Associate in Science in Elementary Education Foundations
Background: The Associate of Science in Elementary Education Foundations degree is designed to prepare students for a major in elementary education at a four-year college or university. It incorporates the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC), so that students with this degree have satisfied general education requirements at Minnesota public universities. The degree also includes the requirements for entrance into third-year courses in most four-year elementary education majors.
Normandale Community College has developed an articulation agreement with Minnesota State University, Mankato, which allows students to complete a four-year degree in elementary education on the Normandale campus. Mankato faculty members teach third- and fourth-year classes at Normandale, and student teaching is done in an urban school setting in the Twin Cities. Students who complete this program receive the Bachelor of Science in Teaching degree in Elementary Education with Teacher Licensure from Mankato. The Mankato program is competitive and requires a minimum GPA of 2.75 for admission. In addition, the requirements for the AS degree in Elementary Education Foundations may fulfill entrance requirements for other four-year elementary education degrees. Check the college catalogs and transfer guides for specific colleges and universities.
Completion of the AS in Elementary Education Foundations degree does not guarantee entrance into any particular education program. All four-year elementary education programs require that the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) be completed before admission is granted.
In addition, the coursework in the AS in Elementary Education Foundations degree is excellent preparation for students who wish to work as paraprofessionals in an elementary classroom.
Degree Requirements: Students wishing to complete the AS in Elementary Education Foundations should do the following:
-
Determine the four-year college or university to which they plan to transfer.
-
Check the catalog or transfer guide for that institution to become familiar with the requirements for an elementary education major.
-
Select a middle school specialty from the list below.
1. Middle School Mathematics
2. Middle School Science
3. Middle School Social Studies
4. Middle School Communication Arts and Literature -
Develop a plan for coursework that includes the following:
1. The core courses, including the MNTC requirements.
2. A middle school specialty.
3. Electives.
4. A total of at least 64 credits.
5. Completion of the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST).
Information about this test can be obtained from Normandale counselors of the Career & Academic Planning Center. -
Apply to graduate during the final semester as Normandale students.
Core Courses for the AS in Elementary Education Foundations: 46-47 Credits.
Course Title
EDUC 1101 Introduction to Education (4 cr)
PSYC 1109 Child Development (3 cr)
HLTH 1106 Drug Use and Abuse (3 cr)
ENGC 1101 Freshman Composition (B or better) (4 cr)
COMM 1101 Fundamentals of Public Speaking (B or better) (3 cr)
BIOL 1102 Human Biology (4 cr)
PHYS 1050 Survey of Classical Physics (4 cr)
MATH 1050 Mathematical Foundations 1 (3 cr)
MATH 1060 Mathematical Foundations 2 (3 cr)
GEOG 1125 Geography of the U.S. and Canada (3 cr)
HIST 1111 or U.S. History 1 (4 cr)
HIST 1112 or U.S. History 2 (4 cr)
HIST 1133 Minnesota History (3 cr)
THTR 1151 Acting I (3 cr)
ART 1101 The Visual Arts (3 cr)
ENGL 1160 Children's Literature (3 cr)
TOTAL CREDITS 46-47
Middle School Specialties: 12-15 Credits. Choose ONE Specialty.
Middle School Mathematics
MATH 1070 Mathematics with Technology for K-8 Teachers (3 cr)
MATH 1080 Introduction to Statistics (4 cr)
MATH 1100 College Algebra and Probability (4 cr)
MATH 1400 Survey of Calculus (4 cr)
TOTAL CREDITS 15
Middle School Science
PHYS 1114 Introductory Astronomy - preferred (4 cr)
or PHYS 1104 Descriptive Astronomy (3 cr)
CHEM 1061 Principles of Chemistry 1 (5 cr)
GEOL 1101 Physical Geology (4 cr)
TOTAL CREDITS 13-12
Middle School Communication Arts and Literature
ENGL 1161 Young Adult Literature (3 cr)
ENGL 1188 Introduction to Short Stories (3 cr)
or ENGL 1189 Introduction to the Novel (3 cr)
ENGW 1111 Creative Writing (3 cr)
ENGW 2000 Advanced Grammar (3 cr)
TOTAL CREDITS 12
Complete enough elective courses numbered at 1000 or greater so that the total number of credits for the AS degree is 64.
Associate in Science in Special Education Foundations
Background: The Associate of Science in Special Education Foundations degree is designed to prepare students for a major in special education at a four-year college or university. It incorporates the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC), so that students with this degree have satisfied general education requirements at Minnesota public universities. The degree also includes the requirements for entrance into third-year courses in many four-year special education majors.
Normandale Community College has collaborated with Minnesota State University, Mankato, in the development of the AS degree. All coursework in this AS degree transfers to the Mankato baccalaureate special education program, which includes K-12 licensure in special education (DCD). The Mankato program is competitive and requires a minimum GPA of 2.75 for admission. In addition, the requirements for the AS degree in Special Education Foundations may fulfill entrance requirements for other four-year special education degrees. Check the college catalogs and transfer guides for specific colleges and universities.
