Education - Frederick Community College

Education

Contact: Heather Hinkle, Education Program Coordinator • Email • 301.846.2461 Admissions: Jefferson Hall (J200) • Email • 301.624.2716 Advising: Jefferson Hall (J200) • Email • 301.846.2471 Financial Aid: Jefferson Hall (J300) • Email • 301.846.2620

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Contact: Heather Hinkle, Education Program Coordinator
Email • 301.846.2461

Brochure

Enroll
Curriculum
Transfer
Job Outlook

1Apply

Use the Online Application to apply for admission to FCC. This is the first step to enrolling in credit courses to get a degree or certificate. After you apply, you will receive a letter in the mail which contains your student ID number and your email username that will allow you to access your online myFCC account. Prior to enrolling, prospective veteran and military students should speak with an Education Services Officer (ESO) or an FCC Veteran and Military Services representative. Please call 301-624-2836 to set up an appointment. You will need this information for each step of the enrollment process.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your qualifications for federal and state aid, institutional grants, work study options, and student loans.

Apply for scholarships through the FCC Foundation.
Visit Cost & Financial Aid for information about paying your bill and applying for financial aid.
View enrollment checklists for new students.
View all required registration forms.

FCC operates with open admissions by offering admittance to all students who apply to the College. Some areas of study have additional, program-level admissions requirements. Selective admissions programs include: Nursing, Respiratory Care, Surgical Technology, and the Honors College.

Recognizing that not everyone arrives with the same educational background, and not everyone is ready for the same level of math and English classes, there are a few things you will need to do to help us to successfully place you academically.

To comply with the Maryland College and Career Readiness Act of 2013 and the Academic Placement and Assessment Procedure of FCC, the College requires that:

Upon entering the College, all new students, unless otherwise exempted, must complete all mathematics, reading, writing, and skills placement tests before enrolling in developmental or credit courses.
Upon entering the College, all new students who are seeking a degree must file a degree plan that is developed in consultation with an academic advisor.
Upon reaching 24 credits, all new students must have completed developmental courses and the first college-level English and math courses required by their degree plan.

If you are seeking non-credit continuing education courses for professional development, skill building, or personal enrichment, visit Continuing Education & Workforce Development (CEWD) Registration.

2Test

All new students must complete placement tests in mathematics, reading, writing, and skills placement before enrolling in developmental or credit courses. In special circumstances, the College may exempt placement test requirements for students with previous college credits, grades, or test scores that meet specific criteria.

In order to determine if you need to take placement tests you will need to submit the following documents:

High school transcript and previous college transcripts
College entrance exam scores from SAT and/or ACT
Advanced Placement (AP) test scores and International Baccalaureate (IB) test scores

These documents will determine which placement tests you are required to take, the courses you should register for, and/or the courses you are eligible to receive credit for based on previous grades or scores.

FCC administers the ACCUPLACER test to ensure the appropriate placement level for all new students. Students are advised to prepare for the ACCUPLACER test as they would any other exam to confirm accurate placement by academic skill level. For more information about the ACCUPLACER and academic placement and assessment, visit the Testing Center.

To be exempt from the ACCUPLACER, you need to have earned the following scores within the past five years:

SAT Score

Reading: 480
Math: 530

ACT Score

English: 21
Reading: 21
Math: 21

AP Score

English Language & Composition: 3 or better
English Literature & Composition: 3 or better
Calculus or Statistics: 3 or better

IB Score

Language: A
Literature: SL or HL and/or Language A
Language & Literature: SL or HL
Mathematics: SL or HL and/or Further Math

3See Advisor

New credit students seeking a degree are required to consult an advisor to develop a degree plan. New students should schedule a consultation after completing the admissions and testing steps, and activating a myFCC account.

All new students planning to attend FCC for their first college experience will participate in the ROAR program, which includes:

an online orientation, presented by FCC students to prepare you for college
an on-campus meeting with an advisor to help you develop your academic plan
the registration lab where you'll learn how to enroll yourself into classes

Learn more and start the ROAR process here.

Dual enrollment and transfer students should submit official college transcripts from previous institutions to the Registration & Records Office for official transfer credit evaluation prior to meeting with an academic advisor.

Walk-in advising is available in the Counseling & Advising Office. You can also send a message to email advising via your myFCC email account. When you meet with an advisor, be sure to bring your photo ID and any documents that might be helpful (unofficial transcripts, test results, ACT/SAT scores).

For more information about academic planning and advising, see Counseling & Advising.

4Register

There are two ways to register for classes:

In addition to registering for classes, Campus Solutions allows you to make a payment, see your grades, obtain unofficial transcripts, print class schedules, and update your personal information.

5Pay

Your enrollment at Frederick Community College is complete when you have paid for your courses. Please take note of important payment deadlines. You can either pay in-full or sign up for the interest-free payment plan.

