1. College Success

• COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits)

• Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

2. English Composition I

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)

• Course purpose: As an elementary teacher you will often find yourself writing lessons, creating assessments, and communicating in writing with parents, fellow teachers, and the principal. ENGL& 101 will provide the foundational skills of developing these writing skills.

3. Introduction to Education

• EDUC& 202 Introduction to Education (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course provides you the history and foundations of schooling in the USA and the current issues and trends in education.

Action Item: Transfer Fair

Attend a transfer fair and choose a transfer institution so that you take the correct prerequisites.

Action Item: Meet with Advisor

Use your Success Network!  In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps. 

4. Math & History Course Recommendation

Choose one group.

Action Item: Education Testing

Take WEST-B unless you have equivalent passing scores on the SAT or ACT exams: www.pierce.ctc.edu/education-testing.

5. English Composition II

• ENGL& 102 Composition II: Argumentation and Research (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Teachers need to be able to research best practices and effective teaching strategies in the field and argue for their implementation in your classroom. 

6. Communications Course Recommendation

Choose one

• CMST& 101 Introduction to Communications (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need to be effective oral communicators in the classroom and working with parents and co-workers. This course provides a broad overview of communication.

• CMST& 220 Public Speaking (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need to be effective oral communicators in the classroom and working with parents and co-workers. This course focuses on public speaking.

• CMST 105 Intercultural Communication (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need to be effective oral communicators in the classroom and working with parents and co-workers. This course focuses on intercultural communication which is important in our increasingly diverse society. This course has a short unit on education topics.

• CMST& 230 Small Group Communication (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need to be effective oral communicators in the classroom and working with parents and co-workers. This course focuses on small group communication which is how a lot of instruction happens in elementary schools and is essential on your grade level team.

Action Item: Meet with Advisor

 Meet with an advisor at your transfer institution to ensure you have all the prerequisites for your program of study on your education plan. Also, ask about the application process and deadlines for both the university and the school of education.

7. Education Course Recommendation

Choose one

• PHIL 150 Introduction to Ethics (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers are faced with a variety of ethical dilemmas.  These courses build the foundation on how to navigate those difficult decisions.

• PHIL& 115 Critical Thinking (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers are working with the diverse population of our society. This course explores critical thinking including how to mitigate bias and identify flawed arguments.

• HIST& 214 Pacific Northwest History (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers working in the Pacific Northwest must have an understanding of local history. 

• MATH& 107 Math in Society (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a strong mathematical foundation so they can effectively teach math content and monitor student progress in the class. This class focuses on math in everyday life.

8. Natural Science Course Recommendation

• NSCI 150 Nature (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including life sciences. This course explores local plants and animals which helps to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards.

• BIOL& 100 Survey of Biology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including life sciences. This course provides a broad overview of biology which helps to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards.

• ANTH& 205 Biological Anthropology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including life sciences. This course explores evaluation, genetics, scientific classification, and human variation which helps to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards.

• BIOL& 175 Human Biology w/Lab: Anatomy & Physiology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including life sciences. This course provides a comprehensive study of the human body which helps to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards.

9. Social Science Recommendation

Choose one

• SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Teachers need an understanding of systemic issues impacting education today, including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and social stratification. This course provides broad overview of sociology which is the study of society and human interaction.

• SOC 235 Race and Ethnicity (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Teachers need an understanding of systemic issues impacting education today, including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and social stratification. This course explores race and ethnicity in contemporary society.

• ANTH& 106 The American Mosaic (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Teachers need an understanding of systemic issues impacting education today, including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and social stratification. This class explores multiculturalism in the US and various aspects of social identity. 

Action Item: GPA Check

GPA check-Are you on track to meeting the GPA requirement at your transfer institution?

10. General Psychology

• PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Teachers need an understanding of the human mind and human behaviors that the study of psychology can help with. This course is a prerequisite for PSYC& 200.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

11. Humanities Course Recommendation

Choose one

• ART 215 Art for Teachers (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers may be responsible for meeting the art standards in their classrooms. This course builds content knowledge and has some methodology.

• ART 101 Design, Beginning (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers may be responsible for meeting the art standards in your classrooms. This course builds content knowledge.

• ENGL 207 Native American Literature (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course builds content knowledge in English Language Arts to support the Common Course State Standards. It also complements the Since Time Immemorial curriculum which is taught in all Washington State elementary schools.

• ENGL 210 Multicultural American Literature (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course builds content knowledge in English Language Arts to support the Common Course State Standards. It also provides an opportunity to explore multicultural American literature which will help you address the Eurocentric focus that is common in elementary curriculum.

Action Item: Field Experience

Turn in Application for Field Experience to Field Experience and Teacher Certification Manager, Leiani Sherwin at lsherwin@pierce.ctc.edu or in OLY 163.

12. Education Practicum

• EDUC 190 Education Practicum (3-5 credits)

• Course purpose: A field experience is the best way to know if teaching is the right choice for you.

13. Natural Science Recommendation

Choose one

• ASTR& 100 Survey of Astronomy (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including physical sciences, to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards. This course focuses on the solar system.

• PS 101 Introduction to Physical Science (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including physical sciences, to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards. This course also includes some earth science content and covers physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy.

• PHYS& 110 Physics for Non-Science Majors (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including physical sciences, to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards. This course is a broad overview of physics in everyday life.

14. Humanities Course Recommendation

Choose one

• MUSC 205 Music for Teachers (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers may be responsible for meeting the music standards in their classrooms.  This course builds content knowledge and has some methodology.

• MUSC& 141 Music Theory I (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers may be responsible for meeting the music standards in their classrooms.  This course builds content knowledge.

• HUM 107 Latin American Thought and Culture (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Latin students are the fastest growing segment of our current school population. The curriculum of today’s schools remains Eurocentric. The course provides a frame through which to work towards diversifying the curriculum.

• HUM 106 Ethnic Thought and Culture (5 credits)

• Course purpose: The curriculum of today’s schools remains Eurocentric. The course provides a frame through which to work towards diversifying the curriculum.

15. Lifespan Psychology

• PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Teachers need an understanding of human development from birth to elderly in order to effectively work with children and their families who will be at various stages of development.

16. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

• GEOL 107 Exploring Earth Science (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including earth sciences, to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards. This course is a broad overview of earth science topics.

• GEOL& 101 Introduction to Physical Geology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including earth sciences, to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards. This course is a broad focuses on rocks and minerals.

• OCEA& 101 Introduction to Oceanography (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including earth sciences, to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards. This course examines all aspects of the marine environment.

• GEOG 210 Physical Geography (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need a broad foundation of science skills, including earth sciences, to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards. This course focuses on climatology, geomorphology, and biogeography. 

17. Education Course Recommendation

Choose one

• EDUC& 115 Child Development (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need an understanding of child development (birth through adolescence) in order to effectively work with their students.

• EDUC& 204 Introduction to Inclusive Education (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Teaching children with differencing abilities is the job of all teachers in schools today.

• HIST& 156 History of U. S. I (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers need to understand the history content that they will be teaching. This course focuses on European expansion through 1840.

18. Education Course Recommendation

Choose one

• EDUC& 130 Guiding Behavior (3 credits)

• Course purpose: The more classroom management skills and child guidance techniques you have, the more successful you will be in your teaching career.

• EDUC& 150 Child, Family and Community (3 credits)

• Course purpose: Elementary teachers must be prepared to work with children in the context of their families and communities.

Total Credits: 91