Degree Requirements and Courses
Learn more about certificate and degree requirements, course content, recommended sequence, and schedule.
Elementary Teacher Education: Integrated Programs AA-T Degree
This is a transfer-focused degree that prepares future elementary teachers with foundational coursework, hands-on classroom experience, and a pathway to a Liberal Studies bachelor’s program.
Associate in Arts for Transfer | SC Program: AA-T.4006
Are you interested in becoming an elementary school teacher? This degree is a great first step toward a career in education. The AA-T in Elementary Teacher Education: Integrated Programs is designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year university—especially a CSU—to complete a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies or a related field.
In this program, you’ll build a strong foundation in key subject areas taught in elementary schools, including science, math, literature, social sciences, and the arts. You’ll also explore the theory of education, gain early field experience, and start developing the skills you’ll need as a future educator.
A unique feature of this program is the observation portfolio: as part of your coursework, you’ll complete 45 hours of classroom observation and reflect on your experiences in a portfolio aligned with California’s Teacher Performance Expectations.
What You’ll Gain:
- A solid foundation for transferring into a Liberal Studies program at a CSU or other university.
- Early classroom experience and insight into real teaching environments.
- A portfolio showcasing your understanding of teaching practices and student learning
Degree Highlights:
- CSU-transferable
- Approved by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office
- Transcript will reflect degree completion upon fulfillment of all requirements
Take the next step toward becoming a teacher and make a difference in the lives of future students.
Choose your path
Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.
A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.
Fall Semester, First Year
14 Units TotalENGL C1000
GE
M
4
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1000
Note: For students who would benefit from further instruction and individual support while taking their first college-transfer level English course, ENGL C1000E is a recommended alternative to ENGL C1000.
In this course, students receive instruction in academic reading and writing, including writing processes, effective use of language, analytical thinking, and the foundations of academic research. An argumentative research essay is required for the successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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In this course, students receive instruction in academic reading and writing, including writing processes, effective use of language, analytical thinking, and the foundations of academic research. An argumentative research essay is required for the successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
STAT C1000
GE
M
4
Introduction to Statistics
STAT C1000
This course is an introduction to statistical thinking and processes, including methods and concepts for discovery and decision-making using data. Topics include descriptive statistics; probability and sampling distributions; statistical inference; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance, chi-squared, and t-tests; and application of technology for statistical analysis including the interpretation of the relevance of the statistical findings. Students apply methods and processes to applications using data from a broad range of disciplines. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ECE 9
M
3
Child Growth and Development
ECE 9
This course provides an in-depth examination of the major physical, psychosocial, and cognitive/language developmental milestones for children, both typical and atypical, from conception through adolescence. There will be an emphasis on interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors. While studying developmental theory and investigative research methodologies, students will observe children, evaluate individual differences and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ART 1
GE
M
3
Introduction to Art
ART 1
This course provides a general introduction to art that offers a look at works of art through the study of theory, terminology, themes, design principles, media, and techniques, with an introduction to the visual arts across time and diverse cultures. This course is recommended as a Humanities elective. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, First Year
16 Units TotalENGL 1B
GE
3
Literature and Composition
ENGL 1B
This course emphasizes the development of critical thinking and writing skills through close study of the major genres of literature: poetry, drama, short story and novel. Students receive further instruction and practice in analytical writing, developing arguments about literary works and the critical reception of those works. In discussion and writing, students will also examine arguments as such, learning to identify sound as well as fallacious reasoning in critical assessments of literature. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ESCI 12
GE
M
4
General Earth Science
ESCI 12
Note: Required field trips when offered face to face.
This is a survey course designed for non-science majors. It spans the Earth-related sciences, including geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. In general, the course focuses on physical processes and materials as related to each discipline. Topics include the geologic evolution of the Earth, economic resources derived from the Earth, Earth materials, evolution and character of the oceans, ocean-atmosphere interactions, atmospheric processes including weather and climate, the solar system and Earth as part of the universe. Using an Earth systems approach, lecture and laboratory will consider concepts centered on the sustainable use of natural resources. The laboratory portion of this course provides hands-on activities that support and demonstrate lecture concepts. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This is a survey course designed for non-science majors. It spans the Earth-related sciences, including geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. In general, the course focuses on physical processes and materials as related to each discipline. Topics include the geologic evolution of the Earth, economic resources derived from the Earth, Earth materials, evolution and character of the oceans, ocean-atmosphere interactions, atmospheric processes including weather and climate, the solar system and Earth as part of the universe. Using an Earth systems approach, lecture and laboratory will consider concepts centered on the sustainable use of natural resources. The laboratory portion of this course provides hands-on activities that support and demonstrate lecture concepts. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIST 2
GE
M
3
World Civilization to 1500 C.E.
