Education, A.Ed.

Associate in Education

This degree offers the needed preparation in critical ECED content, as recommended by the National Association for the Education of Young Children Associate’s Degree Standards (NAEYC), for employment upon graduation, it also prepares students for future transfer to a four-year college or university. It also meets the current emphasis in ECED for teachers with a broader knowledge of general education. The A.Ed. coursework is equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education and as such meets the requirements of employers, especially public school districts, federal Head Start programs and the state sponsored preschool program (ECEAP) for early childhood positions requiring a two-year ECED degree. 

Upon completion of the A.Ed. requirements, students are eligible to apply to be awarded the AA-DTA.  The A.Ed. degree will be granted to SVC students completing with a cumulative 2.0 GPA; entry into a baccalaureate program at a four-year school 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.

This degree includes prescriptive coursework necessary to:

• Provide foundational preparation in the field of education.
• Prepare students for the career field of early childhood 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).

Purpose

This degree is intended to prepare students for entry into a teacher certification program. Although this degree will be granted to SVC students completing a cumulative 2.0 GPA, entry into a Bachelor’s degree Education program may require a higher GPA for admission. Upon completion of the A-Ed requirements, students are eligible to apply to be awarded the AA-DTA. Seek out an SVC Early Childhood Education program advisor early in your studies.

This degree also furthers the objectives of the Maestros Para el Pueblo program. This program works with Western Washington University and various high schools in the area to help LatinX students achieve their goals in pursuing a career in education.

The Associate in Education program Learning Outcomes are adopted from the NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation.

Graduates of the A.Ed. Program will be able to:
1.    Promoting child development and learning;
2.    Building family and community relationships;
3.    Observing, documenting, and assessing;
4.    Using developmentally effective approaches to connect with children and families;
5.    Using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum;

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Education, A. Ed., program will be able to:

Natural Sciences Outcomes

• Collect and analyze data and interpret the results from scientific investigations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts in at least one scientific discipline.
• Demonstrate scientific literacy.

Social Sciences Outcomes

• Apply concepts from the social sciences to analyze individual or social phenomena, processes, events, conflicts, or issues.
• Explain the variables that influence the structure of cultures and societies.
• Identify social variables, structures, and experiences that shape individual perspectives.

Humanities Outcomes

• Apply skills, terms, concepts, research and/or analysis methods to express ideas within the humanities.
• Analyze and/or interpret creative and communicative expressions of the humanities.

Physical Education Outcomes

• Develop mental and physical health through movement.
• Gain knowledge of body systems and demonstrate skills necessary to pass national or state certification tests for emergency response.
• Obtain and apply science-based knowledge to support personal fitness, health, and well-being.

General Education Learning Outcomes

Think

Think analytically, logically, creatively, and reflectively.

Quantify

Apply mathematical skills quantitatively, logically, creatively, and critically.

Communicate

Produce and exchange ideas and information through written, spoken, and visual forms.

Integrate

Apply knowledge, skills, and methodologies from multiple disciplines.

Engage

Interact with humans and the environment informed by an understanding of equity.

Entry into the Program

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 portable background check with the Department of Children Youth and Families as part of their coursework.

Students will complete EDUC 223- Education 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 Map

This degree will be granted to SVC students completing with a cumulative 2.0 GPA.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 107 quarter credits in transferable courses numbered 100 or above with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in order to graduate from SVC with an Associate in Education degree. A minimum of 60 quarter hours of general education courses are required. At least 25 college-level credits must be earned at SVC with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Credits must satisfy course requirements listed below. Students should check specific admission and program requirements and application deadlines to assist in successful transfer to a four-year institution. College counselors and academic faculty can advise students of special lower division requirements.

MATH 099 is required in order to prepare students for applying to Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education’s Teacher Preparation Program. This application requirement can also be fulfilled through taking a mathematics course with MATH 099 as a pre-requisite or successfully passing an intermediate algebra placement test at WWU. College counselors and academic faculty can advise students of this requirement. Please contact an advisor if planning to transfer to a program other than WWU.

Note: Courses with an ampersand (&) are Common Course Numbering courses, * is a lab course, and ~ are recommended coursework.