2018-2019 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 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-105Foundations of Education

3

ENG-205Children's Literature

3

ENG-
Literature

3

GEO-125World Geography

3

MAT-113Survey of College Mathematics

3

PSY-107Introductory Psychology

3

PSY-204Human 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-117United 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-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 and Development

3

COM-
Communication

3

ENG-
English Composition/Writing

3

MAT-113Survey of College Mathematics

3

GOV -
Government

3

Total Credit Hours:15

GOV Government: See Footnote 2

Third Semester

ENG-205Children's Literature

3

GEO-125World Geography

3

ECO-
Economics

3

MAT-
Mathematics

3

-
Physical Science

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Physical Science: See Footnote 3

Fourth Semester

HIS-117United States History to 1877

3

ENG-
Literature

3

Total Credit Hours:16

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. GOV-105 recommended.
  3. 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.
  4. Must have prefix FAS, MUS, THR.
  5. 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.