A.A.T. TEACHER EDUCATION TRANSFER PROGRAMS
Montgomery College offers exciting, innovative programs for individuals who wish to become teachers. The Teacher Education Transfer Program A.A.T. (Associate of Arts in Teaching) is a unique degree option for students who desire to become certified teachers. Students can now begin their teacher preparation college studies at Montgomery College in a fully transferable program at a fraction of the cost of most colleges and universities.
The AAT degree curriculum provides the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree in teacher education and leads to Maryland teacher certification. Maryland is the first state to offer this unique program. The degree was approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (COMAR 13B.02.03 Academic Programs – Degree-Granting Institutions (Regulation .02) in Fall, 2001. The program is offered at all Montgomery College campuses. Most of the course work is available at all three campuses, and additional required courses are being added sequentially based on enrollment demand at each campus.
Currently this program is offered in Elementary Education, defined in Maryland as first grade through eighth grade. The entire degree transfers without further review. Students who complete the A.A.T. will not need their transcripts reviewed course-by-course at the four-year colleges and universities in Maryland. Students will need to meet all admission criteria for their specific teacher education major at their four-year transfer institutions.
What’s coming next?
Five new tracks!! Secondary Education A.A.T.s are currently in development for certification in 4 statewide critical shortage areas: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Spanish and will be offered in 2005. We will also be adding an Early Childhood Education (defined in Maryland as pre-kindergarten to third grade) A.A.T. in 2005. Plans are already beginning at the statewide level for an AAT program in special education. Getting certified to teach in a critical shortage area will help students get jobs when they graduate from their four-year college or university teacher preparation program. Most experts in education recommend that students get dual certification if they plan to teach at the elementary school level, such as getting certified in both elementary education and special education (at the elementary and middle school level). Teachers who are bilingual and who represent culturally or linguistically diverse groups are in especially high demand.
The Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree has been fully articulated with baccalaureate degree programs in teacher education throughout Maryland. This program offers our students participation in early fieldwork experiences in Montgomery County Public Schools. They also will complete a core of professional teacher education coursework appropriate for the first two years of teacher preparation. Students begin their program of study with an educational foundations course with field experience with children, thus providing them with authentic experience in real classrooms from the beginning of their freshman year.
Students who wish to earn the A.A.T. degree must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and pass the Praxis I exam at the Maryland passing score of 527. Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) assesses basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills. Students should take Praxis I after they have completed 45 college semester credits, including the math requirement of the A.A.T. degree program. Upon completion of the A.A.T. degree, students are eligible to enter the elementary education program at their Maryland transfer institution as juniors.
The Maryland Higher Education Commission will not be accepting applications for HOPE scholarships for 2004-2005. Other financial assistance opportunities may be found at www.mhec.state.md.us/financialAid .
AAT Elementary Education Program of Study at Montgomery CollegeFirst SemesterED 101 Foundations of Education 3 ED 102 Field Experience in Education 1 EN 101 Techniques of Reading and Writing 3 MA 130 Elements of Mathematics I 4 BI 101 General Biology 4 HS 201 History of the United States 3
Second SemesterED 140 Introduction to Special Education 3 ED 141 Field Experience in Special Educ. 1 EN 102 Techniques of Reading and Writing 3 MA 131 Elements of Mathematics II 4 PC 101 Physical Science I 4 HS 202 History of the United States 3
Third SemesterED 216 Processes & Acquisition of Reading 3 PY 102 General Psychology 3 IS 273 Integrated Arts/Visual Arts, Drama, Dance, Music 3 MA 132 Elements of Mathematics III 4 PC 102 Physical Science (Earth Science) II 4
PRAXIS I EXAM
Fourth SemesterSP 108 Fundamentals of Speech 3 PY 227 Educational Psychology 3 GE 110 Global Geography 3 AN 101 Intro Social/Cultural Anthropology 3 HE 201 Health & Fitness for Teachers 3
Total credit hours 68
(Students will need to demonstrate proficiency in computer literacy. They may do so by either taking CA120 or testing out of that requirement. Note: 2.75 GPA and passing Praxis I are required for graduation with the AAT.)
For further information, contact the MC School of Education at 301-738-1757. For counseling, contact Dr. Steve Lietz, Education Counselor, Rockville Campus, at 301-279-5066 or Steve.lietz@montgomerycollege.edu or Audrey Hill (301-601-6965) at Germantown. |