Elementary Teacher Education: Integrated Programs Associate in Arts Transfer Degree, AA-T

Program Description

The AA-T, Elementary Teacher Education: Integrated Programs, prepares students for elementary school teaching careers, grades K-5. Our preliminary degree provides students with interdisciplinary subject matter expertise as required for seamless transfer to a four-year university’s bachelor’s degree completion program in Liberal Studies and fulfills its lower-division requirements. Its introductory education course emphasizes equitable, culturally responsive pedagogy and teacher performance expectations, including professional teaching standards. In addition, students complete early fieldwork placements in our community, which allows future educators to observe active teaching and learning in today’s diverse classrooms. These authentic, contextualized learning opportunities are intentionally designed for undergraduate students interested in public service, through teaching careers in elementary schools, grades K-5.

The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor's degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing the AA-T are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major.

To earn this Elementary Teacher Education AA-T degree, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of the following major requirements with a minimum grade of "C" (or "P").
  • Certified completion of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), which requires a minimum of 34 units; and
  • Completion of a minimum 60 Cal-GETC transferrable semester units with a minimum “C”  grade required in each course. A “C” is defined as a minimum of 2.0 grade points on a 4.0  scale.

Students planning on transferring to a four-year institution and major in Elementary Teacher Education should consult with a counselor regarding the transfer process and lower division requirements.

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program.  Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway.  It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Division

Social Sciences and Human Development

Department

Education, Reading and Literacy

Career and Academic Pathway (CAP)

Public Service, Culture, Society

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Defend an educational position, view, or theory.

  2. Develop an educational philosophy.

  3. Summarize practical knowledge of the teaching profession.

Program Map

GE General Education
O Available Online
Program Requirement
P Program Prerequisites

Term 1

14 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas:
EDUC 200 - Introduction to Elementary Education

This course introduces students to the concepts and issues related to teaching diverse learners in contemporary public schools (K-12). Topics include historical and philosophical foundations of the American education system, education theory, multiculturalism, teaching as a profession and career, contemporary education issues, California Content Standards and framework, and teacher performance standards. In addition to class time, 45-hours of structured fieldwork are required at an approved public school elementary classroom with a certified classroom teacher and students that represent California's diverse population. Proof of a negative TB test and fingerprint clearance are required for classroom observations.

Course Details:

  1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
  2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
Area 1A – English Composition

In this course, students receive instruction in academic reading and writing, including writing processes, effective use of language, analytical thinking, and the foundations of academic research.

Course Details:

  1. Prerequisite: Placement as determined by the college’s multiple measures assessment process.
  • Transfers to CSU
    • OR

    In this course, students receive instruction in academic reading and writing, including writing processes, effective use of language, analytical thinking, and the foundations of academic research. This is an honors course.

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite: Placement as determined by the college’s multiple measures assessment process.
  • Transfers to CSU
    • Area 4 – Social and Behavioral Sciences

    This course examines the progression of development in the physical, cognitive, social and emotional domains and identifies developmental milestones for children from conception through adolescence. There is an emphasis on interactions between biological processes and environmental factors. Students observe children, evaluate individual differences, and analyze characteristics of development at various stages according to developmental theories.  

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
      2. or
    2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
    3. Departmental Recommendation: READ 100
  • Transfers to CSU
    • OR

    This course examines the progression of development in the physical, cognitive, social and emotional domains and identifies developmental milestones for children from conception through adolescence. There is an emphasis on interactions between biological processes and environmental factors. Students observe children, evaluate individual differences, and analyze characteristics of development at various stages according to developmental theories.  This course is intended for students in the Honors Program but is open to all students who desire more challenging course work.

     

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
      2. or
    2. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
  • Transfers to CSU
    • Area 5A – Physical Science
    An introduction to the essentials of Earth Science including the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and solar system. This course focuses on the interactions between physical and chemical systems of the Earth such as the tectonic cycle, rock cycle, hydrologic cycle, weather and climate.

    Course Details:

  • Transfers to CSU
    • AND

    In this laboratory component of the GEOL 140 Earth Science lecture course, you will use hands-on, field-based, and in-class experiences to better understand and appreciate the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and solar system. This course focuses on the physical and chemical systems of the Earth such as the tectonic cycle, rock cycle, hydrologic cycle, weather, and climate. This course is recommended for students concurrently enrolled in GEOL 140 or who have successfully completed the course within the last three years. Students should be prepared to participate in one or more off-campus field exercises.