Completion of the AS in Special Education Foundations degree does not guarantee entrance into any particular education program. All four-year education programs require that the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) be completed before admission is granted.
In addition, the coursework in the AS in Special Education Foundations degree is excellent preparation for students who wish to work as paraprofessionals with special needs children and youth.
Degree Requirements: Students wishing to complete the AS in Special Education Foundations should do the following:
-
Determine the four-year college or university to which they plan to transfer.
-
Check the catalog or transfer guide for that institution to
become familiar with the requirements for a special education
major. -
Develop a plan for coursework that includes the following:
1. The core courses, including the MNTC requirements.
2. Special Education Courses
3. Electives
4. A total of at least 64 credits
5. Completion of the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST).
Information about this test can be obtained from Normandale
counselors of the Career & Academic Planning Center.
All courses must be completed with a C or better. ENGC 1101, Freshman Composition, and COMM 1101, Fundamentals of Public Speaking, must be completed with a B or better. -
Apply to graduate during the final semester as Normandale students.
Core Courses for the AS in Special Education Foundations: 46-47 Credits.
Course Title
EDUC 1101 Introduction to Education (4 cr)
PSYC 1109 Child Development (3 cr)
HLTH 1106 Drug Use and Abuse (3 cr)
ENGC 1101 Freshman Composition (B or better) (4 cr)
COMM 1101 Fundamentals of Public Speaking (B or better) (3 cr)
BIOL 1102 Human Biology (4 cr)
PHYS 1050 Survey of Classical Physics (4 cr)
MATH 1050 Mathematical Foundations 1 (3 cr)
MATH 1060 Mathematical Foundations 2 (3 cr)
GEOG 1125 Geography of the U.S. and Canada (3 cr)
HIST 1111 U.S. History 1 (4 cr) or
or HIST 1112 U.S. History 2 (4 cr)
or HIST 1133 Minnesota History (3 cr)
THTR 1151 Acting I (3 cr)
ART 1101 The Visual Arts (3 cr)
ENGL 1160 Children's Literature (3 cr)
TOTAL CREDITS Core Courses - 46-47
Special Education Courses: 18 Credits
Course Title
PSYC 1110 General Psychology (4 cr)
EDUC 2330 Introduction to Developmental Disabilities (4 cr)
EDUC 2408 Individuals w/Diverse & Exceptional Needs (4 cr)
EDUC 2409 Learning and Human Development for Diverse Learners (4 cr)
HLTH 1103 College First Aid and Adult CPR (2 cr)
TOTAL CREDITS Special Education Courses 18
Curriculum
Courses offered in this department:
EDUC 1101 Introduction to Education
EDUC 1120 Spanish for Educators 1
EDUC 1190 Cooperative Education in Education
EDUC 1220 Spanish for Educators 2
EDUC 2330 Introduction to Developmental Disabilities
EDUC 2408 Individuals with Diverse and Exceptional Needs
EDUC 2409 Learning and Human Development for Diverse Learners
For course descriptions and additional program information visit the Normandale catalog online.
View common course outline information.
Print Fact Sheets:
Department Admin
Dean: Tina Wade, Dean of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Education
Dean's Assistant: Joan Fosnow
Ed Donahue, EdTrAc Director 952/487-7413
Patricia Larson, EdTrAc Coordinator 952-487-7485
Dr. Karen Hurlbutt, Mankato Representative 952-487-7165
Dr. Steven Reuter, Mankato Representative 952-487-7045
Mission Statement
The mission of the Education Department at Normandale is two-fold:
- To prepare students who wish to obtain a baccalaureate degree in education.
- To provide content knowledge for students wishing to work as paraprofessionals or educational assistants in a classroom.
To accomplish this mission, the Education Department offers two associate degrees: the Associate in Science in Elementary Education Foundations, and the Associate in Science in Special Education Foundations. Students can obtain a four-year degree in elementary education with K-8 licensure or special education (Developmental Cognitive Disability) on the Normandale campus offered in partnership with Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition, Normandale has articulation agreements with Minnesota State University, Mankato and Bemidji State University to facilitate easy transfer of courses. Education students also transfer to other public and private schools offering a major in education.
Through the Education Training Academy (EdTrAc) at Normandale, students interested in becoming teachers can obtain information about, and support in, their career choice. Students preparing to become teachers are encouraged to take EDUC 1101 as soon as possible in their college coursework. Since this course includes a field experience in K-12 schools, it helps students determine whether a career in teaching is right for them.
In order to complete a baccalaureate degree in four years, students should be prepared to take college-level composition and mathematics when they enter Normandale. If developmental coursework is required, it lengthens the time needed to obtain a degree and licensure.
Students preparing to become elementary, middle school or secondary teachers should consider a mathematics or science specialty. These two areas are in high demand in Minnesota and nationwide.
