The Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree in Teacher Education is a versatile program designed to launch careers in the K-12 educational field. It provides a foundational understanding of both elementary and secondary education, supplemented by elective courses that can reflect an area of specialization. This degree offers a clear dual pathway:
- Immediate Employment: Graduates are qualified for careers as educational paraprofessionals (teacher’s aides or assistants).
- Transfer to Licensure: It serves as the ideal first step for students intending to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree and state teaching licensure.
Students in this program are strongly encouraged to continue their education to earn a Bachelor’s in Elementary or Secondary Education to become licensed classroom teachers.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
- Apply theory of student learning and develop activities that support the intellectual, social and personal development of all students.
- Differentiate instruction based on how students approach learning and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
- Describe the use of formal and informal assessment as it applies to the continuous improvement of teaching and learning.
- Describe a variety of instructional strategies to encourage student development of critical thinking and problem solving.
- Model effective verbal, nonverbal and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration and supportive interactions in the classroom.
- Perform as a reflective practitioner who continually assesses the effect of one’s own choices and actions.
- Demonstrate mastery in and application of foundational concepts from general education. Successful completion of 31 hours of general core.
