Associate's Degree in Elementary Education: Curriculum and Career Pathways
An Associate of Arts or Science in Elementary Education is a stepping stone for individuals passionate about shaping young minds. This degree is designed for students aspiring to careers in elementary education, typically covering kindergarten through eighth grade. It provides a solid foundation in educational theory, practical field experience, and general knowledge, preparing students for transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor's degree and teaching licensure.
Curriculum Overview
The curriculum for an Associate's degree in Elementary Education is carefully structured to provide a broad understanding of the field, while also allowing for specialization. It generally includes the following components:
General Education Requirements
A well-rounded general education curriculum forms the base of the degree. These courses cover a range of subjects, including:
- Humanities: Literature, history, philosophy, and arts courses that broaden students' perspectives and develop critical thinking skills.
- Social Sciences: Psychology, sociology, geography, and political science courses that provide insights into human behavior and social structures.
- Natural Sciences: Biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science courses that foster scientific literacy and understanding of the natural world.
- Mathematics: Courses designed to strengthen quantitative reasoning and problem-solving abilities, often including topics relevant to elementary education, such as number concepts, statistics, and geometry.
- English Composition: Courses focused on developing effective writing and communication skills.
Core Education Courses
These courses provide a foundational understanding of the principles and practices of elementary education:
- Introduction to Elementary Education: An overview of the teaching profession, including the roles and responsibilities of teachers, the history of education, and current issues in the field.
- Introduction to Special Education: An introduction to the diverse needs of students with disabilities, including legal and ethical considerations, assessment practices, and instructional strategies.
- Exploration of Children's Literature: A survey of classic and contemporary children's literature, emphasizing the importance of reading in child development and exploring strategies for using literature in the classroom.
- Principles of Elementary Educational Psychology: An examination of the psychological principles underlying learning and development in children, including motivation, cognition, and social-emotional development.
Emphasis Requirements
To tailor the degree to their specific interests and career goals, students often have the opportunity to choose emphasis courses. These courses may focus on areas such as:
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- Early Childhood Education: Courses covering child development, curriculum planning, and teaching strategies for preschool and early elementary grades.
- Special Education: Courses focusing on specific disabilities, assessment and intervention techniques, and strategies for creating inclusive classrooms.
- English Language Acquisition and Development: Courses designed to prepare teachers to work with students who are learning English as a second language.
- Classroom Technology: Preparing Teachers to Use Technology.
- Nevada School Law: Courses focusing on Nevada school law.
- Success Strategies in Education and Human Development: Courses focusing on success strategies in education and human development.
- Early Foundations in Mathematics: Courses focusing on early foundations in mathematics.
- Classroom Learning Environments: Courses focusing on classroom learning environments.
- Students with Diverse Abilities and Backgrounds: Courses focusing on students with diverse abilities and backgrounds.
- Introduction to Language: Courses focusing on Introduction to Language.
- Introduction to Environmental Science: Courses focusing on Introduction to Environmental Science.
- Lifespan Human Development: Courses focusing on Lifespan Human Development.
- Introduction to Cultural Geography: Courses focusing on Introduction to Cultural Geography.
Students should work closely with an academic advisor to select emphasis courses that align with the requirements of their intended transfer institution and chosen specialization.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education Degree program, graduates will be able to:
Create a personal philosophy of education and relate it to a future career in education.
Design and present appropriate classroom activities intended to achieve specific student learning outcomes.
Analyze teaching styles as they relate to student learning styles.
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Compare and contrast the concepts of multicultural education and its implementation in the public school classroom.
Examine how the concepts of equity and equal educational opportunity have evolved into educational policy.
Examine society's historical identification and treatment of exceptional children and youth.
Argue the relative effects of parents, siblings, peers, teachers, the community, and culture on child development.
Utilize technology to organize information, analyze and evaluate data, and complete tasks more efficiently.
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Demonstrate the scope of knowledge and skills based on the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards:
- Standard #1: Learner Development
- Standard #2: Learning Differences
- Standard #3: Learning Environments
- Standard #4: Content Knowledge
- Standard #5: Application of Content
- Standard #6: Assessment
- Standard #7: Planning for Instruction
- Standard #8: Instructional Strategies
- Standard #9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
Transfer and Career Opportunities
An Associate of Arts or Science in Elementary Education is primarily designed as a transfer degree. Graduates typically transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor's degree in elementary education or a related field. A bachelor's degree is generally required to obtain a teaching license and work as a classroom teacher in public schools.
Some graduates may choose to enter the workforce directly after completing their associate's degree. Potential entry-level positions include:
- Education Paraprofessional: Assisting teachers in the classroom with instructional and clerical tasks.
- Lead Preschool Teacher: Planning and implementing educational activities for preschool-aged children.
- Youth Worker: Providing support and guidance to young people in community-based organizations.
- Family Support Specialist: Working with families to address challenges and connect them with resources.
- Camp and After-School Program Teacher: Leading educational and recreational activities for children in out-of-school settings.
These positions can provide valuable experience and may serve as a stepping stone to a teaching career.
Key Considerations for Prospective Students
- Transfer institution requirements: Students should carefully research the admission requirements and program prerequisites of their intended transfer institution.
- Emphasis area: Choosing an emphasis area that aligns with their interests and career goals can enhance their knowledge and skills in a specific area of education.
- Academic advising: Regular meetings with an academic advisor can help students stay on track and make informed decisions about course selection and career planning.
- Field experience: Seeking out opportunities for field experience, such as volunteering in a classroom or working in a childcare center, can provide valuable hands-on experience and help students confirm their passion for teaching.
- Professional Educators License: Elementary school teachers are also required to earn a bachelorâs degree from an accredited program and obtain a Professional Educators License with an Elementary Education endorsement from the Illinois State Board of Education.
- Transfer Single Articulation Pathway: The AS in Elementary Education is designated as a TSAP program (which stands for âTransfer Single Articulation Pathwayâ), which enables students to transfer to Indiana public four-year institutions with automatic junior status.
- Financial savings: Completing your first two years at a community college and then transferring to a four-year college can result in significant cost savings.
- Service-learning and field experience opportunities: Students desiring to work in education are required to complete service-learning and field experience opportunities while earning an Associate Degree in Elementary Education. Any experience with children or young adults should be documented as they could potentially be used towards the completion of bachelor-level requirements.
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