‭To apply for Financial Assistance, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and take advantage of federal, state, and institutional grants, work study, and student loans.
‭
To apply for Scholarships through The FCC Foundation, Inc., click here.
‭
For more information about paying your bill and financial aid, see Cost and Financial Aid.

6Buy Books

Textbooks are available through the FCC bookstore. Have your course schedule ready to easily find the required textbooks for your courses.

7Attend Class

Congratulations! You are enrolled and ready to begin attending classes at Frederick Community College. If you have questions or need additional guidance during your time of study, please reach out to your program manager or academic advisor. Some students may be eligible for specialized advising through the Office of Multicultural Student Services, the Services for Students with Disabilities, Veteran and Military Services, or the Office of Adult Services. Check your myFCC account and your FCC email for important alerts and announcements.

Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education A.A.T. Degree The teacher education transfer program A.A.T. provides the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree and teacher certification. The A.A.T. in Early Childhood Education articulates with the Maryland transfer programs in Early Childhood Education. The program enables students to fulfill their general education requirements, participate in field work experiences, and complete a core of professional education coursework appropriate for the first two years of teacher preparation.

Completion of an A.A.T. degree is considered to have satisfied the lower division requirements for a teacher education program in the state of Maryland. This includes General Education requirements and the necessary learning outcomes for teacher education. An A.A.T. graduate who has been admitted to a four-year state college or university in Maryland will have completed the first two years of a teacher preparation bachelor's degree.

Each A.A.T. has specific course requirements to ensure that all learning outcomes are met, and students should follow their curriculum pathway and meet with the program manager regularly to ensure that their course selections are appropriate for their desired degree.

To earn the A.A.T., students must achieve a minimum of a 2.75 cumulative GPA and earn a “C” or better in all courses used to satisfy the A.A.T. requirements. Students must also provide the Registrar’s Office with qualifying scores on one of the state-approved basics skills tests (PRAXIS, Core, SAT, ACT) for future teachers.

Admission and transfer to a four-year college or university is a multi-step process and is not guaranteed. Applications to the institution and the teacher education program may be required. Students should apply as early as possible and consider more than one transfer school, as they offer different degrees. Students should consult with the teacher preparation program at the transfer institution of their choice to determine specific requirements and deadlines for admission. Students wishing to transfer out of state should consult with the teacher preparation program at the transfer institution of their choice to determine how courses taken at FCC will meet the requirements of that school’s degree plan.

A drug screening and/or criminal background check is often required to obtain and maintain employment in the field of education. Individuals whose criminal histories may interfere with their ability to secure employment should discuss questions with education faculty.

Guided Pathway to Success (GPS)
Suggested schedules map your path to degree completion. Full-time student: Follow the green semester blocks in order. Part-time student: Follow the blue course sequence at your own pace. Students should meet with an advisor each semester to carefully select and sequence courses based on their specific academic goals and interests.

Students who take fewer than 15 credits each semester or who require developmental English or math coursework will need additional semesters to complete their degrees. Summer and January term classes may help students to make faster progress. General Education CORE courses can often be taken in any semester. One course must be designated as a Cultural Competence course. Refer to the college catalog for course details and the list of General Education and Cultural Competence classes.

Students are strongly recommended to consult an FCC advisor to select elective courses. Students planning to transfer may also reference ARTSYS, the Maryland Articulation System.

1Recommended First Semester

1 Gen Ed Core ENGL 101 - English Composition

3 Credits

2 Gen Ed Core MATH 110 - Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics I

4 Credits

3 Departmental Requirement ECED 105 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education

3 Credits

4 Departmental Requirement BSCI 100 - Fundamental Concepts of Biology or BSCI 150 - Principles of Biology I 4 Credits

2Recommended Second Semester

5 Departmental Requirement ENGL 102 - English Composition & Literature 3 Credits

6 Departmental Requirement MATH 113 - Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics II 4 Credits

7 Departmental Requirement PSYC 101 - General Psychology 3 Credits

8 Departmental Requirement EDUC 230 - Foundations of Special Education

3 Credits

9 Departmental Requirement PHSC 111 - Introduction to Physical Science or PHSC 121 - Physical Geology 4 Credits

3Recommended Third Semester

10 Departmental Requirement MATH 127 - Statistics with Probability 4 Credits

11 Departmental Requirement PHSC 112 - Introduction to Earth Systems Science or PHSC 117 - Introduction to Astronomy 4 Credits

12 Departmental Requirement GEOG 102 - Cultural Geography 3 Credits

13 Departmental Requirement ECED 101 - Child Development and Behavior 3 Credits

14 Departmental Requirement HLTH 150 - Health Education 3 Credits

4Recommended Fourth Semester

15 Departmental Requirement ECED 125 - Methods and Materials in Early Childhood 3 Credits

16 Gen Ed Core ARTT 100 - Introduction to the Creative Arts 3 Credits

17 Departmental Requirement HIST 201 - History of the United States I or HIST 202 - History of the United States II 3 Credits

18 Departmental Requirement EDUC 240 - Processes and Acquisitions of Reading 3 Credits

19 Gen Ed Core English Elective (Gen Ed course list) 3 Credits

Take within the first 24 credits

Fall Only

Spring Only

Summer Only

Milestone Course - take within recommended credit range to stay on track for completion

Available Online

Note: Courses offered online may not be available every semester. Please see the course schedule to confirm course formats.

