The Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation concentrates on the foundations of education in a well-balanced approach. The program is designed to allow students to transfer to a 4-year degree program to become teachers. It allows students to focus on elementary, middle, and secondary education with a common first year of course work. In the second year, students elect an educational transfer focus in any of the following areas: elementary education, math education, science education, social science education, or English education. Students taking the Associate in Arts Degree in Teacher Preparation may select the Special Education Track. This program provides teachers and paraprofessionals with the knowledge, skills, and strategies for supporting students with disabilities.
By offering a broad range of courses, the program prepares graduates to be Paraeducators or to transfer their credits to baccalaureate degree-granting institutions to pursue a career in teaching. White Mountains Community College has transfer agreements with the University of New Hampshire System. Those students who intend to transfer to Plymouth State College must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.7 in addition to passing the Praxis 1 exam.
Specific admission requirements include:Candidates for positions and careers in education are encouraged to explore health requirements associated with employment in a school setting. Prospective students with special needs requiring accommodations that may affect their learning are encouraged to contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator.
The health and safety of children, adolescents, and other learners is of paramount concern to the program. Applicants for teaching positions in public and private schools in New Hampshire should be aware that background checks through the New Hampshire Department of Safety must be completed by potential employers prior to employment. Applicants who have been in difficulty with the law, depending upon the nature of their experience, may not be employable or even eligible for field experience. Applicants are advised that such matters may be discussed during an admission interview so that future goals to be a teacher will not be compromised.
Technical standards have been established to provide guidance to students about the skills and abilities required to function successfully in the program and ultimately in the public and private school classroom as teachers. Applicants who think they may not be able to meet one or more of the technical standards should contact program faculty members to discuss individual cases. Department faculty will give serious consideration to all academically qualified candidates providing that the technical standards can be met with reasonable accommodations. Students in the program must have sufficient strength, stamina and motor coordination to perform the following:
Associate in Arts Degree |
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| First Year | ||||
| Fall Semester | Lec | Lab | Cr | |
| EDU101 | Introduction to Exceptionalities | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU104 | Foundations of Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| OR | ||||
| ECE111 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG120 | College Composition | 3/4 | 0 | 3/4 |
| MAT220 | Math in Our World | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY111 | Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total | 15/16 | 0 | 15/16 | |
| Spring Semester | Lec | Lab | Cr | |
| EDU204 | Instructional Technology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| POL231 | American Government | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY112 | Human Growth and Development | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| OR | ||||
| ECE112 | Child Growth and Development | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Educational Transfer Focus Elective*** | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Literature or Lab Science**** | 3/4 | 0 | 3/4 | |
| Mathematics** (200 Level) | 3/4 | 0 | 3/4 | |
| Semester Total | 21/23 | 0 | 21/23 | |
| First Year Total | 36-39 | |||
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| Fall Semester | Lec | Lab | Cr | |
| ANT101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU207 | Teaching and Learning | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Educational Transfer Focus Elective*** | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language* | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Literature or Lab Science**** | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| Semester Total | 16 | 0 | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | Lec | Lab | Cr | |
| PSY200 | Educational Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Educational Transfer Focus Elective*** | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language* | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Lab Science**** | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| Semester Total | 13 | 0 | 13 | |
| Second Year Total | 29 | |||
| Total for A.A.Degree | 65-68 | |||