Elementary Education - Associate of Arts Degree (AA)

AA - 2 Years (NB)
Explore MoreAbout This Program

Degree Quick Facts

  • Instructional School: Social Sciences and Public Affairs
  • Department: Education
  • Program Code: EDUC.AA
  • Program Type: Academic Transfer
  • Available Fully Online: No
  • Eligible for Federal Financial Aid: Yes

NOTE: Courses required for this program may have an additional fee; more information can be found on the Special Course Fees web page.

Degree Requirements

Course Course Title Min Credits
General Education Requirements
CWI 101Connecting With Ideas3
EDUC 200Education Around the World (Global Perspectives)3
ENGL 101Writing and Rhetoric I (GEM 1)3
ENGL 102Writing and Rhetoric II (GEM 1)3
COMM 101Fundamentals of Oral Communication (GEM 2)3
MATH 257Math for Elementary Teachers II (GEM 3)4
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 14
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 23
PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy (GEM 5) 33
or PHIL 103 Introduction to Ethics
GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course 23
EDUC 120Foundations of Education (GEM 6)3
HIST 111United States History I (GEM 6)3
or HIST 112 United States History II
Major Requirements
EDUC 150Educational Technology I3
or EDUC 250 Education Technology II
EDUC 220Diversity in the Schools3
EDUC 230Introduction to Special Education3
EDUC 280Integrated Teaching and Field Experience2
EDUC 290Education Capstone1
MATH 157Math for Elementary Teachers I4
Select credits from the Major Electives list below to bring the total credits earned to a minimum of 606
Minimum Credit Hours Required60
1

Must include a lab component.

2

Course must come from a different discipline.

3

This course fulfills the Ethical Reasoning requirement for an associate degree from CWI. 

Elementary Education: Major Electives

Course Course Title Min Credits
ECON 201Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 202Principles of Microeconomics3
EDUC 255Educational and Assistive Technology3
EDUC 260Special Education Policies and Procedures3
ENGL 175Literature and Ideas3
ENGL 202Technical Communication3
ENGL 211Literary Analysis3
ENGL 257Survey of Western World Literature I3
ENGL 258Survey of Western World Literature II3
ENGL 267Survey of British Literature I3
ENGL 268Survey of British Literature II3
ENGL 277Survey of American Literature I3
ENGL 278Survey of American Literature II3
ENGL 286Literary Magazine3
GEOG 102Cultural Geography3
HIST 103Western Civilization I3
HIST 104Western Civilization II3
HIST 111United States History I3
HIST 112United States History II3
JAPN 101Elementary Japanese I4
JAPN 102Elementary Japanese II4
POLS 101American National Government3
POLS 102Introduction to Political Science3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology3
PSYC 201Child and Adolescent Development3
SIGL 101American Sign Language I4
SIGL 102American Sign Language II4
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3
SOC 102Social Problems3
SPAN 101Elementary Spanish I4
SPAN 102Elementary Spanish II4

Degree Plan

The course sequence listed below is strongly recommended in order to complete your program requirements. Please register for each semester as shown using the Student Planning tool in myCWI. Plans may be modified to fit the needs of part-time students by adding additional semesters. Consult your advisor for any questions regarding this course sequence plan.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
CWI 101 Connecting With Ideas 3
ENGL 101 Writing and Rhetoric I (GEM 1) 3
EDUC 120 Foundations of Education (GEM 6) 3
MATH 157 Math for Elementary Teachers I 1 4
Major ElectivesSelect an elective from the list below 3
 Total Semester Credit Hours16
Spring
COMM 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (GEM 2) 3
EDUC 150
or EDUC 250
 Educational Technology I 2
or Education Technology II
 3
ENGL 102 Writing and Rhetoric II (GEM 1) 3
MATH 257 Math for Elementary Teachers II (GEM 3) 1 4
Major ElectivesSelect an elective from the list below 3
 Total Semester Credit Hours16
Second Year
Fall
EDUC 220 Diversity in the Schools 3
EDUC 230 Introduction to Special Education 3
HIST 111
or HIST 112
 United States History I (GEM 6)
or United States History II
 3
PHIL 101
or PHIL 103
 Introduction to Philosophy (GEM 5) 3
or Introduction to Ethics
 3
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 4 4
 Total Semester Credit Hours16
Spring
EDUC 200 Education Around the World (Global Perspectives) 3
EDUC 280 Integrated Teaching and Field Experience 2
EDUC 290 Education Capstone 1
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 5,6 3
GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course 6,7 3
 Total Semester Credit Hours12
 Minimum Credit Hours Required60
1

