Education

  • Overview
  • Program Notes

Designed for students who plan to transfer to a Baccalaureate program with a goal of teacher licensure as a qualification for teaching positions in the public school system. Education students at a 4-year institution carry two majors, one in Education and one in a non-Education field within the Humanities, Fine Arts, Social Sciences, Math, or Science field. Students in the LEO option at GCC choose a teacher licensure level (Pre-K - 2nd grade, or 1st - 6th grade, or 5th - 12th grade), and a concentration area that will lead towards their non-Education major at a 4–year transfer institution.

What You'll StudyCourse Sequencing
LEO

Education classes will introduce you to issues and approaches in pedagogy at the K-12 level. You’ll also study child behavior and development and special education, while English classes focused on canonical British literature and contemporary children’s literature will start preparing you to review, select, and teach this work. A mathematics course focused on Early Childhood and Elementary Educators and electives of your choice will round out this Option, laying the foundation for continuing work in the field.

Please note that transfer to many four-year colleges and universities may require the completion of four sequential semesters of World Languages. Transfer specialists recommend using electives to start language requirements at the community college prior to transfer.

Curriculum Documents

To plan degree completion, see the course descriptions in the academic catalog which specify the planned semester(s) in which required classes are to be scheduled.

This is just one way you might complete the Education program in 4 semesters over 2 years of full-time study, or 8 semesters over 4 years of part-time study. (Sample course sequences assume that all pre-requisites have been satisfied and the student is prepared for college-level work.) For a detailed list of required courses, optional electives and program information, download the Education program description from our official academic catalog.

Course descriptions are also available in the catalog. Find courses

Sample 2 Year Sequence of Courses
Fall 1Spring 1Fall 2Spring 2

ENG Comp. I
HIS course
PCS course
PSY 101
World Language course

BIO course
EDU 144
ENG Comp. II
World Language course
Open elective

ENG 241
Physical Science course
SOC 101
Open elective
Open elective

EDU 111
Any 200 level 3cr Beh. Social Sci elective
Any 200-level English
MAT course
Open elective

Sample 4 Year Sequence of Courses
Fall 1Spring 1Fall 2Spring 2

ENG Comp. I
PCS 101
World Language course

EDU 144
ENG Comp. II

PSY 101
World Language course

BIO course
MAT course
EDU 111

Fall 3Spring 3Fall 4Spring 4

ENG 241
Physical Science course

SOC 101
Any 200 level ENG course

Any 200 level 3cr Beh. Social Sci elective
Open elective

HIS course
Open elective
Open elective
Open elective

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing a course of study in this program will be able to:
  • Child Development and Learning in Context – Early childhood educators are grounded in an understanding of the developmental period of early childhood from birth through age 8 across developmental domains.
  • Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections – Early childhood educators understand that successful early childhood education depends upon educators’ partnerships with the families of the young children they serve.
  • Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment – Early childhood educators understand that the primary purpose of assessments is to inform instruction and planning in early learning settings.
  • Developmentally, Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices – Early childhood educators understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on children’s ages and characteristics and on the settings in which teaching and learning occur.
  • Knowledge, Application and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum – Early childhood educators have knowledge of the content of the academic disciplines (e.g., language and literacy, the arts, mathematics, social studies, science, technology and engineering, physical education) and of the pedagogical methods for teaching each discipline.
  • Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator –Early childhood educators identify and participate as members of the early childhood profession

Adapted from NAEYC Standards 2, 3, 4, 6 & 7.

What's Next

Work closely with an Education advisor to choose a 4-year transfer institution in order to best prepare for your non-Education major at the 4-year institution. In order to enter directly into a teacher licensure program with junior standing, students seeking transfer to a Baccalaureate degree must meet two requirements prior to acceptance at the institution of their choice: passing scores on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), and completion of the first two years of a non-Education major in the Humanities, Fine Arts, Social Sciences, Math, or Science field. Work closely with your Education advisor to select a concentration area that prepares for the non-Education major and to prepare to take the necessary tests. Contact the Transfer Office for more details.

Consider this program if

  • You want a broad as well as deep understanding of theory and practice in the field of education.
  • You want to work as preschool, elementary school, or special education teachers.
  • You who want to pursue higher academic study in education.

By taking classes in a Liberal Arts option, students complete courses that help develop 100 and 200 course level knowledge and skills in a particular field. If you don't satisfy the requirements of a specific Liberal Arts option, you may still be able to fulfill the requirements of another option, or fulfill the requirements of the Liberal Arts General degree. Students are advised to work closely with their GCC advisor to select the specific courses that will help meet their career or transfer goals. Note: Students who complete a Liberal Arts option will graduate with the degree "Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts." Your area of concentration is reflected only in your transcript, not your diploma.

Work closely with an Education advisor to select your concentration area and select appropriate courses to fulfill credit towards your non-Education major at the transfer institution as well as to prepare for your teacher licensure level.

Recommended courses according to teacher licensure level:

  • Teacher licensure level, Pre-K—2nd grade
    • Strongly recommended for MTEL prep: MAT 116 and MAT 117
    • One of the following: EDU 101 or EDU 103 or EDU 201
  • Teacher licensure level, 1st—6th grade
    • Strongly recommended for MTEL prep: MAT 116 and MAT 117
    • EDU 201
  • Teacher licensure level, 5th—12th grade
    • Any MAT course other than developmental courses and MAT 105 and 106 (work with advisor to choose courses, according to your concentration area for non-Education major at the transfer institution)

For students who intend to pursue teacher licensure, all Education students must carry two majors at the 4-year Baccalaureate institution, one in Education and one in the Humanities, Fine Arts, Social Sciences, Math, or Science field. In addition, in order to be accepted as a junior in a bachelor’s level teacher preparation program, students must pass the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Students are encouraged to complete a practice program and to use online resources to gain the information and skills to pass this exam.

For additional information regarding Educator Licensure programs and the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), please visit GCC’s Education Department website.

Some teacher licensure programs require a 2.7 GPA or higher for admission.