Finger Lakes Community College

Childhood Education (Teacher Education Transfer)

The Degree

Associate in Arts (A.A.) Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Outlook

Employment in childhood education is expected to grow moderately over the next several years due to the retirement of a large group of teachers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Through the Associate in Arts (A.A.) Liberal Arts and Sciences: Childhood Education (Teacher Education Transfer) program, students transfer from FLCC to bachelor's degree programs in childhood education to become certified teachers of first- through sixth-grade students.

The Program

The early childhood program introduces students to the historical, philosophical, and social foundations of education; explores the role of the teacher; provides coursework in the structure and organization of schools; and offers the opportunity for structured school observations. It also provides the liberal arts coursework necessary for students to transfer to childhood education programs at SUNY and private colleges.

The Experience

Thirty hours of guided field observation will expose students to their specific grade level of interest.

The Graduates

Students in this program will transfer to SUNY colleges such as Geneseo, Cortland and Oswego, as well as private colleges, such as Keuka, to pursue bachelor's degrees in the field of education. *The College has articulation agreements specifically for teacher education with SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Brockport, Keuka College, and Roberts Wesleyan College. Currently, Finger Lakes Community College alumni teach in many schools throughout New York State and beyond.

*This is a sampling of some of the four-year colleges and universities to which our students have transferred. Please consult your advisor or the Center for Advisement and Personal Development for a complete listing of transfer agreements between Finger Lakes Community College and four-year institutions.

Childhood Education (Teacher Education Transfer)

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 68 credit hours with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0).

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

ENG 101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction To Literature
OR
ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors
COM 110 Public Speaking
6 credit hours of Foreign Language
3 credit hours Arts Elective (a)
3-4 Liberal Arts Elective (b)

Social Science

HIS 100 or HIS 101 Shaping of Western Society
HIS 110 or HIS 111 United States History
HIS 120 China and Japan
OR
HIS 122 Modern World History
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology
PSY 225 Child Psychology
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology

Mathematics/Science

MAT 180 Math for Elementary School Teachers I
MAT 280 Math for Elementary School Teachers II
8 credit hours of lab science sequence(c)
(BIO 111/112, BIO 121/122, BIO 171/172, CHM 121/122, CHM 211/212, PHY 118/119, PHY 151/152)

Education

EDU 200 Foundations of American Education
EDU 210 Schools in America: Organization & Issues

Health/Physical Education

PE 212 Health
1 credit hour of health/physical education elective

Notes:

See Advisor for Foreign Language Requirements.
Appropriate electives vary depending upon teaching area.
Some baccalaureate programs prefer a 2 semester sequence in one science area, some prefer one course in 2 different science areas, e.g. one chemistry and one biology.

Students intending to transfer to a SUNY Institution should consult with their advisor for course selections that meet general education requirements and consult www.suny.edu/tett for more information about transfer to a SUNY Institution.

Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. View the general education requirements for more details.

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the AA Liberal Arts and Sciences Childhood Education (Teacher Education Transfer) degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible different schedules. It is included here only as an illustration of the type of schedule that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the AA Liberal Arts and Sciences Childhood Education (Teacher Education Transfer) degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some additional course work to prepare them to do well in the types of courses included in the AA Liberal Arts and Sciences Childhood Education (Teacher Education Transfer) degree program may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete the degree. All students should consult their advisors when they plan their schedules.

First Semester (15/16 Credit Hours)

ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology (3)
Foreign Language/Liberal Arts Elective (a) (3/4)
Fine Arts Elective (3)

Second Semester (18/19 Credit Hours)

ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
PSY 225 Child Psychology (3)
Foreign Language/Liberal Arts Elective (b) (3/4)
HIS 110 or 111 United States History (3)
MAT 180 Math for Elementary School Teachers I (3)
PE 212 Health (3)

Third Semester (16 Credit Hours)

EDU 200 American Education (3)
HIS 100 or 101 Shaping of Western Society (3)
Science Lab (c) (4)
COM 110 Public Speaking (3)
MAT 280 Math for Elementary School Teachers II (3)

Fourth Semester (15/16 Credit Hours)

EDU 210 Schools in America: Organization & Issues (4)
Science Lab (c) (4)
HIS 120 China & Japan or HIS 122 Modern World History (3)
Liberal Arts Elective (3/4)
Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Notes:

See Advisor for Foreign Language Requirements.
Appropriate electives vary depending upon teaching area.
Some baccalaureate programs prefer a 2 semester sequence in one science area, some prefer one course in 2 different science areas, e.g. one chemistry and one biology.