TeachUp Program
Earn your Bachelor's Degree in Education for FREE through TeachUp!
Take your career to the next level and become a licensed teacher. All TeachUp students receive funding for tuition, fees and books!
San Juan College (SJC) and Western New Mexico University (WNMU) have partnered together to provide numerous educational and career opportunities for New Mexico students – and one of those opportunities is the TeachUp Program!
Whether you are an educational assistant, instructional assistant, substitute teacher, or have a passion to begin working toward a career as a K-12 teacher, TeachUp is where you want to start! You can take classes at San Juan College and Western New Mexico University (WNMU) at the same time, which will put you on the path to earning both an Associate and Bachelor’s degree in Education.
TeachUp Benefits
- No need to move! You can get your entire degree on the San Juan College Farmington Campus! Lower division courses will be offered through San Juan College, while upper division courses will be taught by Western New Mexico University professors at SJC!
- Highly experiential – Get hands-on experience while you learn.
- Put your classroom experience to work – Some course requirements can be met through your daily classroom activities.
- Flexible class options – The program will include both online and face-to-face classes so you can continue to work while earning a degree.
- Tuition, Fees, Books are FREE! Participants pursuing their teaching credentials and, upon completion, planning on teaching for 2 to 3 years in the State of New Mexico will receive free tuition, fees, and textbooks for all courses at both San Juan College and Western New Mexico University.
Get Started Today!
- Apply for Admissions to San Juan College. If you are a former SJC student, update your student information through the SJC website.
2. Complete the TeachUp Program Interest Form.
Complete TeachUp Program Interest Form
3. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is required to receive TeachUp funding and potentially additional scholarships
Learn the Steps to Complete the FAFSA
A TeachUp representative will contact you once steps 1, 2 & 3 are complete.
If you have questions, contact:
(505) 566-3044
TeachUp FAQs
TeachUp is a way for you to earn your Bachelor’s Degree in Education for FREE! San Juan College (SJC) and Western New Mexico University (WNMU) have partnered together to provide numerous educational and career opportunities for New Mexico students – and one of those opportunities is the TeachUp Program!
Whether you are an educational assistant, instructional assistant, substitute teacher, or have a passion to begin working toward a career as a K-12 teacher, TeachUp is where you want to start! You can take classes at San Juan College and Western New Mexico University (WNMU) at the same time, which will put you on the path to earning both an Associate and Bachelor’s degree in Education.
The TeachUp Program currently offers degrees in the following academic pathways:
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- Elementary Special Education
- Secondary Education
- Secondary Education/Math
- Secondary Education/Science
To qualify, you must be a New Mexico resident and have graduated from high school or received your GED.
You must NOT have received a Bachelor’s Degree in any subject already. However, if you already have a bachelor's degree, look into the Alternative Licensure Program at San Juan College to obtain your teaching licensure.
You must take at least 6 hours a semester to qualify for the program.
We do recommend following our academic pathways. These are 15/16 credit hours a semester.
This will depend on how much prior college education you have. The program is designed to take four semesters for those students who have never attended college. (15/16 credit hours a semester).
If you already have some credits, an advisor will work with you to see if any of your credits transfer into our program, thus shortening the time it will take you to complete your Bachelor's Degree.
We are in the process of adding as many online classes as possible. However, some classes do require you to attend in person. This is to give you all the support and mentoring we can to help you succeed.
We are also in the process of offering more time slots for classes to offer you a time that fits your schedule, especially if you are already working in a local school.
If you have attained this, you qualify for the Alternative Licensure Program (ALP). ALP at San Juan College is a post-baccalaureate professional development program that offers three licensure tracks: Elementary (19 credits), Secondary (16 credits), and Special Education (21 credits). This program is designed for individuals who are highly motivated to become teachers. Applications are ongoing throughout the year, although courses may only be offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. All ALP courses require advisor/instructor approval, and you must be accepted to the program to take these courses.
If you already have an Associate degree, an advisor will work with you to see if any of your credits transfer into our program, thus shortening the time it will take you to complete your Bachelor's Degree.