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite/Corequisite: GEOL 140
  • Transfers to CSU

    • Term 2

    13-15 units
    Complete one course in each of the following areas:
    BIOL 100 - General Biology

    This is an introductory course that explores biological concepts in our everyday lives as they are closely connected to racial, sociocultural, health, and environmental issues.  


     

    Course Details:

    HIST 100 or HIST 100H
    This course provides a general survey of United States history with an emphasis on political, economic, social, and cultural developments from the pre-Colonial period through the Civil War and Reconstruction period.

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
      2. or
    2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
  • Transfers to CSU
    • OR

    This course provides a general survey of United States history, including the use of selected primary texts, with an emphasis on political, economic, social, and cultural developments from the pre-Colonial period through the Civil War and Reconstruction period. This course is intended for students in the Honors Program but is open to all students who desire more challenging work.

    Course Details:

    1. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
      2. or
    2. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
  • Transfers to CSU
    • Area 1C – Oral Communication

    In this course, students learn and apply foundational rhetorical theories and techniques of public speaking in a multicultural democratic society. Students discover, develop, and critically analyze ideas in public discourse through research, reasoning, organization, composition, delivery to a live audience and evaluation of various types of speeches, including informative and persuasive speeches. 

    Course Details:

  • Transfers to CSU
    • OR
    Area 2 – Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
    This course is a study of statistical methods commonly used in business and economics including measures of central tendency; measures of dispersion and skewness; probability concepts and distributions; statistical inferences; parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing; index numbers time series analysis; simple regression, and correlation analysis.
    This course is designed for students with a strong foundation in algebra. It includes the study of polynomial rational functions and inequalities, exponential and logarithmic functions, conics, systems of nonlinear equations and inequalities, and an introduction to sequences, series, and the Binomial Theorem.
    This course includes sets, propositional logic, inductive reasoning and applications, mathematical patterns, counting methods, and finite probability spaces.
    This course is a study of calculus techniques with emphasis placed on concepts related to business and management solutions. Additional applications of derivatives and integrals of functions including polynomials, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions are studied.

    This course is designed for students preparing to take Calculus. It deepens students’ understanding of algebra and trigonometry by building on topics from College Algebra and Plane Trigonometry, both of which are foundational for Calculus students. Topics include polynomials, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions and their graphs, systems of linear and nonlinear equations and inequalities, partial fraction decomposition, parametric and polar equations, and an introduction to limits. (MATH 102 and MATH 151 combined: maximum UC transferable credit, one course.)

    Introductory course on data collection and management, data manipulation, data modeling, statistical inference, and statistical modeling with data. Students will gain experience using a computer programming language (e.g. Python, R, etc.) to carry out statistical analysis.
    This is a first course in calculus, including limits, continuity, derivatives of algebraic and transcendental functions, applications of derivatives, antiderivatives, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, definite integrals and their applications.
    This second course in calculus provides further application of definite integrals, differentiation and integration of transcendental functions, techniques of integration, L’Hopital’s rule and improper integrals, infinite sequences and series, Taylor and power series, polar and parametric equations.
    This third course in calculus includes vectors, lines, and simple surfaces in three-dimensional space, some linear algebra topics, vector-valued functions, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, line integrals and Green's Theorem, surface integrals and the theorems of Gauss and Stokes.
    This course develops the techniques and theory needed to solve and classify systems of linear equations. Techniques that are covered include row operations, Gaussian elimination, and the algebra of matrices. The course explores the properties of vectors in n dimensions, which leads to the notion of an abstract vector space. The theory of vector spaces and matrices are introduced, and the topics include inner products, norms, orthogonality, eigenvalues, eigenspaces, and linear transformations. Applications of linear algebra are included.
    The course is an introduction to ordinary differential equations including both quantitative and qualitative methods as well as applications from a variety of disciplines. Introduces the theoretical aspects of differential equations, including establishing when solution(s) exist, and techniques for obtaining solutions, including, series solutions, and singular points, Laplace transforms and linear systems.

