Description

If you are interested in becoming an elementary teacher or pursuing a career in the field of education, COCC can give you a strong foundation for your goals. The courses recommended in this pathway will help you to explore key topics related to student learning, teaching strategies and what is required to become a professional educator. If you are passionate about working with young learners and making a difference in the lives of future students, this could be a great path for you! The suggested courses are engaging and offer students many hands-on learning opportunities. Instructors work closely with students and seek to connect them early on with transfer partners to ensure an efficient pathway to potential licensure. The following is a suggested course of study for students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education designed for elementary licensure.

Learning Outcomes

Arts & Letters

1. Interpret and engage in the Arts & Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life; and

2. Critically analyze values and ethics within a range of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues. 

Cultural Literacy

1. Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.  

Health

1. Explain the relationship between human behavior and health.

Mathematics

1. Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems; and

2. Recognize which mathematical concepts are applicable to a scenario, apply appropriate mathematics and technology in its analysis, and then accurately interpret, validate, and communicate the results.

Science or Computer Science

1. Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models and solutions and generate further questions;

2. Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner; and

3. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment. 

Social Science

1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior; and

2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.

Speech/Oral Communication

1. Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals;

2. Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts; and

3. Build and manage relationships.

Writing and Information Literacy

1. Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences;

2. Recognize and articulate the need for information, and then locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize that information to communicate effectively; and
3. Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.

Entrance Requirements

While this program has no formal entrance requirements, individual courses may have prerequisites which must be met prior to enrollment.

Course Requirements

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
General Education/Foundational
Health:
Choose 3 credits 1		3
Recommend: HHP 295
Mathematics:
Choose one course		4
Recommend: MTH 211
Oral Communication:
Choose one course		3-4
Writing:
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
WR 122	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition	4
or WR 227	Technical Writing
General Education/Discipline studies
Cultural Literacy:
One course from the following categories must be designated as cultural literacy on the Discipline Studies list (credits count once).
Arts and Letters:
Choose three courses from at least two prefixes		9-12
Recommend: ED 112
Social Science:
Choose four courses from at least two prefixes		12-16
Recommend: ED 152 or SOC 222, ED 219, PSY 201, SOC 201
Science/Math/Computer Science:
Choose four courses from at least two prefixes including at least three laboratory courses in biological and/or physical science		12-20
Recommend: FN 225
Electives
Choose any course numbered 100 or above that brings the total credits to 90 quarter hours. This may include up to 12 credits of Career and Technical Education courses designated by COCC as acceptable.		39
Recommend: CIS 120, ED 172, ED 174, ED 176, ED 216, ED 235, ED 253, ED265, ED 269, ED 290, HST 201, HST 202, HST 203, MTH 212, MTH 213
Total Credits		90-106

1	HHPA activity courses (1 credit each) are not to be duplicated.

Advising Notes

• In Oregon, students may achieve an initial license to teach through a bachelor’s program, a post-baccalaureate program or a master’s-level program. Students prepare to teach at different grade levels of authorization, depending on their background, interests and the requirements of specific programs of study. It is important to work closely with an advisor to ensure that the degree contains the necessary prerequisite coursework for the desired licensure program.
• Students should check with each school to ensure that the latest transfer information is used when designing their program.
• There are several options for completing a teaching licensure program in Central Oregon.
• Students should consult with an education advisor as early as possible to discuss program options and determine which courses fulfill transfer requirements to different institutions and different levels of licensure.
• For more information on teacher preparation programs in Oregon, see the Oregon Teacher Standard and Practices Commission website at oregon.gov/TSPC. Students may also wish to review COCC’s link for teacher education at cocc.edu/programs/education/.
• Students pursuing a BA should consider completing three terms of 200-level language courses at COCC. The 100-level language courses will count as electives. The 200-level language courses will partially fulfill the Arts and Letters requirement.
• Students pursuing a BS should consider taking more math, social science and science courses. For specific details, speak with an advisor.
• HHP 295 Health and Fitness, MTH 112 Trigonometry, MTH 113 Topics in Precalculus, SOC 201 Introduction to Sociology and WR 121 Academic Composition are intended to align with requirements for OSU's Education major. Students should confirm current major requirements at OSU.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:
  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
  • Options for additional standards:
    • All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

Sample Plan

Sample Plan Grid

First Term		Credits
Elective		3-4
Health (recommend HHP 295) 1		3
Mathematics (recommend MTH 211)		4
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
	Credits	14-15
Second Term
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science (recommend FN 225)		4
Elective		3-4
Oral Communication:		3-4
WR 122 or WR 227	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition Technical Writing	4
	Credits	14-16
Third Term
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters (recommend ED 112)		3
Discipline Studies Social Science (recommend ED 152 or SOC 222)		3
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Elective		3-4
Elective		3-4
	Credits	15-19
Fourth Term
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters		3-4
Discipline Studies Social Science (recommend ED 219)		3
Elective		3-4
Elective		3-4
Elective		3-4
	Credits	15-19
Fifth Term
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters		3-4
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Elective		3-4
Elective		3-4
Discipline Studies Social Science (recommend SOC 201)		4
	Credits	16-21
Sixth Term
Discipline Studies Social Science (recommend PSY 201)		4
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Elective		3-4
Elective		3-4
Elective		3-4
	Credits	16-21
	Total Credits	90-111