Associate in Arts, Elementary Education
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The Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who plan to transfer to an Elementary Education or Special Education program at an Arizona public higher education institution. Upon completion of the AAEE, a student may pursue employment as a classroom instructional aide. Upon completing a bachelor's degree, a student may pursue a career as an elementary school teacher or a special education teacher. With further education or certification, students may pursue employment in the field of education in a number of careers, including but not limited to assistant principal, principal, educational administrator, instructional designer, instructional technologist, instructional coordinator, and educational counselor.
Details
Field of Interest
Education
Degree Type
Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8101
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
As a prerequisite to MAT256, students may place into MAT150 or MAT151 or MAT152 and complete MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142 with a C in lieu of taking both MAT14+ and MAT12+ or taking MAT15+. A student that tests into MAT15+ can take MAT15+ or MAT14+ prior to MAT256. A student that tests into MAT14+ or lower must take MAT12+ and MAT14+ prior to MAT256.
Students must petition NAU to accept (HIS103 and POS221) for POS220.
State certification requirements include courses on the constitutions of US and Arizona. Taking GCU/POS113 for [SB] fulfills this requirement completely. Students who instead take HIS103 or POS110 for [SB] should consider taking POS221 as a Content Area Elective so they have completed study of both constitutions. POS220 meets state certification requirements for both constitutions but does not meet [SB].
This emphasis is intended to align with the degree requirements for the following programs:
ASU (Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College), Elementary Education, BAE
GCC, PVCC, RSC, Elementary Education and Special Education (9301), BA
NAU, Elementary Education, BSE
U of A, Elementary Education Bilingual Option, BAE
U of A, Elementary Education ESL Option, BAE
Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information: ASU , NAU , U of A
What You'll Learn
- Evaluate the role and impact of various forms of education in a democracy as an active citizen and participate in their communities in constructive ways that demonstrate respect for differing cultures and values.
- Demonstrate a foundational knowledge of reading, writing, oral language, mathematics, science, social studies, technology, information literacy and art.
- Analyze K-12 classroom field experience and correlate it with course concepts.
- Demonstrate ongoing learning and use evidence to continually evaluate his/her professional growth, ethics, knowledge, skills, and dispositions (e.g. collaboration, professionalism, reflection, time management, effective communication).
- Utilize a foundational knowledge of child development (e.g. physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional domains), teaching and learning theories, cultural differences, and/or inclusive educational practices for diverse learners.
- Synthesize knowledge of current and historical influences on education at the local, state, federal and/or global levels to effectively engage in the professional policies and the political process.
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 14-20 | |
| EDU221 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| EDU222 | Introduction to the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| EDU230 | Cultural Diversity in Education | 3 |
| FYE101 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1) OR | |
| FYE103 | Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success (3) | 1-3 |
| MAT256 | Investigating Quantity: Number, Operations, and Numeration Systems | 4 |
| MAT257 | Investigating Geometry, Probability, and Statistics | 0-4 |
| Note: MAT257 is required for Maricopa, NAU and U of A bachelor`s degree. | ||
| MAT257 | should only be bypassed if transferring to ASU | |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 6 | |