    This class focuses on statistics as applied to the social sciences and includes such topics as measurement, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, measures of variability, the normal distribution curve, correlation, sampling, statistical inference, hypothesis testing and an introduction to analysis of variance. (Formerly PSYCH 105)

    This course is an introduction to statistical thinking and processes, including methods and concepts for discovery and decision-making using data.  Topics include descriptive statistics; probability and sampling distributions; statistical inference; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance, chi-squared, and t-tests; and application of technology for statistical analysis including the interpretation of the relevance of the statistical findings. Students apply methods and processes to applications using data from a broad range of disciplines. 

    This course is an introduction to statistical thinking and processes, including methods and concepts for discovery and decision-making using data.  Topics include descriptive statistics; probability and sampling distributions; statistical inference; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance, chi-squared, and t-tests; and application of technology for statistical analysis including the interpretation of the relevance of the statistical findings. Students apply methods and processes to applications using data from a broad range of disciplines. This is an honors course. 

    Term 3

    13 units
    Complete one course in each of the following areas:
    CHEM 101 - Introductory Chemistry

    Introductory chemistry involves the study of the material makeup of our world and its relationship to life, the natural environment, and our lived experiences. General scientific principles including scientific observation and measurement are also introduced. This course is designed to prepare students for careers in nursing, medicine, engineering and other science and allied health professions.

    Course Details:

    1. Transfers to CSU
      2. GEOG 120 - World Regional Geography

      Every day, we learn about new and ongoing migration, refugee, environmental, economic, health, and geopolitical crises and conflicts happening somewhere in the world. Therefore, it is important to understand the complex and fascinating spatial interrelationships among our world regions. This course provides an introduction to world regional geography, emphasizing the nature of major cultural regions of the world. Through a comprehensive regional analysis, students will learn social structures, religions, languages, political systems, economics, environmental relationships, transportation networks, population dynamics, and urban development across the globe.

      Course Details:

      1. Transfers to CSU
        2. HIST 170 - World History to 1500
        This course covers the development of human societies from their origins to 1500. Particular emphasis placed on a comparative approach between the world’s major civilizations, including an examination of social structure and daily life, evolution of complex political systems, cultural values and economic developments.

        Course Details:

        1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
          2. or
        2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
      2. Transfers to CSU
        3. Area 1B – Critical Thinking and Composition
        This course includes the study of representative works of fiction, poetry, and drama, including an understanding of their cultural, historical and aesthetic contexts, as well as an emphasis on the fundamental principles of literacy criticism and interpretation, including student writing based on critical reading.

        Course Details:

        1. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
          2. or
        2. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
      3. Transfers to CSU
        4. OR

        This course includes the study of representative works of fiction, poetry, and drama, including an understanding of their cultural, historical and aesthetic contexts, as well as an emphasis on the fundamental principles of literacy criticism and interpretation, including student writing based on critical reading. This course is intended for students in the Honors Program but is open to all students who desire more challenging course work.

        Course Details:

        1. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
          2. or
        2. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
      4. Transfers to CSU

        5. Term 4

        13-14 units
        Complete one course in each of the following areas:
        PHYSIC 101 - Introductory Physics

        This introductory, algebra-based, physics course is an exploration of the physical principles ranging from classical mechanics to modern physics, which shape our lives. Students will be better equipped to make connections between the concepts of physics and their everyday world. This class includes a hands-on laboratory to bridge the connection between theory and everyday life.  This course also explores the connections between physics and other fields of science, technology, and society. 

        Course Details:

          POLS C1000 or POLS C1000H

          This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology.

          Course Details:

        1. Transfers to CSU
          2. OR

          This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology. This is an honors course.

          Course Details:

          Choose One:

          This course is designed to provide an oral approach to critical thinking skills which includes individual and group debates. The course provides critical thinking for purposes of constructing, evaluating, and composing arguments in a variety of rhetorical forms. It also provides instruction in language, argument structure, types of reasoning, evaluation of evidence, fallacies in reasoning, and case development strategies. (Formerly COMMST 125)

          Course Details:

          1. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
          2. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
          3. Departmental Recommendation: COMM C1000
            4. or
          4. Departmental Recommendation: COMM C1000H
            5. and
        2. Transfers to CSU

          3. In this course, students receive instruction in critical thinking for purposes of constructing, evaluating, and composing arguments in a variety of rhetorical forms, using primarily non-fiction texts, refining writing skills and research strategies developed in ENGL C1000 College Reading and Writing (C-ID ENGL 100) or similar first-year college writing course.  

