Secondary Education, A.S.

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This program allows students to prepare for a career as an educator, teaching classes from the seventh through 12th grades. Since teachers must obtain state certification after graduation with the bachelor’s degree, it is important for those specializing in education to work closely with their advisors. Planning for transfer to a university involves selecting general education courses which will meet education program requirements and state certification regulations. Students must successfully complete core courses with a “C-” or better to meet program requirements. Students planning to transfer to a four-year program will need to have additional hours beyond the program requirements at Northwest College in order to transfer in as a junior. Students should consult with their advisor and the appropriate four-year college catalog.

To become certified, all those interested in specializing in Secondary Education must complete coursework in their teaching area, i.e., the subjects they plan to teach. At Northwest College, these students are assigned an advisor in their teaching area who will assist them in selecting appropriate courses. Consult a catalog from the transfer college, as well as your advisor, when selecting courses. Most universities require students to complete 15 to 30 credit hours in their teaching area, in addition to the education program, in order to be admitted as juniors to secondary education programs. At Northwest College, students may complete teaching area courses in the following subjects: agriculture, art, biology, business, chemistry, English, English/ communications, English/journalism, history, mathematics, modern languages-French, modern languages-Spanish, music, physical education, science, and social studies.

Those in Secondary Education are, in fact, specializing in two areas. In order to transfer to a four-year college as a junior, students must complete both the education program and extensive coursework in the subjects they plan to teach. Consult your advisor every semester.

Term 1

EDFD 1101 - Intro to Education (3) FYS
ENGL 1010 - English Composition I (3) CM
GOV 0000 - U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions (3) GOV
MATH 1400 - College Algebra (4) QR
PSYC 1000 - General Psychology (3) HC

Total Credits: 16

Term 2

COMM 2010 - Public Speaking (3) CM
CTY 0000 - Creativity (3) CTY
GE 0000 - General Elective (1) GE
EDFD 2020 - Foundations of Education (3) MR
PNW 0000 - Physical and Natural World (4) PNW

Total Credits: 14

Term 3

EDEX 2484 - Introduction to Special Education (3) MR
EDFD 2100 - Educational Psychology (3) MR
GEOG 1000 - World Regional Geography (3) HC
GE 0000 - General Elective (6) GE

Total Credits: 15

Term 4

EDST 2450 - Foundations of Development and Learning (3) MR
EDUC 2100 - Practicum in Teaching (3) MR
GE 0000 - General Elective (6) GE
ITEC 2360 - Teaching With Technology (3) MR

Total Credits: 15

Minimum Credits for Degree = 60

Course Type Key

FYS=First Year Seminar* GOV=U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions* CM=Communications* QR=Quantitative Reasoning* PNW=Physical and Natural World* HC=Human Condition* CTY=Creativity* MR=Major Requirement ME=Major Elective GE=General Elective

*General Education Requirements

FYS 0000 First Year Seminar

GOV 0000 U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions

CM 0000 Communication

QR 0000 Quantitative Reasoning

PNW 0000 Physical and Natural World

HC 0000 Human Condition

CTY 0000 Creativity

The General Education courses and General Elective courses listed in the above sequence are recommended courses to fullfill the degree. Any changes to these courses should be discussed with an adivsor.

**Remedial education courses may result in additional semesters of study.

Art Education

For secondary education, to facilitate transfer to a four-year college as a junior, students planning to become middle school or high school art teachers are encouraged to complete programs in both Secondary Education and in Art. Consult your advisor every semester when selecting courses.

Biology Education

For secondary education, to facilitate transfer to a four-year college as a junior, students planning to become middle school or high school biology teachers are encouraged to complete programs in both Secondary Education and Biology. Consult your advisor every semester when selecting courses.

English Education

Students who plan to teach at the secondary level should complete coursework both in the Secondary Education Program and in English. Many options exist for teaching English, English/communication, or English/journalism, and students need to work closely with their Northwest advisors to monitor the
requirements of transfer institutions.

For those interested in exploring teaching possibilities, opportunities exist at Northwest for peer tutoring experiences.

History/Social Science Education

For secondary education, to facilitate transfer to a four-year college as a junior, students planning to become middle school or high school history/social studies teachers are encouraged to complete programs in both Secondary Education and in History. Consult your advisor every semester when selecting courses.

Mathematics Education

To facilitate transfer to a four-year college, students planning to become middle school or high school mathematics teachers are encouraged to complete both the Secondary Education program and the Mathematics program. Consult your advisor every semester when selecting courses.

Modern Language Education

Students who plan to teach at the secondary level should complete coursework both in the Secondary Education program and in their primary language (Spanish). Students need to work closely with their Northwest advisors to monitor the requirements of transfer institutions. Language majors have found it helpful to initiate study of a second foreign language during their first two years of college work. Northwest’s course offerings and scheduling support such an option.

Music Education

For secondary education, to facilitate transfer to a four-year college as a junior, students planning to become middle school or high school music teachers are encouraged to complete programs in both Secondary Education and in Music. Consult your advisor every semester when selecting courses.