| A total of six (6) semester credits are required to satisfy the Electives for Arizona Professional Teacher Standards: three (3) credits in an additional Education course and three (3) credits in Content Area Electives. | ||
| Courses must transfer to all public Arizona universities as Elective Credit, Departmental Elective, or Equivalent to a university course as indicated in the Arizona Course Equivalency Guide in effect when the course is taken. Courses identified as Non-transferable in the Arizona Course Equivalency Guide cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. | ||
| Select one (1) additional EDU course (other than EDU221, EDU222, EDU230 or EDU250): | ||
| Recommended: | ||
| EDU220 | Introduction to Serving English Language Learners (ELL) (3) OR | |
| EDU236 | Classroom Relationships (3) OR | |
| EDU/HUM/STO292 | The Art of Storytelling (3) | 3 |
| Choose any combination from the following list of courses and prefixes to total three (3) credits of additional coursework. Course(s) selected must be different from those used to fulfill a requirement of the AGEC-A and/or those used to fulfill Required Courses. | ||
| Content Area Electives: Select three (3) credits from the following: | ||
| ARH+++ Any ARH Art Humanities course(s) | 3 | |
| ART+++ Any ART Art course(s) | 3 | |
| BPC+++ Any BPC Business-Personal Computers course(s) | 3 | |
| CFS/ECH176 | Child Development | 3 |
| CFS205 | Human Development | 3 |
| CIS+++ Any CIS Computer Information Systems course(s) | 3 | |
| ECN+++ Any ECN Economics course(s) | 3 | |
| EDU+++ Any EDU Education course(s) 3 (except EDU221, EDU222, EDU230, and EDU250) | ||
| EED215 | Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Physical Fitness (3) OR | |
| CFS123 | Health and Nutrition in Early Childhood Settings (1) AND | |
| CFS125 | Safety in Early Childhood Settings (1) | 2-3 |
| ENG+++ Any ENG English course(s) | 3 | |
| ENH+++ Any ENH English Humanities course(s) | 3 | |
| GCU+++ Any GCU Cultural Geography course(s) | 3 | |
| GPH+++ Any GPH Physical Geography course(s) | 3 | |
| HIS+++ Any HIS History course(s) | 3 | |
| MAT+++ Any MAT Mathematics course(s) higher than MAT142 (except MAT256 and MAT257) | 3-5 | |
| MHL+++ Any MHL Music: History/Literature course(s) | 3 | |
| MTC+++ Any MTC Music: Theory/Composition course(s) | 3 | |
| POS+++ Any POS Political Science course(s) | 3 | |
| THE+++ Any THE Theatre course(s) | 3 | |
| THF+++ Any THF Theatre and Film course(s) | 3 | |
| THP+++ Any THP Theatre Performance/Production course(s) | 3 | |
| Any Foreign Language course | 4-5 | |
| Any Natural Science course | 3-4 | |
| AGEC-A | Credits: 35-41 | |
|
A single course with an [L], [HU], [SB], [SG], or [SQ] designation may also be used to satisfy the Oral Communication, Critical Reading, and/or Awareness Area ([C], [G] and/or [H]) requirement(s). See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations. |
||
| First-Year Composition [FYC] | Credits: 6 | |
| ENG101 | First-Year Composition (3) OR | |
| ENG107 | First-Year Composition for ESL (3) AND | |
| ENG102 | First-Year Composition (3) OR | |
| ENG108 | First-Year Composition for ESL (3) | 6 |
| Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] | Credits: 3 | |
| COM225 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Mathematics [MA] | Credits: 3-6 | |
| MAT140 | College Mathematics (5) OR | |
| MAT141 | College Mathematics (4) OR | |
| MAT142 | College Mathematics (3) OR | |
| MAT145 | College Mathematics with Review (5) OR | |
| MAT146 | College Mathematics with Review (6) OR | |
| MAT150 | College Algebra/Functions (5) OR | |
| MAT151 | College Algebra/Functions (4) OR | |
| MAT152 | College Algebra/Functions (3) OR | |
| MAT155 | College Algebra/Functions with Review (5) OR | |
| MAT156 | College Algebra/Functions with Review (6) | |
| OR | ||
| MAT187 | Precalculus (5) OR | |
| Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT15+ is a prerequisite (3-5) | 3-6 | |
| Note: MAT182, MAT206, MAT256, MAT257 do NOT meet this requirement. | ||
| Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] | Credits: 3 | |
| BPC110 | Computer Usage and Applications (3) OR | |
| CIS105 | Survey of Computer Information Systems (3) OR | |
