Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Secondary Education

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The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Secondary Education provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to transfer to a four-year institution and earn a bachelor's degree in secondary education leading to teacher certification for grades 6-12 in Earth and Space Science, English, History/Social Studies, Mathematics, Physical Education, Political Science, or Spanish. Education and discipline specific courses provide future teachers with the knowledge and skills related to educational philosophies, policies, attitudes, behaviors, and instruction in order to effectively perform the duties associated with the position of a classroom teacher. Students will participate in classroom field experiences to connect theory with practice.

Details

Field of Interest
Education
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Secondary Education (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8140
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in each course to transfer.

Special GPA requirements may apply to concentration area courses within a specific emphasis as noted:

English ASU Emphases - 2.5 GPA in English concentration area courses beyond First Year Composition.

State certification requirements include demonstration of proficiency in the constitutions of the United States and Arizona. Proficiency can be demonstrated via the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) Constitutions of the United States and Arizona test or by taking appropriate coursework: GCU/POS113, HIS103 and POS221, POS221 and POS222, or POS220.

Identity Verified Prints (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card is required for participation in field experiences and for admission to a university teacher education program. Applicants must present an IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card to be copied by the advisor or designee. Please contact your advisor for information about obtaining the IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

What You'll Learn
  • Demonstrate a foundational knowledge of secondary education content area.
  • Analyze instruction, relationships, and classroom management strategies observed in classroom field experience.
  • Exhibit a foundational knowledge of human development, teaching and learning theories, instructional strategies, cultural differences, and/or inclusive educational practices to individualize instruction for diverse learners.
  • Demonstrate ongoing learning and use evidence to continually evaluate professional growth, ethics, knowledge, skills, and dispositions (e.g. collaboration, professionalism, reflection, time management, effective communication).
  • Synthesize knowledge of current and historical influences on education at the local, state, federal and/or global levels.
  • Advocate for the role of education in a democratic society through participation in community activities, demonstrating respect for differing cultures and values.
  • Describe accepted professional and ethical standards of conduct that guide interactions with peers, students, teachers, administrators, and community members.
  • Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

$81,410

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

$54,280

Instructional Coordinators

$58,250

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$55,180

There are additional career opportunities associated with this degree that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:

  • Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the available transfer institutions and what degrees you may be able to transfer into.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

Note: You will have to select one of the options below to view available course sequences.

Full-time Sequence

To view course sequences, select one of the pathway map options above.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Part-time Sequence

To view course sequences, select one of the pathway map options above.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=189923).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Arts (AA) in Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Secondary Education