The Secondary Education AA degree transfer major prepares students with a foundation in education principles, theory and practice and exposes them to complex problems and relations in the field of education. Teachers play an essential role in fostering the intellectual and social development of children in their formative years. Using a variety of active learning approaches, teachers help students understand abstract principles, solve problems and develop critical thought process. Teaching grades 5-12 educators provide the tools and the environment for their students to develop into responsible citizens.

All students must clear a background check to be enrolled in education classes.

This degree is designed for students to complete the first two years of a four-year teaching degree program, earning their Associate of Arts. Students then transfer to an accredited teacher's education program at a public or private four-year college or university.

The following courses are required for the Secondary Education Transfer Major: EDU-212, EDU-920, EDU-240, EDU-247, PSY-121, EDU-255, HIS-151, SDV-108, ENG-105, and ENG-106. The other courses are suggested and may be substituted; please consult with a Student Success Advocate.

For specific information regarding program rules and expectations, please view the Early Childhood Education & Teacher Education Programs Handbook.

Summary Sheet

The summary sheet provides a program overview and other information.

Download the summary sheet.

Curriculum Sequence

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Fall Semester I	Course Title	Credit
SDV-108	The College Experience	1
ENG-105	Composition I	3
PSY-111	Introduction to Psychology	3
EDU-212	Educational Foundations	3
EDU-920	Field Experience	2
Take course totaling 3 credits
ZZZ-MAT	Mathematics Course	3-4
	TOTAL CREDITS	15

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Spring Semester I	Course Title	Credit
ENG-106	Composition II	3
EDU-245	Exceptional Learner	3
ZZZ-SOC	Social Science Course	3
ZZZ-HUM	Humanities Course	3
Take course totaling 3 credits
ZZZ-MSC	Math or Science Course	3-5
	TOTAL CREDITS	15

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Fall Semester II	Course Title	Credit
ZZZ-CUL	Cultural Awareness Course	3
EDU-240	Educational Psychology	3
ZZZ-HUM	Humanities Course	3
HIS-152	US History Since 1877	3
PSY-121	Developmental Psychology	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	15

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Spring Semester II	Course Title	Credit
EDU-255	Technology in the Classroom	3
SOC-110	Introduction to Sociology	3
SPC-112	Public Speaking	3
Take course totaling 3 credits
ZZZ-ELE	Elective Course	3-5
Take course totaling 4 credits
ZZZ-LAB	Lab Science Course	3-5
	TOTAL CREDITS	16

SDV-108 - The College Experience

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course is designed to empower new students to successfully transition to college. Students will learn academic success skills, strategies for personal development and exploration, college culture and expectations, and how to access college resources and services.

ENG-105 - Composition I

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A study of the principles of writing. Emphasis on rhetoric, mechanics and development of expository patterns: narration, description illustration, comparison/contrast, classification, process and cause/effect. Required for AA and AS Degrees. Prerequisite: Meet minimum test score requirements.

PSY-111 - Introduction to Psychology

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A basic course in the understanding of behavior, designed to give the student a scientific background in the fundamental problems and techniques covered in the field of psychology.

ZZZ-MAT - Mathematics Course

Lecture: 3-4

Credit: 3-4

Courses fulfilling the Mathematics requirement address the properties and relationships of numbers, formulas, and operations, as well as the real world application of these concepts to analyze data. Any mathematics course of the 100-level or above can fulfill this requirement. Please see your Student Success Advocate to help choose the best option for you.

EDU-212 - Educational Foundations

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This survey course is designed to examine the historical, philosophical, sociological, political, economic and legal foundations of the American public education system. Students will explore the nature of school environments, design and organization of school curriculum and characteristics of effective schools and instruction in grades P-12. Educational structures, practices and projections for the future will be studied. Corequisite: EDU-920.

EDU-920 - Field Experience

Lecture: 1

Lab: 2

Credit: 2

Field Experience provides the student an opportunity to observe a teacher in a local classroom and to work with students in that classroom under direct supervision of the cooperating teacher. Students will be required to complete 32 observation hours. The student will complete observation documents during their required hours in the classroom. Corequisite: EDU-212.

ENG-106 - Composition II

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A continuation of study of the principles of writing begun in ENG-105. Emphasis is placed on persuasive writing, critical analysis and the MLA research paper. Time will also be spent exploring print and electronic research sources and learning effective research strategies. Required for AA and AS Degrees. Prerequisite: ENG-105, with a minimum grade of C-.