| EDU/EED115 | Digital Literacy for Teaching and Learning in Education (3) | 3 |
| (EDU/EED115 | recommended). | |
| Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] | Credits: 6 | |
| EDU/ENH291 | Children`s Literature (3) OR | |
| ENH110 | Introduction to Literature (3) OR | |
| ENH241 | American Literature Before 1860 (3) OR | |
| ENH242 | American Literature After 1860 (3) OR | |
| HUM250 | Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Early Civilizations to the Renaissance (3) OR | |
| HUM251 | Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Renaissance to the Contemporary World (3) | 3 |
| (EDU/ENH291 | recommended) | |
| AND | ||
| ARH100 | Introduction to Art (3) OR | |
| ARH101 | Art from Prehistory Through Middle Ages (3) OR | |
| ARH102 | Art from Renaissance to Modernism (3) OR | |
| DAH100 | Introduction to Dance in the United States (3) OR | |
| DAH201 | Dance, Culture, and Global Contexts (3) OR | |
| DAH250 | Dance in Popular Culture (3) OR | |
| MHL140 | Survey of Music History (3) OR | |
| MHL145 | American Jazz and Popular Music (3) OR | |
| MHL146 | Survey of Broadway Musicals (3) OR | |
| MHL153 | Rock Music and Culture (3) OR | |
| THE111 | Introduction to Theatre (3) OR | |
| THE220 | Modern Drama (3) | 3 |
| Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB] | Credits: 6 | |
| Select one of the following US History/Government courses. These courses satisfy the United States Constitution requirement for state teacher certification. | ||
| GCU/POS113 | United States and Arizona Social Studies (3) OR | |
| HIS103 | United States History to 1865 (3) OR | |
| POS110 | American National Government (3) | 3 |
| AND | ||
| CFS205 | Human Development (3) OR | |
| CFS/ECH176 | Child Development (3) OR | |
| ECN211 | Macroeconomic Principles (3) OR | |
| ECN212 | Microeconomic Principles (3) OR | |
| GCU121WG | World Geography: People, Places, and Culture (3) OR | |
| HIS104 | United States History 1865 to Present (3) OR | |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology (3) | 3 |
| (CFS/ECH176 | recommended) | |
| Natural Sciences [SG]/[SQ] | Credits: 8 | |
| The lecture course(s) selected for Natural Sciences must include or be accompanied by the corresponding laboratory course for a total of four (4) credits each. At least four (4) credits must be designated as [SQ]. Eight (8) credits of [SG] will not satisfy this requirement. | ||
| Life Sciences: Select four (4) credits of [SQ] or [SG] in Biology (BIO) (4) | ||
| AND | ||
| Physical Sciences or Earth/Space Sciences: Select four (4) credits of [SQ] or [SG] from one of the following prefixes: | ||
| AGS+++ Any AGS Agricultural Science course(s) (4) | ||
| ASM+++ Any ASM Anthropology course(s) (4) | ||
| AST+++ Any AST Astronomy course(s) (4) | ||
| CHM+++ Any CHM Chemistry course(s) (4) | ||
| GPH+++ Any GPH Physical Geography course(s) (4) | ||
| GLG+++ Any GLG Geology course(s) (4) | ||
| PHS+++ Any PHS Physical Science course(s) (4) | ||
| PHY+++ Any PHY Physics course(s) (4) | 8 | |
| Note: Students are advised to check with the university they plan to attend, as specific requirements for lab sciences may vary. | ||
| Awareness Areas | Credits: 0-3 | |
| These requirements may be shared with other AGEC requirements. See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations. | ||
| Historical/Global Awareness [H]/[G] | Credits: 0-3 | |
| Any approved general education course with the Historical [H] or Global [G] awareness area designation. | ||
| MCCCD Additional Requirements | ||
| MCCCD Additional Requirements | Credits: 0-3 | |
| Some courses in this area have [SB] and [L] designations and may also be applied to the corresponding AGEC requirements. See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations. | ||
| Critical Reading | Credits: 0-3 | |
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking (3) OR | |
| Equivalent as indicated by assessment (0) | 0-3 | |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | ||
| Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits. Consult with a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals. | ||
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
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