ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE – OPTION IN TEACHER EDUCATION2012 - 2013
TEACHER EDUCATION
Secondary Education

Award: Associate of Arts Degree – Option in Teacher Education
No. of credits required: 
63-67
For more information: Contact Prof. Sheila Allen at 443-412-2192, sallen@harford.edu; or Advising, Career, and Transfer Services, 443-412-2301.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This degree program prepares students for transfer into a four-year college or university secondary education program. 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 should plan to take Praxis I, the first part of the national teacher exam, near completion of 45 credit hours, which includes core English and math competencies. Information can be obtained from the Test and Assessment Center or the Educational Studies Division.

Students must have a qualifying score on Praxis I to earn the degree. Students may meet the testing requirement by submitting individual scores at or above the current state qualifying score on Praxis I: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics or a composite score that is above the current state qualifying score on Praxis I, SAT, GRE, or ACT. A composite score is the combined total of state qualifying scores on the three Praxis I assessments or a current qualifying score on the SAT, GRE, or ACT.

The student will meet the essential technical standards that include physical abilities and behavioral and professional characteristics necessary for the student to successfully complete the Teacher Education Program.

PROGRAM GOALS
Upon completion of the Teacher Education 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. Identify influences on development and compare theories of learning.
  4. Make decisions in accordance with legal and ethical standards.

TRANSFER INFORMATION
Past graduates of this program have transferred to four-year state colleges and universities in Maryland and to private and public colleges nationwide. To facilitate transfer, students should consult with an academic advisor early in their studies at HCC and before selecting elective courses.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 1.1 million secondary school public teachers will be needed by 2018.


Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
          Behavioral/Social Science+
          English Composition
          Arts/Humanities+
          Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues
          Biological/Physical Laboratory Science
          Mathematics
          Biological/Physical Science
+ For AS, AA, and AAT degrees, Behavioral/Social Science and Arts/Humanities electives must be selected from two different disciplines.
TO SATISFY THE DIVERSITY REQUIREMENT: Associate degree students must complete one 3-credit diversity course . It is recommended that students select one of the 3-credit , , course electives from those that also appear on the approved list of diversity course graduation requirements.
 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Recommended Course Sequence

First Semester Credits
EDUC 101Introduction to Education 3
ENG 101English Composition 3
PSY 101General Psychology 3
Mathematics Elective *3-4
General Elective **3
Physical Education/Fitness Elective1
 Semester Total16-17
   
Second Semester Credits
PSY 207Educational Psychology 3
Behavioral/Social Science Elective * 3
General Education Elective * 6-8
General Elective **3
 Semester Total15-17
   
Third Semester   Credits
EDUC 217Introduction to Special Education ***3
Behavioral/Social Science Elective * 3
Biological/Physical Science Elective * 3-4
Arts/Humanities Elective * 3
General Elective **3
Physical Education Elective1
 Semester Total16-17
   
Fourth Semester Credits
Biological/Physical Lab Science Elective * 4
Arts/Humanities Elective * 3
General Education Elective * 3
Behavioral/Social Science Elective 3
General Elective **3
 Semester Total16
   

* General Education courses should be selected with consideration of the requirements of the college to which the student plans to transfer. Students should select these courses with the assistance of an advisor. Three of the nine Behavioral/Social Science credits do not have to meet general education requirements.
** General electives are designed for special courses in the area of specialization. See an advisor for appropriate selection.
*** The Introduction to Special Education course required by Harford Community College is a necessary requirement of the College’s A.A.T. 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.