Description

If you are interested in teaching students at the middle school or high school level then a pathway into secondary education could be a great fit for you! A career as a teacher offers students a great opportunity to share their passion for a subject as well as the chance to make a difference in the lives of future students. This pathway will include courses related to the field of education as well as courses related to a specific subject area that a student will ultimately want to teach. Students will want to work closely with a COCC education advisor as well as potential transfer universities to select appropriate courses for an efficient transfer process. To teach at the secondary level in the state of Oregon students will ultimately need to pursue a masters degree.

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
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 2		9-12
Social Science:
Choose four courses from at least two prefixes 2		12-16
Science/Math/Computer Science:
Choose four courses from at least two prefixes including at least three laboratory courses in biological and/or physical science 2		12-20
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: ED 210, ED 216, ED 219, ED 253
Total Credits		90-106

1	HHPA activity courses (1 credit each) are not to be duplicated.
2	Dependent on subject area student intends to teach.

Advising Notes

• In Oregon, students are eligible to apply for a preliminary teaching license after completing an approved teacher preparation program, passing the Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) and completing student teaching. Students interested in teaching a high school subject area will need to be experts in the content area they intend to teach and will be required to pass a subject matter exam. Passing the exam allows for the necessary “endorsement” (the subject/s which a teacher is approved to teach). Commonly a student will complete a bachelor's degree in the subject area they intend to teach to build foundational knowledge, followed by or in conjunction with an approved teacher education 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 advising guide for teacher education at www.cocc.edu/programs/education/.
• Students who plan to major in the subject area they intend to teach should refer to the page in the catalog that aligns with that subject area (Example: Math, Biology, Literature, History, etc.).
• 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. Language is not necessary for the BS degree, but would be valuable for students with a major or emphasis in international economics. For specific details, speak with an advisor.

Helpful Resources:
Oregon Department of Education
teachin.oregon.gov/en/become-a-teacher-in-oregon

Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC)
oregon.gov/TSPC/Pages/index.aspx

Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA)
orela.nesinc.com

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:		4
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
	Credits	14-15
Second Term
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		4
Elective		3-4
Elective		2
Oral Communication:		3-4
WR 122 or WR 227	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition Technical Writing	4
	Credits	16-18
Third Term
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters		3-4
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Elective (recommend ED 216)		3
Elective (recommend ED 219)		3
	Credits	15-19
Fourth Term
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters		3-4
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
Elective (recommend ED 253)		3
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 (recommend ED 210)		3
Elective		3
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
	Credits	15-19
Sixth Term
Discipline Studies Social Science		3-4
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Elective		3
Elective		3
Elective		3
	Credits	15-18
	Total Credits	90-108