          Course Details:

          1. Transfers to CSU

            2. In this course, students receive instruction in critical thinking for purposes of constructing, evaluating, and composing arguments in a variety of rhetorical forms, using primarily non-fiction texts, refining writing skills and research strategies developed in ENGL C1000 College Reading and Writing (C-ID ENGL 100) or similar first-year college writing course. This is an honors course.

            Course Details:

            1. Transfers to CSU
              2. This course is an introduction to critical thinking focusing on argument and evidence and the ability to write coherent argumentative essays. Topics include recognition of the structures of reasoning in natural language, the evaluation of such reasoning (including informal fallacies), the uses and abuses of language, and an investigation of the rhetorical devices common in our culture. Students practice critical thinking by writing substantive arguments and essays.

              Course Details:

              1. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
                2. or
              2. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
              Introduction to the techniques of critical thought, including language analysis, inductive and deductive logic, symbolic logic, and the development of the scientific method.

              Course Details:

              1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
                2. or
              2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
            2. Transfers to CSU
              3. This course explores the relationship of critical reading and critical thinking with an emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills and the application in the interpretation, analysis, criticism, and advocacy of ideas encountered in academic reading.

              Course Details:

              1. Departmental Recommendation: READ 100

              This course explores the relationship between critical reading and literacy to critical thinking. Instruction in methods of critical reasoning, inquiry-driven research, argumentative writing, and the strategies necessary for college reading application in interpretation, analysis, criticism, and advocacy of ideas encountered in academic non-fiction texts across disciplines. Emphasis on texts which explore contemporary issues, including cultural diversity, equity, and anti-racism.

              Course Details:

              1. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
              2. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
              Area 3A – Arts
              The course is a survey of western art from the Renaissance through the 21st Century. Topics covered include 15th and 16th century Italian art; Renaissance and Baroque art; the Rococo movement; Romanticism; Realism; Impressionism; Cubism; Surrealism and other styles of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

              Course Details:

              1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
              2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
            3. Transfers to UC/CSU
              4. The course is a survey of western art from the Renaissance through the 21st Century. Topics covered include 15th and 16th century Italian art; Renaissance and Baroque art; the Rococo movement; Romanticism; Realism; Impressionism; Cubism; Surrealism and other styles of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. This course is intended for students in the Honors Program, but is open to all students who desire more challenging course work.

              Course Details:

              1. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000
              2. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000H
            4. Transfers to CSU
              5. The course is an introduction to two- and three-dimensional art from a multicultural perspective. Art in a historical and worldwide context, the function of art in society, art processes, and visual vocabulary are examined. Students will develop an increased appreciation of the differences and similarities among the styles, content, and expression of world art. 

              Course Details:

              1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
                2. or
              2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
            5. Transfers to CSU

              6. This course is a comprehensive survey of dance from ancient times to the 21st century.  Emphasis is placed on historical perspectives revealing dance as an emerging art form.  The course curriculum also surveys the roles of dance in relation to religion, culture, politics, and social attitudes, as well as its relation to other art forms.

              Course Details:

              This course introduces students to music in western civilization and methods of music listening.  Included in this course are guidelines for thoughtful music selection, basic musical forms, cross-cultural studies in music, music periods and styles, a discussion of patrons and audiences, careful consideration of the role of women in creating music, history of art music, popular music, world music, and jazz.

              Course Details:

              1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
              2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
            6. Transfers to CSU

              7. This course introduces students to music in western civilization and methods of music listening. Included in this course are guidelines for thoughtful music selection, basic musical forms, cross-cultural studies in music, music periods and styles, a discussion of patrons and audiences, careful consideration of the role of women in creating music, history of art music, popular music, world music, and jazz. This course is intended for students in the Honors Program, but is open to all students who desire more challenging course work.

              Course Details:

              1. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000
              2. Departmental Recommendation: ENGL C1000H
              This course focuses on the relationship of theatre to various cultures throughout history, and on the contributions of significant individual artists. This course introduces students to elements of the production process including playwriting, acting, directing, design, and criticism. Students will also survey different periods, styles, and genres of theatre through play reading, discussion, films, and viewing and critiquing live theatre, including required attendance of theatre productions.

              Course Details:

            7. Transfers to CSU
              8. Electives (as needed to reach 60 units)