Education, Associate of Education

Program Overview

The Associate of Education-Early Childhood Education (A.Ed.) degree offers the needed preparation in critical education content to prepare students for employment as paraeducators upon graduation. The A.Ed. also prepares students for future transfer to a four-year college or university. The Associate of Education degree coursework is equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education and meets the requirements of employers, especially public school districts.

This degree includes prescriptive coursework necessary to:

Provide foundational preparation in the field of education.
Prepare students to apply for baccalaureate teacher preparation programs, such as Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education’s Undergraduate Elementary Education Professional Program.
Fulfill the 75 credits of unrestricted general education requirements of the Associate of Arts, Direct Transfer Agreement, AA-DTA .

Learning Outcomes:

General Education Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes:

Graduates of the Associate in Education program will be able to:

Use knowledge of key child development theories and current research to analyze and under-stand children’s perspectives, behavior, and development. (EDUC 115 )
Develop strategies for connecting with and supporting the child and family that recognize the interconnectedness of the child, family, and community and the impacts of culture and structural in-equity on their lives. (EDUC 150 )
Use observation and documentation as tools to understand the development, learning, and behavior of young children and use that knowledge for curriculum development. (ECED 190 )
Use effective teaching strategies that adapt and change to meet student’s needs. (EDUC 223 )
Create engaging curriculum that is based on knowledge of children’s developmental needs, established learning outcomes, and children’s interests. (ECED 160 )

Program Admissions:

Students may enter the program at the beginning of any quarter. For specific information, contact Enrollment Services or the Department Chair.

According to Washington State law RCW 43.43.830, any person with a positive criminal history for “crimes against persons” is not allowed to work with children. Background checks of criminal history are required of all students who work with children in any setting. Participants in this program will be required to complete a background check with a local school district.

Specialized Program Information:

Work-Based Learning

Students will complete EDUC 223 - Practicum and Seminar toward the end of their degree. This requires the student to volunteer weekly in a K-3rd grade classroom. In order to volunteer in a school, you must successfully pass a criminal background check. Students with a criminal background should complete a background check prior to enrolling in the program to make sure that they will be able to complete the practicum requirement and gain employment after graduation.

Degree Option:

Upon completion of the A.Ed. requirements, students are eligible to apply to be awarded the Associate of Arts, Direct Transfer Agreement, AA-DTA . The A.Ed. degree will be granted to SVC students completing with a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Entry into a baccalaureate program will require a higher GPA for admission. This degree does not guarantee admission into the major. Early advising is important to ensure degree completion. Students are responsible for checking specific major requirements of baccalaureate institutions in the year prior to transferring.