Elementary Education (A.A.)
Associate in Arts
Program Advisor: Patricia Kay, M.Ed.
413-236-4626 • pkay@berkshirecc.edu
The Elementary Education program in Liberal Arts meets the Massachusetts Transfer Compact and lays the groundwork for students to become well-rounded, competent teachers. The curriculum offers a strong foundation in liberal arts courses including Foundations of Education, Introductory Psychology and Children’s Literature. Students in the Elementary Education program will go on to pursue a bachelor’s degree and fulfill the requirements for the elementary education license and MTEL exam.
Expected Outcomes
Graduates of this program should be able to:
- Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of child development, educational theories, and curriculum planning;
- Articulate a personal rationale and philosophy of education based on personal values and beliefs;
- Acquire historical background on major events that have influenced education in the United States; and
- Demonstrate competency in general education courses with special emphasis on English, mathematics and psychology.
Graduation Requirements
To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.
Program Courses
| EDU-105 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| ENG-205 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| ENG- | Literature | 3 |
| GEO-125 | World Geography | 3 |
| MAT-113 | Survey of College Mathematics | 3 |
| PSY-107 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| PSY-204 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| - | Free Electives | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
ENG Literature: See Footnote 1
General Education Courses
| COM- | Communication | 3 |
| ECO- | Economics | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 3 |
| GOV - | Government | 3 |
| HIS- | History | 3 |
| HIS-117 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| MAT- | Mathematics | 3 |
| - | Environmental Studies | 1 |
| - | Humanities & Fine Arts | 3 |
| - | Natural & Physical Science | 7 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 35 |
GOV Government: See Footnote 2
HIS History: See Footnote 5
Environmental Studies: See Footnote 3
Humanities & Fine Arts: See Footnote 4
Humanities & Fine Arts: See Footnote 3
Additional Requirements
| Core Competencies Portfolio |
4 items |
| FORUM |
4 units |
| Health/Fitness |
30 hours |
Minimum Cumulative Average
Overall
|
2.000
|
All required ECE courses
|
2.000
|
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
The following presents a suggested route for completing this program in two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will depend on a particular student’s circumstances.
First Semester
| EDU-105 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 3 |
| - | Natural Science | 4 |
| PSY-107 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| HIS- | History | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Natural Science: See Footnote 3
HIS History: See Footnote 5
Second Semester
| PSY-204 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| COM- | Communication | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 3 |
| MAT-113 | Survey of College Mathematics | 3 |
| GOV - | Government | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
GOV Government: See Footnote 2
Third Semester
| ENG-205 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| GEO-125 | World Geography | 3 |
| ECO- | Economics | 3 |
| MAT- | Mathematics | 3 |
| - | Physical Science | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Physical Science: See Footnote 3
Fourth Semester
| HIS-117 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| ENG- | Literature | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
ENG Literature: See Footnote 1
Footnotes
- ENG-215, Introduction to Literature, is recommended. ENG-205, Children’s Literature, will not satisfy the literature requirement for this program.
- GOV-105 recommended.
- Natural Science selected from BIO-101, BIO-102, BIO-111, BIO-112 or BIO-180; or ENV-101, ENV-102 or BIO-121. Physical Science selected from BIO-109 or BIO-110; CHM-101, ENV-148, GEY-121, PHY-101 or ATM-126. The requirement must be fulfilled by taking one four credit laboratory science and one three credit non-laboratory science or by two four credit laboratory sciences. Completion of an environmentally focused laboratory science, such as BIO-109 or BIO-110, or ENV-101 or ENV-102 also fulfills the environmental studies requirement.
- Must have prefix FAS, MUS, THR.
- Chosen from HIS-113, HIS-114, HIS-121 or HIS-122.
Note
CORI Check: Any prior criminal offense could jeopardize this career path- way. See Criminal & Sex Offender Record Information Checks for details.