Take within the first 24 credits

Fall Only

Spring Only

Summer Only

Milestone Course - take within recommended credit range to stay on track for completion

Available Online

Note: Courses offered online may not be available every semester. Please see the course schedule to confirm course formats.

Ensure that MSDE Testing Requirements are met: Praxis Core for Educators, ACT, SAT, or GRE*

*The A.A.T. degree is designed to meet state requirements for the first two years of teacher education. Students must achieve a minimum of 2.75 cumulative GPA and earn a “C” or better in all courses used to satisfy the A.A.T. requirements. Students must also provide the Registrar’s Office with qualifying scores on one of the state-approved basic skills tests for future teachers. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor at their transfer institution as early as possible and should be aware that some colleges and universities may require higher GPAs and/or additional tests.

Admission to the four-year institution is a “two-step” process and is not guaranteed. Applications to both the institution and to the teacher education program may be required. Due to space limitations at some four-year institutions and/or teacher education programs, students should apply as early as possible and consider alternatives. Students should consult with an advisor at the four-year institution to determine the specific admissions requirements and deadlines of the institution to which they wish to transfer. Upon admission to a Maryland public or independent four-year institution teacher education program, up to 64 semester hours, including the lower division teacher education program outcomes, will transfer without further review.

The A.A.T. degree holder is considered to have satisfied the following lower division requirements for the education program.

30 - 36 semester hours of general education requirements for public institutions.
The lower division outcomes for teacher education may be included in courses such as the foundations of education, human growth/child or adolescent development, educational psychology, introductory field experience, and introductory special education. In addition, some students may be required to complete up to two additional lower division teacher education courses. Check with your advisor at your college for specific requirements for your major. Students in Secondary Education A.A.T. programs must complete specified content courses.

Learning Outcomes:

Identify, apply and discuss major concepts, principles, and theories related to human development by completing one or more papers and projects based on observation of children and adolescents.
Demonstrate knowledge of curriculum approaches and effective methods of teaching and learning through creating and presenting lesson plans applicable to course topics.
Compose and collect artifacts (i.e. papers, projects) for current and future portfolios and participate in activities (i.e. case study experiences, interviews) to demonstrate how students differ in their development and approaches to learning.
Demonstrate characteristics of future teachers by behaving professionally at events and experiences both on and off campus, utilizing college-level skills in course assignments, etc.
Develop an initial knowledge base in future teaching content areas by successfully completing coursework in relevant areas.

Available Scholarships for this Program:

Maryland State Department of Education Grants for tuition, fees, and books
Hattie N. Harrison Memorial Scholarship (Child Development or Early Childhood Education)

2019-2020 Curriculum Pathway
2019-2020 Course Rotation

*Course Renumbering Reference (for use with Pathways prior to 2019-2020)

2018-2019 Curriculum Pathway

2017-2018 Curriculum Pathway

2016-2017 Curriculum Pathway

2015 Curriculum Pathway

Education Programs Overview

* For curriculum information from earlier academic years, please refer to the archives of the FCC Academic Catalog.

Education Area of Concentration within the A.A. in Social Sciences The Education Area of Concentration within the A.A. in Social Sciences program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university outside of the state of Maryland to obtain a bachelor's degree and earn state teacher certification, or for students whose desired teaching discipline is not reflected in existing A.A.T. programs.

A drug screening and/or criminal background check is often required to obtain and maintain employment in the field of education. Individuals whose criminal histories may interfere with their ability to secure employment should discuss questions with education faculty.

Guided Pathway to Success (GPS)
Suggested schedules map your path to degree completion. Full-time student: Follow the green semester blocks in order. Part-time student: Follow the blue course sequence at your own pace. Students should meet with an advisor each semester to carefully select and sequence courses based on their specific academic goals and interests.

Students who take fewer than 15 credits each semester or who require developmental English or math coursework will need additional semesters to complete their degrees. Summer and January term classes may help students to make faster progress. General Education CORE courses can often be taken in any semester. One course must be designated as a Cultural Competence course. A minimum of nine credits must be taken at the 200 level. Refer to the college catalog for course details and the list of General Education and Cultural Competence classes.

Students are strongly recommended to consult an FCC advisor to select elective courses. Students planning to transfer may also reference ARTSYS, the Maryland Articulation System. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor at their transfer institution as early as possible and should be aware that some colleges and universities may require higher GPAs and/or additional tests.