Elementary Education and Special Education

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The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Elementary Education and Special Education (BAEE/SPED) provides an experiential four-year curriculum in Elementary Education (K-8) and Special Education (K-12). This program prepares pre-service teachers to educate diverse learners. Upon completion of the BAEE/SPED, a student will be eligible to seek the Standard Arizona Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education (K-8), Standard Arizona Teaching Certificate in Special Education (K-12), and the Structured English Immersion Endorsement.

Details

Field of Interest
Education
Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Academic Plan
Elementary Education and Special Education (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
9301
Total credits required
120
Catalog Year
2022-2023
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Admissions criteria

NEW STUDENT

None

CONTINUING or TRANSFER STUDENT

Formal application and admission to the bachelors degree program is required

Teacher candidates may be conditionally admitted if any requirements above are not met

Completion of Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) OR equivalent coursework

Completion of the Arizona Constitution and United States Constitution course(s).

Valid Identity Verified Print (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card

Two letters of recommendation

Passing score on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments, Elementary Subtest 1 and 2

Minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA)

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in each course in the program.

MAT256 requires an understanding of algebraic concepts that are not among the learning outcomes of MAT14+, so to ensure that a student is adequately prepared to be successful in MAT256, prerequisites have been established based on course placement. A student that tests into MAT14+ or lower must take MAT115 or MAT116 or MAT12+ as well as MAT14+ prior to MAT256. Students that test into MAT15+ can meet MAT256 prerequisites either by taking either MAT15+ or MAT14+.

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].

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Synthesize relevant theories and educational practices to create, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate instruction that meets the needs of individual learners.
  2. Collaborate with others to create and manage a safe, equitable, and inclusive learning environment for diverse learners.
  3. Analyze data from multiple methods of assessment to monitor learning and guide instruction of general education and special education learners.
  4. Manage the creation and implementation of Individual Educational Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans as necessary for the optimal integration and growth of learners with diverse abilities.
  5. Collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, and community members in a way that demonstrates professional and ethical standards of behavior.
  6. Practice culturally relevant pedagogy that encompasses social-emotional, relational, and cognitive aspects of teaching culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

$77,680

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

$49,430

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

$47,960

Instructional Coordinators

$60,500

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

$47,960

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School

$50,130

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

$49,730

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2021.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS/ECH176 or
CFS205 or
ECN211 or
ECN212 or
GCU121 or
GCU122 or
HIS104 or
PSY101		 Child Development or Human Development or Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere or World Geography II: Western Hemisphere or United States History 1865 to Present or Introduction to Psychology CFS/ECH176 recommended. SB or G, SB or G, SB or H, SB 3
EDU221 or
EDU230		 Introduction to Education or Cultural Diversity In Education Critical course SB or C, HU 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3
MAT14+ or
MAT15+ or
MAT187		 College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions or Precalculus Or any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT15+ is a prerequisite. MA 3–6

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ARH100 or
ARH101 or
ARH102 or
DAH100 or
DAH201 or
DAH250 or
MHL140 or
MHL145 or
MHL146 or
MHL153 or
THE111 or
THE220		 Introduction to Art or Prehistoric Through Gothic Art or Renaissance Through Contemporary Art or Introduction to Dance or World Dance Studies or Dance in Popular Culture or Survey of Music History or American Jazz and Popular Music or Survey of Broadway Musicals or Rock Music and Culture or Introduction to Theatre or Modern Drama HU or H, HU or H, HU or G, HU or C, HU or C, HU or HU, L 3
EDU221 or
EDU230		 Introduction to Education or Cultural Diversity In Education Critical course SB or C, HU 3
EDU+++ EDU Elective Select one additional EDU course (other than EDU204, 221, 222, 225, 230 or 250). Recommended: EDU110, EDU220, EDU236, or EDU/HUM/STO292. 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC 3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative Select from BIO. At least one Natural Sciences course must be SQ. SG or SQ 4

