2024-2025 Catalog

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.

Degree: Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts. Concentration/Option/Track: Elementary Education

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-105Foundations of Education

3

EDU-154Language & Literacy

3

ENG-Literature

3

GEO-125World Geography

3

MAT-113Introductory Topics in Math

3

PSY-107Introductory Psychology

3

PSY-204Human Growth & Development

3

Total Credit Hours:21

ENG Literature: See Footnote 1

General Education Courses

ENG -English Composition

6

HIS-History

3

HIS-117United States History to 1877

3

MAT-Mathematics

3

-Humanities or Fine Arts

3

- 

MUS-101Applied Music I - All Instruments & Voice

1

-Or

MUS-106Fundamentals of Music

3

-Or

MUS-110American Popular Music

3

-Or

MUS-145World Music

3

- 

THR-101Introduction to the Theatre

3

-Natural & Physical Science

7

- 

EDU-215Equity & Cultural Diversity

3

-Or

ENG-255Multiethnic American Literature

3

-Or

HIS-137The Road to Civil Rights

3

Total Credit Hours:47

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-105Foundations of Education

3

ENG-English Composition/Writing

3

-Natural Science

4

PSY-107Introductory Psychology

3

HIS-History

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Natural Science: See Footnote 3
HIS History: See Footnote 5

Second Semester

PSY-204Human Growth & Development

3

EDU-154Language & Literacy

3

ENG-English Composition/Writing

3

MAT-113Introductory Topics in Math

3

- 

MUS-101Applied Music I - All Instruments & Voice

1

-Or

MUS-106Fundamentals of Music

3

-Or

MUS-110American Popular Music

3

-Or

MUS-145World Music

3

Total Credit Hours:22
 

Third Semester

EDU-205Children's Literature

3

GEO-125World Geography

3

THR-101Introduction to the Theatre

3

MAT-Mathematics

3

-Physical Science

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Physical Science: See Footnote 2

Fourth Semester

HIS-117United States History to 1877

3

ENG-Literature

3

FAS -Specialized Elective: FAS, THR or MUS

3

- 

ENG-255Multiethnic American Literature

3

-Or

HIS-137The Road to Civil Rights

3

Total Credit Hours:15

ENG Literature: See Footnote 1

Footnotes

  1. ENG-215, Introduction to Literature, is recommended. ENG-205, Children’s Literature, will not satisfy the literature requirement for this program.
  2. 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.
  3. Must have prefix FAS, MUS, THR.
  4. Chosen from HIS-113, HIS-114, HIS-121 or HIS-122.
  5. 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.