Elementary Education majors are encouraged to take the Math Diagnostic for math placement upon acceptance to CWI if they did not submit ACT or SAT scores for math placement. The Math Diagnostic will inform the student if a review course such as MATH 097 Introductory Prep Math is needed prior to enrolling in MATH 157 Math for Elementary Teachers I.

2

Students should have basic computer application skills prior to enrolling in EDUC 150 Educational Technology I or EDUC 250 Education Technology II.

3

This course fulfills the Ethical Reasoning requirement for an associate degree from CWI.

4

Recommend a Biological Sciences course with a lab component (BIOL, ENVI, or MMBS).

5

Recommend a Physical Sciences course with or without a lab component (AGRI, CHEM, GEOL, GEOS, or PHYS).

6

Course must come from a different discipline.

7

The following courses are recommended to fulfill the second GEM 5 requirement:

  • ARTS 101 Prehistoric to Medieval Art       
  • HUMA 207 Exploring the Arts and Cultures of the World
  • MUSI 100 Introduction to Music

Elementary Education: Major Electives

Course Course Title Min Credits
ECON 201Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 202Principles of Microeconomics3
EDUC 255Educational and Assistive Technology3
EDUC 260Special Education Policies and Procedures3
ENGL 175Literature and Ideas3
ENGL 202Technical Communication3
ENGL 211Literary Analysis3
ENGL 257Survey of Western World Literature I3
ENGL 258Survey of Western World Literature II3
ENGL 267Survey of British Literature I3
ENGL 268Survey of British Literature II3
ENGL 277Survey of American Literature I3
ENGL 278Survey of American Literature II3
ENGL 286Literary Magazine3
GEOG 102Cultural Geography3
HIST 103Western Civilization I3
HIST 104Western Civilization II3
HIST 111United States History I3
HIST 112United States History II3
JAPN 101Elementary Japanese I4
JAPN 102Elementary Japanese II4
POLS 101American National Government3
POLS 102Introduction to Political Science3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology3
PSYC 201Child and Adolescent Development3
SIGL 101American Sign Language I4
SIGL 102American Sign Language II4
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3
SOC 102Social Problems3
SPAN 101Elementary Spanish I4
SPAN 102Elementary Spanish II4

Additional Advising Notes:

  • Students pursuing an Elementary Education degree are strongly encouraged to meet with an Education faculty member for advising. Students do not need to be specifically assigned to a faculty member to seek advising support directly from the Education Department.
  • Most of the courses in the Elementary Education program can be moved around to meet scheduling needs as long as students honor prerequisite requirements.
  • Many of our four-year partners require specific prerequisite courses before applying to their teacher education program. Most of those prerequisite courses can be built into the Elementary Education degree at CWI without adding more overall credits. However, students need to know which school they intend to transfer to in order to plan accordingly. If there are options, always select the more stringent school upon which to base the schedule.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Develop foundational skills and knowledge of best practices in pedagogy and curriculum development.
  • Experience and evaluate the academic environment as a workplace.
  • Network and advocate within local K-12 classrooms.
  • Obtain the content and academic knowledge necessary to be successful in a four-year teacher education program.
  • Evaluate and reflect upon their ability to become an effective teacher.
  • Understand the ethical responsibility and moral compass necessary to be a successful education professional.