The associate in arts in elementary teacher education for transfer is an interdisciplinary program which meets state guidelines in order to prepare students to begin their path toward becoming elementary school teachers. Students majoring in elementary teacher education develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and written and verbal communication skills. As elementary teacher education majors, students have learning opportunities that are relevant to many types of careers working with children and parents including special education, elementary education, and social work. This major provides early fieldwork experience working with children in an elementary school.

The associate in arts in elementary teacher education for transfer is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. The associate in arts in elementary teacher education for transfer is consistent with the mission of the community college to assist students in achieving a seamless transfer to the CSU system.

In order to earn the degree, students must:

- Complete 60 CSU-transferable units.

- Complete the California State University-General Education pattern (CSU GE); or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern, including the Area 1C requirement for Oral Communication.

- Complete a minimum of 18 units in the major.

- Attain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.

- Earn a grade of “C“ or higher in all courses required for the major

Students transferring to a CSU campus that accepts the degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to university or college that is not part of the CSU system, or those students who do not intend to transfer

Students must complete each course used to meet a major requirement with a “C” grade or higher. Some courses in the major satisfy both major and CSUGE/IGETC general education requirements; however, the units are only counted once toward the 60 unit requirement for an associate degree. Some variations in requirements may exist at certain four-year institutions; therefore, students who intend to transfer are advised to refer to the catalog of the prospective transfer institution and consult a counselor.

Students completing this program will be able to...

- analyze models and methods of effective teaching, especially in relation to the needs of a diverse student body.

- examine the physical, cognitive/language, social-emotional milestones in school age children.

- understand and analyze how concepts of mathematics, English and language arts, social studies, visual and performing arts and science apply to teaching at an elementary level.