ZZZ-MSC - Math or Science Course

Lecture: 2-4

Lab: 0-2

Credit: 3-5

Courses fulfilling the Math or Science requirement address quantitative and/or scientific reasoning skills. Any course of 100-level or above from mathematics or a science discipline can fulfill this requirement. Please see your Student Success Advocate to help choose the best option for you.

EDU-245 - Exceptional Learner

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This is a survey course that provides an overview of special education regulations, policies and programs in educational settings. Birth through 12th grade pre-service teachers learn the history of special education law, including IDEA and as it applies to the course with ESSA, characteristics of the categories of disabilities per federal and state regulations, characteristics of talented and gifted programs, and basic components of an IEP. This course is a required component for students seeking Birth through 12th grade teacher state licensure. Ten hours of observation will be required.

ZZZ-SOC - Social Science Course

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

Courses fulfilling the Social Science requirement address the behavior of humans as individuals and groups. These courses cover the academic disciplines of economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees require Social Science courses from at least two different disciplines. Please see your Student Success Advocate to help choose the best option for you.

ZZZ-HUM - Humanities Course

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

Courses fulfilling the Humanities requirement address human history, languages, literature, philosophy, and the arts. These courses span a wide range of academic disciplines. The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees require Humanities courses from at least two different disciplines. Please see your Student Success Advocate to help choose the best option for you.

ZZZ-CUL - Cultural Awareness Course

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

Courses fulfilling the Cultural Awareness requirement address the diversity of culture within the United States and across the world. These courses span a wide range of academic disciplines. Please see your Student Success Advocate to help choose the best option for you.

EDU-240 - Educational Psychology

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course examines the application of psychological principles, theories and methodologies to issues of teaching and learning. Theory and research concerned with human learning, development, behavior and motivation is reviewed with an emphasis on the cognitive, psychological and social factors that relate to and influence learning in educational settings. Prerequisite: PSY-111.

ZZZ-HUM - Humanities Course

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

Courses fulfilling the Humanities requirement address human history, languages, literature, philosophy, and the arts. These courses span a wide range of academic disciplines. The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees require Humanities courses from at least two different disciplines. Please see your Student Success Advocate to help choose the best option for you.

HIS-152 - US History Since 1877

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A survey of American social, political, economic and intellectual developments since 1877.

PSY-121 - Developmental Psychology

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A systematic study of life-span development. Individual differences in behavior as well as cultural norms are considered in relation to heredity and environment.

EDU-255 - Technology in the Classroom

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

Students will learn to integrate instructional technology into the PK-12 classrooms. Students will study a variety of software programs, presentation technology and telecommunication tools. The focus will also be on social, ethical, legal and human issues surrounding the use of technology.  This course will be taken in a student's final semester of their program.  Pre-requisites:  EDU-212, EDU-920, and EDU-245, or instructor permission.

SOC-110 - Introduction to Sociology

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

An analysis of social organization (or the social order). This course deals with the nature of sociology as a science, the original nature of man, the socialization of the individual, the development of groups and group behavior, the nature of culture and culture patterns, the organization of institutions, the nature of social order, the organization of human stratification and examination of major social processes. Special emphasis is placed upon the American cultural patterns.

ZZZ-ELE - Elective Course

Lecture: 2-4

Lab: 0-2

Credit: 3-5

Any course of 100-level or higher from Arts and Sciences or Career Technical Education can be used to fulfill an Elective. Please see your Student Success Advocate to help choose the best option for you.

SPC-112 - Public Speaking

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course examines both the theoretical and practical basis of speech communication, particularly public speaking. Emphasis is on speech preparation, organization, support, delivery and audience analysis.

ZZZ-LAB - Lab Science Course

Lecture: 2-4

Lab: 2

Credit: 3-5

Courses fulfilling the Lab Science requirement incorporate hands-on experimentation and observation by students in the study of science. Any science course of 100-level or above including laboratory credit from the disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics, physical science, science, or environmental science can fulfill this requirement. Please see your Student Success Advocate to help choose the best option for you.

Amy Drew - Instructor - Early Childhood Education

Email: adrew@scciowa.edu
AA, Southeastern Community College
BA, Iowa Wesleyan University
MS, Walden University

Bailea Grier - Instructor - Early Childhood Education

Email: bgrier@scciowa.edu
AA, Southeastern Community College
BA, University of Northern Iowa
MA, Viterbo University
Advanced Studies Certificate as a Literacy Coach, University of Northern Iowa