HIST 2
Advisory: Essay-writing skills and eligibility to enroll in a transfer-level English Composition course, or English Placement Level 6 or higher
This course is a comparative survey of the major ancient world civilizations which developed between 3500 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E. It examines political institutions, religious ideologies, the rise and fall of empires, and the major cultural innovations of each of the major world civilizations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is a comparative survey of the major ancient world civilizations which developed between 3500 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E. It examines political institutions, religious ideologies, the rise and fall of empires, and the major cultural innovations of each of the major world civilizations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
COMM C1000
GE
M
3
Introduction to Public Speaking
COMM C1000
In this course, students learn and apply foundational rhetorical theories and techniques of public speaking in a multicultural democratic society. Students discover, develop, and critically analyze ideas in public discourse through research, reasoning, organization, composition, delivery to a live audience and evaluation of various types of speeches, including informative and persuasive speeches. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
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EDUC 1
M
3
Introduction to Education
EDUC 1
Advisory: ENGL 1A with a grade of C or higher
This course introduces students to the American public education system, kindergarten through twelfth grade. Topics include professional ethics, governance and financing of public education, historical and philosophical foundations, and contemporary issues. The course introduces California's content standards, curriculum frameworks, and teaching performance expectations. Students complete a minimum of 45 hours of structured observations in public school classrooms in cooperation with at least one instructor-approved certificated classroom teacher. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course introduces students to the American public education system, kindergarten through twelfth grade. Topics include professional ethics, governance and financing of public education, historical and philosophical foundations, and contemporary issues. The course introduces California's content standards, curriculum frameworks, and teaching performance expectations. Students complete a minimum of 45 hours of structured observations in public school classrooms in cooperation with at least one instructor-approved certificated classroom teacher. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Fall Semester, Second Year
15 Units TotalBIOL 10
GE
M
3
General Biology
BIOL 10
Note: BIOL 10 will meet the general education requirement for a laboratory science if taken with BIOL 10L.
This course is an introduction to the major concepts of modern biology. Topics covered include biochemistry, cell biology, heredity, and nature of genes, evolution, diversity of life, and principles of ecology. Emphasis will be placed on those aspects of biology that are rapidly reshaping our culture. This course may be offered in a distance education format. This course will meet the general education requirement for a laboratory science if taken with BIOL 10L.
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This course is an introduction to the major concepts of modern biology. Topics covered include biochemistry, cell biology, heredity, and nature of genes, evolution, diversity of life, and principles of ecology. Emphasis will be placed on those aspects of biology that are rapidly reshaping our culture. This course may be offered in a distance education format. This course will meet the general education requirement for a laboratory science if taken with BIOL 10L.
BIOL 10L
GE
M
1
General Biology Laboratory
BIOL 10L
Note: BIOL 10 will meet the general education requirement for a lab science if taken with BIOL 10L.
This is a laboratory course that offers experiments and demonstrations covering the basic concepts of the lecture course BIOL 10. The laboratory is designed to expose student to biological techniques including microscopy, biochemistry, genetics, evolution, diversity of life, and principles of ecology. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This is a laboratory course that offers experiments and demonstrations covering the basic concepts of the lecture course BIOL 10. The laboratory is designed to expose student to biological techniques including microscopy, biochemistry, genetics, evolution, diversity of life, and principles of ecology. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
POLS C1000
GE
M
3
American Government and Politics
POLS C1000
Advisory: ENGL C1000 or English Placement Level 7 or higher.
This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
MATH 41A
3
Concepts of Elementary Mathematics
MATH 41A
This course emphasizes the development of quantitative reasoning skills through in-depth investigations of mathematics topics, which include: patterns and sequences, inductive and deductive reasoning, problem solving, logic, set theory, set of real numbers and its subsets.
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Spring Semester, Second Year
15 Units TotalHIST 17A
GE
M
3
United States History
HIST 17A
Advisory: ENGL 1A with a grade of C or higher
This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
MATH 41B
3
Concepts of Elementary Mathematics
MATH 41B
Advisory: ENGL 196 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.
Note: MATH 41A is not a prerequisite for MATH 41B.
Note: This course is valuable for students intending to become elementary school teachers.
Survey of the elements of mathematics usually taught in the elementary grades from an advanced standpoint. Emphasis is on geometry, probability and statistics.
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Note: MATH 41A is not a prerequisite for MATH 41B.
Note: This course is valuable for students intending to become elementary school teachers.
Survey of the elements of mathematics usually taught in the elementary grades from an advanced standpoint. Emphasis is on geometry, probability and statistics.
Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.
*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:
- California State Universities – General Education
- IGETC – Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
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