Award: Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree
No. of credits required: 60
For more information: Contact Brigid Cook, 443-412-2084, bcook@harford.edu; or Admissions, 443-412-2109 

Program Description

This A.A.T. degree program prepares students to transfer into a four-year college or university early childhood program to pursue certification in early childhood education (grades pre-K through 3) or early childhood special education to pursue certification in early childhood special education (birth through grade 3). High school preparation should include four units of English, three units of math of which two should be algebra, and three units of science.

Students must obtain a 3.0 cumulative GPA  on a 4.0 scale, or a 2.75 GPA and a passing score on Praxis CORE or an alternative measurement of basic skills as set forth by COMAR or MSDE, to earn the degree. Students should plan to take Praxis CORE, which includes core English and math competencies, near completion of 45 credit hours. Information can be obtained from Laura Hutton (lhutton@harford.edu). Passing scores on Praxis, SAT, GRE, or ACT may be substituted in place of Praxis CORE, but may not be accepted by all transfer institutions. 

Program Goals

Upon completion of the Teacher Education A.A.T. degree programs, students will be able to

1. Demonstrate professional teaching behavior including effective communication.
2. Discuss the development of education/curriculum and select instructional techniques appropriate for a variety of students.
3. Describe influences on growth and development, as well as theories of learning.
4. Make decisions in accordance with legal and ethical standards.
5. Summarize past and present practices pertaining to education.

Transfer Information

This program requires the successful completion of Praxis CORE and at least a 2.75 GPA. Because the program courses are chosen to fulfill predetermined outcomes, the entire program will transfer to any four-year state or private college in Maryland; however, students are not guaranteed admission to any four-year institution and must apply to and meet the criteria required by that particular institution. Additionally, courses in the program will transfer to private and public colleges nationwide.

Employment Information

According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of kindergarten and elementary school teachers needed between 2019 and 2029 is expected to grow 4% while the number of special educators needed is expected to grow 3%. According to the U.S. Department of Education, during the 2020-21 school year there is a critical shortage of early childhood educators in twelve states and a critical shortage of early childhood special educators in 44 states including Maryland. 

Degree Requirements

Recommended Course Sequence

¹

Recommended courses: HIST 104 History of the United States II (GB) (D)

²

Select in accordance with the transfer institution requirements. 

³

Students are required to participate in a thirty-hour field placement experience in addition to time spent in EDUC 113 Introduction to Early Childhood Education  and EDUC 217 Introduction to Special Education. Field placement experiences take place sometime during regular school hours, generally between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

⁴

A criminal background check and fingerprinting, at the student's expense, may be required for courses including a field placement. 

⁵

Students who completeEDUC 103 The Young Child The Young Child and EDUC 104 Materials and Curriculum in Early Childhood will receive the 90-hour Preschool Certificate required by the Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care.

⁶

The EDUC 217 Introduction to Special Education course required by Harford Community College is a necessary requirement of the College’s AAT degree, but is not sufficient to meet all special education or inclusion course requirements for four-year teacher education programs. Students may be required to take additional special education or inclusion courses as a part of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree and teacher education certification at four-year institutions.

Literature Elective

Select one of the following courses:

General Education Degree Requirements

Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:

Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)