduate Studies representative will contact you with further instructions to complete your application.
Requirements for LCU LEAP
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Have a 3.0 or above from most recent degree
- A passion to work with K-12 students
Stage 1: Apply to both the Graduate School of Education and the Educator Certification Program (ECP)
- Contact Connor Bryant (Connor.Bryant@lcu.edu) or Melissa Edgar (Melissa.Edgar@lcu.edu) to get more information about the program.
- Fill out the online application.
- Graduate School of Education
- Pay Application fee ($60)
- Submit all official undergraduate transcripts
- Send all transcripts to Registrar@lcu.edu
- Financial Responsibility Agreement
- 2 Letters of Recommendation (will submit each recommender’s email address in the application and they will receive an email to complete an online recommendation form)
- Professional Resume
- ECP
- ECP Application
- Teacher Disposition Document (Contact Dr. Bryant)
- Graduate School of Education
- Create a TEA Login (TEAL) if you do not already have one and send your TEA ID number to Dr. Bryant.
- Pass the PACT Exam in your chosen content area and send results to Dr. Bryant (Connor.Bryant@lcu.edu). If you would like materials to prepare for your PACT Exam, please contact Dr. Bryant.
- Fill out the FAFSA form (if you are interested in financial aid).
- Work with Dr. Bryant to begin your 50 FBE (Field-Based Experience) hours in schools.
Stage 2: Summer Coursework
- May: EDU5199
- Content Exam
- Prep for TExES Content Exam(s).
- Get approval for TExES Content Exam(s).
- Pass TExES Content Exam(s).
- Submit paperwork/complete all 50 FBE hours and reflections
- Complete all required TEA trainings
- Begin looking for teaching job (if not already secured)
- Content Exam
- June: EDU 5304 and EDU 5313
- July: EDU 5304 and EDU 5317
- Submit all required Internship documentation to Dr. Bryant by August 1.
- FBE Hours Log/Service Record
- Successfully-passed TExES Content Exam(s) results
- Completed Statement of Eligibility for Internship
Stage 3: Internship
- Successfully complete 2 semesters of Internship.
- First Semester Observations
- 3 Formal
- 3 Informal
- Second Semester Observations
- 2 Formal
- 3 Informal
- PPR Exam
- Prep for TExES PPR Exam
- Get approval for TExES PPR Exam
- Pass TExES TExES PPR Exam
- Apply for certification after 2nd semester of Internship – contact Dr. Bryant and Shelley Parnell (Shelley.Parnell@lcu.edu).
Stage 4: Continue Master’s Degree
- Use the 12 hours that you are transferring from LCU LEAP to complete your master’s degree in one of the following LCU Graduate Education programs:
- Curriculum and Instruction
- MAT
LCU LEAP is committed to making quality education accessible to everyone by offering an affordable cost for all candidates. We believe that diverse perspectives enrich the teaching profession, and by reducing financial barriers, we invite individuals from all backgrounds to pursue their passion for teaching. Costs include:
- Application fee
- $7,015 total tuition/$305 per credit hour
- Course textbooks and materials
- Specializing in what Lubbock-area teachers need for success in the classroom
- Highly qualified professors with the practical knowledge of what contemporary teachers need
- Tailored instruction to meet the individual needs and goals of each teacher candidate, ensuring a supportive learning environment
- Candidates are paired with experienced educators for guidance, support, and feedback throughout the program
- Emphasis on collaboration among candidates to foster a community of practice and shared learning
- Development of skills to adjust teaching strategies based on student needs, classroom dynamics, and evolving educational contexts
- Focus on cultivating leadership skills that empower candidates to advocate for students and contribute to educational reform
An independent study of contemporary education. In this course, students will work to obtain field-based experience hours, prepare for content exams, and receive professional development trainings.
Study of the major phases of the instructional process, the major theory basis associated with curriculum and instructional design, the educational advantages of using instructional design, and the principles of assessment as they are applied to educator decision making.
Study of classroom management principles designed to assist educators to effectively manage the behavior problems that today’s students bring to school. The primary purpose of this course is to prepare teachers to be effective managers of their classrooms to maximize student learning.
Study of both formal and informal methods of evaluating and assessing student programs.
This course will serve as an orientation to Clinical Teaching, Internship, or other Clinical Experiences for teachers.
Culminating experience of the pre-professional teacher. This course is an all-day one-semester field experience under the supervision of university and secondary professional educators.
Study of content area reading, writing, and thinking as strategic interventions in the secondary school and in special education classrooms.
Study of how exceptional children are classified, the organization of educational services and related services for exceptional children, the legal requirements associated with special education programs, and instructional strategies used with exceptional students.
Culminating experience of the pre-professional teacher. This course is an all-day one-semester field experience under the supervision of university and secondary professional educators.
After completing the Alternative Certification Program for Teachers, students may apply for admission to a Lubbock Christian University Master’s degree program. Up to 12 credit hours from the certification program may be applied toward degree requirements in the Curriculum and Instruction or Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. Contact the Graduate School of Education for details at Grad.ED@lcu.edu.