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.
Program Contact Information
Delaine Welch
Associate Professor, Soc Sci & Educ – Liberal Arts
Phone: 301/846-2559
Location: Student Center Office: H232
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
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
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
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)
2020-2021 Curriculum Pathway
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