Elementary Education / Elementary Special Education (AAT)
Award: Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree
No. of credits required: 60
For more information: Contact Assistant Professor Brigid Cook at 443-412-2084, bcook@harford.edu; or Admissions, 443-412-2109.
Program Description
This A.A.T. degree program prepares students for transfer into a four-year college or university elementary education program to pursue certification in elementary education (grades 1-6) or elementary special education program to pursue certification in elementary special education (grades 1-8). 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 Brigid Cook (bcook@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
- Demonstrate professional teaching behavior including effective communication.
- Discuss the development of education/curriculum and select instructional techniques appropriate for a variety of students.
- Describe influences on growth and development, as well as theories of learning.
- Make decisions in accordance with legal and ethical standards.
- 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 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 elementary educators in four states and a critical shortage of elementary special educators in 42 states including Maryland.
Degree Requirements
Recommended Course Sequence
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 100 | Professionalism and Ethics in Teaching (D) | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) | 3 |
| VPA 201 | Visual and Performing Arts Survey (GH) (D) | 3 |
| HIST 104 or HIST 103 | History of the United States II (GB) (D) 1 or History of the United States I (GB) (D) | 3 |
| MATH 131 | Concepts in Mathematics I | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIO 100 | Fundamentals of Biology (GL) | 4 |
| EDUC 101 | Introduction to Education: Early Childhood through Secondary 2, 3 | 3 |
| CMST 101 | Speech Fundamentals (GI) | 3 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology (GB) | 3 |
| Literature Elective (GH) 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDUC 217 | Introduction to Special Education 3, 4, 5 | 3 |
| SCI 105 | Physical Science I (GS) | 3 |
| SCI 106 | Physical Science Course Observations and Investigations: Matter (GL) | 1 |
| MATH 216 | Introduction to Statistics (GM) | 4 |
| PSY 202 | Child Psychology | 3 |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| EDUC 207 | Processes and Acquisition of Reading | 3 |
| GEOG 103 | World Regional Geography (GB) (D) | 3 |
| MATH 211 | Elements of Geometry (GM) | 4 |
| PSY 207 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 1
Recommended course: HIST 104 History of the United States II (GB) (D)
- 2
Select in accordance to transfer institution requirements.
- 3
Students are required to participate in a thirty-hour field placement experience in addition to time spent in EDUC 101 Introduction to Education: Early Childhood through Secondary 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
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.
- 5
A criminal background check and fingerprinting, at the student's expense, may be required for courses including a field placement.
Literature Elective
Select one of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 201 | World Literature: 800 B.C. to 1600 A.D. (GH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 202 | World Literature: 1600 A.D. to the Present (GH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 203 | English Literature: Survey of English Literature I (GH) | 3 |
| ENG 204 | English Literature: Survey of English Literature II (GH) | 3 |
| ENG 205 | American Literature: Colonial Through the Civil War (GH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 206 | American Literature: Late 19th and 20th Centuries (GH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 210 | Literature for Children and Adolescents (GH)(D) | 3 |
| ENG 214 | Great Writers: Lives and Works (GH) | 3 |
| ENG 215 | Multicultural Literature: The 20th Century (GH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 219 | American Women Writers (GH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 233 | African-American Literature (GH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 234 | Ethnic American Literature (GH) (D) | 3 |
| ENG 237 | Literature to Film (GH) | 3 |
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 (GH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)
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)