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 educators. The curriculum offers a strong foundation in liberal arts courses including: Foundations of Education, Language and Literacy, Introductory Psychology and Children’s Literature, while adhering to the Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers. Field Experience hours are embedded in program courses in preparation for pursuing a bachelor’s degree and to fulfill requirements for the elementary education license and MTEL exams.
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 |
| EDU-154 | Language & Literacy | 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 & Development | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
ENG Literature: See Footnote 1
General Education Courses
| ENG - | English Composition | 6 |
| HIS- | History | 3 |
| HIS-117 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| MAT- | Mathematics | 3 |
| - | Humanities or Fine Arts | 3 |
| - | | |
| MUS-101 | Applied Music I (All Other Instruments) | 1 |
| - | Or | |
| MUS-106 | Fundamentals of Music | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| MUS-110 | American Popular Music | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| MUS-145 | World Music | 3 |
| - | | |
| THR-101 | Introduction to the Theatre | 3 |
| - | Natural & Physical Science | 7 |
| - | | |
| EDU-215 | Multiculturalism & Diversity in The Classroom | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| ENG-255 | Multiethnic American Literature | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| HIS-137 | The Road to Civil Rights | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 34 |
Natural & Physical Science: See Footnote 2
Humanities or Fine Arts: See Footnote 3
HIS History: See Footnote 4
Additional Requirements
| Core Competencies Portfolio |
4 items |
| FORUM |
4 units |
| Health/Fitness |
30 hours |
Minimum Cumulative Average
Overall
|
2.0006
|
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: | 15 |
Natural Science: See Footnote 3
HIS History: See Footnote 5
Second Semester
| PSY-204 | Human Growth & Development | 3 |
| EDU-154 | Language & Literacy | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 3 |
| MAT-113 | Survey of College Mathematics | 3 |
| - | | |
| MUS-101 | Applied Music I (All Other Instruments) | 1 |
| - | Or | |
| MUS-106 | Fundamentals of Music | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| MUS-110 | American Popular Music | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| MUS-145 | World Music | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Third Semester
| EDU-205 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| GEO-125 | World Geography | 3 |
| THR-101 | Introduction to the Theatre | 3 |
| MAT- | Mathematics | 3 |
| - | Physical Science | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Physical Science: See Footnote 2
Fourth Semester
| HIS-117 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| ENG- | Literature | 3 |
| FAS - | Specialized Elective: FAS, THR or MUS | 3 |
| - | | |
| ENG-255 | Multiethnic American Literature | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| HIS-137 | The Road to Civil Rights | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
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.
- 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. Other science courses may fit the requirements, but you must first consult your advisor.
- Must have prefix FAS, MUS, THR.
- Chosen from HIS-113, HIS-114, HIS-121 or HIS-122.
- For many transfer institutions, a 2.5 or higher is required.
Note
CORI Check, SORI Check, and Fingerprinting (additional state fee): Any prior criminal offense could jeopardize this career path- way. See Criminal & Sex Offender Record Information Checks for details.