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BPC110 or
CIS105 or
EED/EDU115		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems or Digital Literacy for Teaching and Learning in Education EED/EDU115 recommended CS 3
COM225 Public Speaking L 3
EDU/ENH291 or
ENH110 or
ENH241 or
ENH242 or
HUM250 or
HUM251		 Children's Literature or Introduction to Literature or American Literature Before 1860 or American Literature After 1860 or Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Early Civilizations to the Renaissance or Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Renaissance to the Contemporary World EDU/ENH291 recommended HU or C, HU or C, HU, L or H, HU, L or H, HU, L 3
MAT256 Investigating Quantity: Number, Operations and Numeration Systems 4
RE Restricted Elective 3–5

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU222 Introduction to the Exceptional Learner C, SB 3
GCU/POS113 or
HIS103 or
POS110		 United States and Arizona Social Studies or United States History to 1865 or American National Government H, SB or H, HU, SB 3
MAT257 Investigating Geometry, Probability and Statistics 4
RE Restricted Elective POS221 recommended. 0–2
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative Select from AGS, ASM, AST, CHM, GPH, GLG, PHS, or PHY. At least one Natural Science must be SQ. SG or SQ 4

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU225 Professionalism and Ethics in Education 1
EDU367 Science of Reading, Including Systematic Phonics Instruction in Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
EDU372 Educational Psychology 3
EDU429 Science Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Strategies for Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
SPE341 Special Education: Language Development and Disorders 2
SPE343 Special Education: Effective Collaboration and Communication Practices in Special Education 1
SPE376 Special Education: Classroom Management and Behavioral Analysis Requires field experience in a K-12 classroom. 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU204 Fine Arts In Educational Settings 3
EDU337 Grades K-8 Structured English Immersion in Grades K-8 3
EDU368 Reading Instructional Practices, Interventions, and Assessments in Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
EDU427 Social Studies Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Strategies for Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
SPE422 Special Education: Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities Requires an approved field experience. 4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU428 English Language Arts Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Strategies for Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
EDU431 Mathematics Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Strategies for Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
EDU487 Professional Seminar: Current Trends in Elementary and Special Education EDU487 may be repeated for a total of four (4) credit hours. 2
SPE409 Special Education: Law, Policy, and Practice 3
SPE424 Special Education: Assessment and Eligibility of Exceptional Learner 4

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU477 Student Teaching: Elementary (Grades K-8) Requires a minimum of eight (8) weeks, full-time classroom instruction. 6
GE General Elective As needed to meet minimum credits. 0–1
SPE477 Student Teaching: Special Education (Mild to Moderate Disabilities) Requires a minimum of eight (8) weeks, full-time classroom instruction. 6

Program Electives

Choose any combination from the following list of courses and prefixes to total a minimum of five (5) 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.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ARH+++ Any ARH Art Humanities course(s) 3
ART+++ Any ARH Art Humanities course(s) 3
BPC+++ Any BPC Business-Personal Computers course(s) 3
CFS/ECH176 Child Development SB 3
CFS205 Human Development SB 3
CIS+++ Any CIS Computer Information Systems course(s) 3
ECN+++ Any ECN Economics course(s) 3
EDU+++ Any EDU Education course(s) (except EDU204, EDU221, EDU222, EDU225, EDU230, and EDU250) 3
EED215 Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Fitness 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) Any MAT course higher than MAT142 (except MAT256 and MAT257) 3
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
Foreign Language Any Foreign Language course 3–5
Natural Science Any Natural Science course 1–4

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU221 or
EDU230		 Introduction to Education or Cultural Diversity In Education Critical course SB or C, HU 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU221 or
EDU230		 Introduction to Education or Cultural Diversity In Education Critical course SB or C, HU 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU222 Introduction to the Exceptional Learner C, SB 3
MAT14+ or
MAT15+ or
MAT187		 College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions or Precalculus Or any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT15+ is a prerequisite. MA 3–6

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS/ECH176 or
CFS205 or
ECN211 or
ECN212 or
GCU121 or
GCU122 or
HIS104 or
PSY101		 Child Development or Human Development or Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere or World Geography II: Western Hemisphere or United States History 1865 to Present or Introduction to Psychology CFS/ECH176 recommended. SB or G, SB or G, SB or H, SB 3
COM225 Public Speaking L 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BPC110 or
CIS105 or
EED/EDU115		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems or Digital Literacy for Teaching and Learning in Education EED/EDU115 recommended CS 3
EDU/ENH291 or
ENH110 or
ENH241 or
ENH242 or
HUM250 or
HUM251		 Children's Literature or Introduction to Literature or American Literature Before 1860 or American Literature After 1860 or Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Early Civilizations to the Renaissance or Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Renaissance to the Contemporary World EDU/ENH291 recommended. HU or C, HU or C, HU, L or H, HU, L or H, HU, L 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT256 Investigating Quantity: Number, Operations and Numeration Systems 4
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative Select from BIO. At least one Natural Sciences course must be SQ. SG or SQ 4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT257 Investigating Geometry, Probability and Statistics 4
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative Select from AGS, ASM, AST, CHM, GPH, GLG, PHS, or PHY. At least one Natural Sciences course must be SQ. SG or SQ 4

