Description
This degree is intended to prepare students to work as a paraprofessional or instructional assistant directly in a special needs environment. A paraprofessional will work directly under a certified teacher in a Pre-K to 12th grade classroom. Duties may include the assisting in the implementation of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), assessment, observations, use of technology and personalized curriculum. Students must communicate effectively with parents, students, service teams and teachers. The degree is not designed to transfer to another program but is to go directly to the workforce. All Education courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
Career Opportunities
A wide variety of potential jobs with the associate degree only may include classroom assistant, classroom aide, and paraprofessional in a K-12 school district under a certified special education teacher. Salary ranges include $16,000 for classroom assistant or aide, $20,000 for paraprofessional.
Transfer paths and requirements
This program is not designed for students wishing to transfer to a four-year college for a bachelor’s degree. Students planning to transfer should consult with an MCC counselor.
Full-Time and Part-Time Options
Listed below are four options for earning the degree:
- Two-year plan for full-time students (see below)
- Three-year plan for 3/4 time students (see below)
- Four-year plan for part-time students
Source: MCC 2023-24 Catalog
TWO-YEAR PLAN FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 101B Introduction to Education | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
ED 109A Parent Child Connection | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
ENG 101 English Composition | 3 | 4 | ||
CIS 110 or CIS 120A | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | Prerequisite for CIS 120A: Completion of BUS 179 or equivalent recommended |
Elective Course | 4 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
Education Fieldwork Hours | 50 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 16 | 19 |
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 211A Behavior Management | 3 | 4 | Winter and Online | |
ED 216A Educating Exceptional Children | 3 | 4 | Winter and Online | |
ED 225A Child Development
or ED 250A Human Growth and Development |
3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
BCOM 102 Advanced Business and Technical Communications | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | Prerequisite BCOM 101 or ENG 101 |
BUS 126 Business Math or MATH 105 | 3/4 | 3/4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
Education Fieldwork Hours | 75 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 15/16 | 19/20 |
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 202A Teaching of Reading in the Elementary School | 3 | 4 | Fall | |
ED 221A Teaching Students with Learning and Behavior Problems | 3 | 4 | Fall | Prerequisite ED 211 |
ED 230A Children’s Literature | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
Education Elective | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
BUS 127 or COM 101 | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
Education Fieldwork Hours | 100 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 15 | 19 |
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 272A Education Practicum | 3 | 6 | Winter | Prerequisite: ED 101A, ED 109 or ED 211; and ED 225 or ED 250; and instructor permission |
Education Elective | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
*Core Option (One Course) | 3/4 | 3/4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
PEA 101A, PEA 103, PEA 104A, PEA 118, or PEA 201 | 1 | 2 | Fall, Winter and Summer | |
PEA/DNC of choice | 1 | 2 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
ED 234A Educational Psychology | 3 | 4 | Winter | |
Electives | 2 | 2 | If needed for 62 hours | |
Education Fieldwork Hours | 255 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 16/17 | 23/24 |
*Core Option – Select one
GEOG 104 Cultural Geography (FW)
PHIL 205 Business Ethics (FW)
PSCI 111 Introduction to American Government (FWSO)
PSCI 211 Comparative Governments (FWO)
PSYC 102 Applied Psychology (FWSO)
PSYC 201 General Psychology (FWSO)
MINIMUM CREDITS NEEDED FOR DEGREE – 62
Additional notes: This degree requires a cleared background check, which may include fingerprinting and a TB clearance. Fieldwork is required in all education courses. Courses are offered both face-to-face an online and delivery varies by semester.
THREE-YEAR PLAN FOR THREE-QUARTER-TIME STUDENTS
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 101B Introduction to Education | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
ED 109A Parent Child Connection | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
ENG 101 English Composition | 3 | 4 | ||
Education Fieldwork Hours | 50 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 9 | 12 |
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 225A Child Development
or ED 250A Human Growth and Development |
3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
ED 211A Behavior Management | 3 | 4 | Winter and Online | |
BCOM 102 Advanced Business and Technical Communications | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
PEA 101A, PEA 103, PEA 104A, PEA 118, or PEA 201 | 1 | 2 | Fall, Winter and Summer | |
PEA/DNC of choice | 1 | 2 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
Education Fieldwork Hours | 50 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 11 | 16 |
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 202A Teaching Reading in the Elementary School | 3 | 4 | Fall | |
BUS 127 or COM 101 | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
Education Fieldwork Hours | 25 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 6 | 7 |
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 216A Educating the Exceptional Child and Young Adult | 3 | 4 | Winter and Online | |
Education Elective | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
CIS 110 or CIS 120A | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | Prerequisite for CIS 120A: Completion of BUS 179 or equivalent recommended |
ED 234A Educational Psychology | 3 | 4 | Winter | |
Education Fieldwork Hours | 75 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 12 | 15 |
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 221A Teaching Students with Learning and Behavior Problems | 3 | 4 | Fall | Prerequisite ED 211 |
ED 230A Children’s Literature | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
BUS 126 Business Math or MATH 105 | 3/4 | 3/4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
Education Fieldwork Hours | 50 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 9/10 | 11/12 |
Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
ED 272A Education Practicum | 3 | 6 | Winter | Prerequisite: ED 101A, ED 109 or ED 211; and ED 225 or ED 250; and instructor permission |
Education Elective | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
*Core Option (One Course) | 3/4 | 3/4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
Electives | 2 | 2 | ||
Education Fieldwork Hours | 230 Hours | |||
Total Credit Hours | 11/12 | 15/16 |
*Core Option – Select one
GEOG 104 Cultural Geography (FW)
PHIL 205 Business Ethics (FW)
PSCI 111 Introduction to American Government (FWSO)
PSCI 211 Comparative Governments (FWO)
PSYC 102 Applied Psychology (FWSO)
PSYC 201 General Psychology (FWSO)
MINIMUM CREDITS NEEDED FOR DEGREE – 62
Additional notes: This degree requires a cleared background check, which may include fingerprinting and a TB clearance. Fieldwork is required in all education courses. Courses are offered both face-to-face an online and delivery varies by semester.