Education - Elementary
Program Description
Students planning to enter the field of elementary education can complete their first two years of study at Arizona Western College. An Associate in Arts degree in Elementary Education will prepare students to transfer to a university and earn their bachelor’s degree. Education majors should consult with their academic advisors concerning the courses required for certification in Arizona and/or graduation from a state university with a bachelor’s degree in education.
Graduates of these programs will successfully complete the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate an awareness of and a beginning understanding of the teaching profession in regard to its historical context, the implications of the profession, and the role played by public education in contemporary society
- Articulate a beginning philosophy of education that incorporates an understanding of relevant theories and models of education
- Construct lesson plans based on current best practices, developmental theories, and state and national standards
- Implement self-reflection strategies to enhance professional and personal growth
Degree(s) / Certificates(s)
| Title | Local Bachelor's |
|---|---|
| Education - Elementary - A.A. Transfer Degree | |
| Education - Elementary with Early Childhood Education Emphasis - A.A. Transfer Degree |
Career Outlook
Successful completion of this program may lead to a variety of employment opportunities, most of which require continued higher education at the university level. Below are examples of related occupations and annual mean wages in Arizona according to a May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Teaching Assistants Perform duties that are instructional in nature or deliver direct services to students or parents. Serve in a position for which a teacher has ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services. |
$26,590 |
| Short-Term Substitute Teachers Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher’s lesson plan. |
$30,080 |
| Kindergarten Teachers Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students. |
$45,310 |
| Elementary School Teachers Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level |
$45,600 |
| Kindergarten and Elementary School Special Education Teachers Teach elementary school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired. |
$46,230 |
| Instructional Coordinators Develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology into instruction in order to provide guidelines to educators and instructors for developing curricula and conducting courses. May train and coach teachers. Includes educational consultants and specialists, and instructional material directors. |
Contact Information
Department Contact(s)
Faculty/Staff Contact(s)
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Keeling | Professor of Education | (928) 344-7676 | Michelle.Keeling@azwestern.edu |
| Patricia Powers | Professor of Education | (928) 317-6051 | patricia.powers@azwestern.edu |