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ARH100 or
ARH101 or
ARH102 or
DAH100 or
DAH201 or
DAH250 or
MHL140 or
MHL145 or
MHL146 or
MHL153 or
THE111 or
THE220		 Introduction to Art or Prehistoric Through Gothic Art or Renaissance Through Contemporary Art or Introduction to Dance or World Dance Studies or Dance in Popular Culture or Survey of Music History or American Jazz and Popular Music or Survey of Broadway Musicals or Rock Music and Culture or Introduction to Theatre or Modern Drama HU or H, HU or H, HU or G, HU or C, HU or C, HU or HU, L 3
EDU+++ EDU Elective Select one additional EDU course (other than EDU204, 221, 222, 225, 230 or 250). Recommended: EDU110, EDU220, EDU236, or EDU/HUM/STO292. 3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU225 Professionalism and Ethics in Education 1
GCU/POS113 or
HIS103 or
POS110		 United States and Arizona Social Studies or United States History to 1865 or American National Government H, SB or H, HU, SB 3
RE Restricted Elective 3–5

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU372 Educational Psychology 3
RE Restricted Elective POS221 recommended. 0–2
SPE376 Special Education: Classroom Management and Behavioral Analysis Requires field experience in a K-12 classroom. 3

Term 11

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 11
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU367 Science of Reading, Including Systematic Phonics Instruction in Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
EDU429 Science Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Strategies for Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3

Term 12

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 12
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU427 Social Studies Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Strategies for Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
SPE424 Special Education: Assessment and Eligibility of Exceptional Learner 4

Term 13

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 13
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU337 Grades K-8 Structured English Immersion in Grades K-8 3
EDU368 Reading Instructional Practices, Interventions, and Assessments in Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3

Term 14

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 14
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU204 Fine Arts In Educational Settings 3
SPE341 Special Education: Language Development and Disorders 2

Term 15

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 15
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU428 English Language Arts Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Strategies for Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
EDU431 Mathematics Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Strategies for Grades K-8 Requires an approved field experience. 3
EDU487 Professional Seminar: Current Trends in Elementary and Special Education EDU487 may be repeated for a total of four (4) credit hours. 2

Term 16

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 16
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SPE343 Special Education: Effective Collaboration and Communication Practices in Special Education 1
SPE409 Special Education: Law, Policy, and Practice 3
SPE422 Special Education: Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities Requires an approved field experience. 4

Term 17

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 17
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU477 Student Teaching: Elementary (Grades K-8) Requires a minimum of eight (8) weeks, full-time classroom instruction. 6

Term 18

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 18
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GE General Elective As needed to meet minimum credits 0–1
SPE477 Student Teaching: Special Education (Mild to Moderate Disabilities) Requires a minimum of eight (8) weeks, full-time classroom instruction. 6

Program Electives

Choose any combination from the following list of courses and prefixes to total a minimum of five (5) 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.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ARH+++ Any ARH Art Humanities course(s) 3
ART+++ Any ART Art course(s) 3
BPC+++ Any BPC+++ Business-Personal Computers courses(s) 3
CFS/ECH176 Child Development SB 3
CFS205 Human Development SB 3
CIS+++ Any CIS Computer Information Systems course(s) 3
ECN+++ Any ECN Economics course(s) 3
EDU+++ Any EDU Education course(s) (except EDU204, EDU221, EDU222, EDU225, EDU230, and EDU250) 3
EED215 Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Fitness 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) Any MAT course 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
Foreign Language Any Foreign Language course 3–5
Natural Science Any Natural Science course 1–4
Course Area Key

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s curriculum website for the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Special Education (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=175097).

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.