Education

Overview

Education prepares students for rewarding careers in K–8 schools and social service agencies to perform important and supporting roles. This program offers the theoretical foundation and practical learning experiences for success in a wide variety of occupations working with children and adolescents in classrooms and other settings.

Graduates of this program will learn specific teaching methods, behavior management strategies and will apply knowledge of child and adolescent development in their work. Graduates may choose to become an authorized Ed Tech II or take advantage of one of several articulation agreements that EMCC has with other colleges and universities and use this degree as a pathway to continue their education to become a certified K–8 teacher.

This program is appropriate for individuals who wish to gain recertification credits for a current teaching certificate or who wish to upgrade skills in working with all students within their classrooms.

Learning Objectives

Graduates of the Education Program will:

• Understand how students learn and develop, and plans learning opportunities that support a student’s physical, cognitive and social/emotional development.
• Use a variety of instructional strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of students and to encourage critical thinking and problem solving.
• Understand the principles of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and uses specific management strategies to create a learning environment that fosters positive social interaction and engagement in meaningful learning experiences.
• Recognize that students differ in their approaches to learning and create learning opportunities that are modified and adapted to diverse learners.
• Plan lessons and activities that are based on knowledge of the subject matter, knowledge of the individual students and knowledge of the State and/or National standards.
• Understand appropriate formal and informal assessment strategies to inform curricula decisions, adjust instruction and evaluate learning outcomes that are matched to the physical, cognitive and social/emotional needs of individual students.
• Reflect on their practices to continually evaluate the effects of planning and decisions made and to seek opportunities to grow professionally.
• Use ethical behavior when interacting with students, school colleagues, families and agencies in the community to support students’ learning and well-being.

Prerequisites

Algebra I required.

Curriculum

Elective Distribution
Communications – 3 credits (100 level or above)
Humanities or Social Science Courses – 9 credits (100 level or above)
Math/Science Courses – 10 credits (100 level or above)