Program Description

The Liberal Arts and Sciences: Childhood Education A.S. degree prepares students to become thoughtful and effective elementary school teachers in grades 1 through 6. Students will focus on understanding children through their strengths and interests to plan meaningful and relevant curriculum. They will consider the importance of collaborating and partnering with children and families to ensure that the classroom is fully engaging and inclusive. With a strong emphasis on the observation of children, students examine practices that best support children’s emotional, social, physical, and intellectual needs. Students will develop a personal philosophy of education that will incorporate the work of important theorists and researchers, as well as their own experiences. Seminar style classes ensure that all students in the program have the opportunity to participate thoughtfully in their college experience.

Students in the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Childhood Education A.S. program will receive a solid foundation in the liberal arts, which is the basis for continuing in the field of Education. Students are required to select a concentration in either ​Art, English, History, Math, or Spanish. The program is based on the prescribed course of study universally recognized across the State University of New York to enable transfer to classroom teaching programs at baccalaureate campuses with New York State teacher certification authority. The curriculum is flexible, with classes offered during the day and evening.

Program Note

• Students are encouraged to apply early due to an extraordinary demand.

• Students must enroll in EDU 101 - Foundations of Education  as well as ENG 101 - Writing and Research  during their first semester. 
• Transfer programs at the bachelor’s level in Education often require a minimum cumulative GPA or 3.0 for admission; consult with transfer schools of interest for details. 

Program Requirements

61 credits are required for the degree:

• General Education - 31 credits
• Required Degree Courses - 30 credits

General Education Requirements - 31 Credits

• Communication - Written and Oral (3 credits): ENG 101 Writing and Research  OR ENG 101H - Writing and Research - Honors  
• Humanities (3 credits): ENG 102 Writing and Literature  
• Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (3 credits):  MATH 138 - Elements of Geometry  
• Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (4 credits): BIOL 101 - Principles of Biological Science (and Lab)  
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (3 credits): EDU 103 - Teaching in Today’s Diverse Classroom  
• Social Sciences (3 credits): PSYCH 101 - Introduction to Psychology  and GEOG 101 - World Geography  
• World Languages (6 credits): choose TWO courses of the same language from World Languages  general education courses
• US History and Civic Engagement (3 credits): POLSC 102 - American Government and Issues  

Where specific courses are not listed within the categories above, courses must be selected from the list of all general education courses . 

Required Degree Courses - 30 credits

Required (18 credits)

• ART 108 - Art of the Ancient World: Prehistory to Fourteenth Century  OR ART 109 - Art of the Modern World: Fifteenth Century to Contemporary  
• EDU 101 - Foundations of Education   
• EDU 200 - Special Education: Contemporary Perspectives  
• EDU 202 - Elementary Education Practicum and Field Study  
• MATH 123 - Math for Elementary School Teachers  
• PSYCH 109 - Child Development  
   
• General History Elective (3 credits): select ONE of the following
  • HIS 110 - U.S. History Colonial-1800  
  • HIS 114 - US Constitutional History  
  • HIS 115 - Modern Europe  
  • HIS 133 - African American History to 1865  
  • HIS 134 - African American History from 1865 to Present  
  • HIS 220 - Great Trials in History  
• U.S. History Elective (3 credits): select ONE of the following
  • HIS 111 - 19th Century U.S. History  
  • HIS 112 - 20th Century United States History  
• Western Civilization OR History of Europe Elective (3 credits): select ONE of the following
  • HIS 101 - Western Civilization to 1648  
  • HIS 102 - Western Civilization 1648-1914  
• World History OR History Survey Elective (3 credits): select ONE of the following
  • HIS 104 - Global History to 1648  
  • HIS 106 - Global History from 1648  
  • HIS 119 - Modern Latin America  
  • HIS 128 - African History to 1600  
  • HIS 129 - Caribbean History  
  • HIS 131 - Modern Africa  

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Minimum Total Credits: 61

Transfer Opportunities

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

Career Opportunities

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