Associate in Arts, Elementary Education

Education
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Course Sequence

Field of Interest

Field of Interest: Education

The Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who plan to transfer to an Elementary Education or Special Education program in a higher education institution. Upon completion of the AAEE, a student may pursue employment as a classroom instructional aide. After completing a bachelor's degree, a student may pursue a career as an elementary teacher or a special education teacher. Foundational education courses and discipline specific courses are designed to provide future teachers with the knowledge and skills related to educational philosophies, policies, attitudes, behaviors, and instruction in order to effectively perform the duties associated with the position of a classroom teacher. Students will participate in classroom field experiences to connect theory with practice. With further education or certification, students may pursue employment in the field of education in a number of careers, including but not limited to classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, educational administrator, instructional designer, instructional technologist, instructional coordinator, and educational counselor.

Details

  Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest
Education
Type
Associate in Arts - Elementary Education (AAEE)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8101
Total Credits Required
60-64
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.

As a prerequisite to MAT256, students may place into MAT150 or MAT151 or MAT152 and complete MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142 with a C in lieu of taking both MAT14+ and MAT12+ or taking MAT15+. A student that tests into MAT15+ can take MAT15+ or MAT14+ prior to MAT256. A student that tests into MAT14+ or lower must take MAT12+ and MAT14+ prior to MAT256.

Students must petition NAU to accept (HIS103 and POS221) for POS220.

Arizona state teaching certification requirements include courses on the constitutions of the United States and Arizona. Taking GCU/POS113 (United States and Arizona Social Studies) for [IAM] fulfills this requirement completely. Students who instead take HIS103 (United States History to 1865) or POS110 (American National Government) for [IAM] should consider taking POS221 (Arizona Constitution) as a Content Area Elective so they have completed study of both constitutions. POS220 (U.S. and Arizona Constitution) meets state certification requirements for both constitutions but does not meet [IAM].

This emphasis is intended to align with the degree requirements for the following programs:
ASU (Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College), Elementary Education, BAE
GCC, PVCC, RSC, Elementary Education and Special Education (9301), BA
NAU, Elementary Education, BSE

Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information: ASU , NAU , U of A .

What You’ll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Evaluate the influence of education in a democratic society and its impact on diverse communities.
  2. Demonstrate basic proficiency in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, technology, information literacy, and the arts.
  3. Analyze K–12 classroom experiences relevant to course concepts.
  4. Demonstrate ongoing professional growth through continuous learning, reflection, and the application of knowledge, skills, and dispositions (e.g., collaboration, effective communication, and professionalism).
  5. Apply knowledge of growth and development, learning theories, and inclusive practices to the instruction of all learners.
  6. Synthesize historical and current influences on education relevant to policy and advocacy.
  7. Apply knowledge, skills, and professional habits to careers in education and related fields.
  8. Describe and uphold professional and ethical standards in interactions with peers, students, educators, administrators, and community members.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Education Administrators for Elementary and Secondary Schools
$97,072
Educational, Guidance, and Vocational Counselors
$60,653
Elementary School Teachers
$60,222
Instructional Coordinators
$64,360
Special Education Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
$48,934
Teacher Assistants
$27,439
* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:

  • Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits)
  • Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits)

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:

  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits)
  • Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits)
  • Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits)
  • Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits)

For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU221 or
EDU230		 Introduction to Education or Cultural Diversity In Education Critical course Gateway course SB, SCB or AHM, C, HU 3
MAT14+ or
MAT15+ or
MAT187 or
MAT188		 College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions or Precalculus or Precalculus OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved general education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206.

Note: MAT182, MAT206, MAT256, and MAT257 do not meet the [MA] requirement. 		QNR or QNR or MA, QNR or QNR, MA 3–6
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
CFS/ECH176 or
CFS205 or
ECN211 or
ECN212 or
GCU121WG or
HIS104 or
PSY101		 Child Development or Human Development or Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or World Geography: People, Places, and Culture or United States History 1865 to Present or Introduction to Psychology CFS176 or ECH176 recommended SB or SB, SCB or SB, SCB or SB, SCB or G, SB, SCB or H, SB, SCB or SB, SCB 3
EDU/ENH291 or
ENH110 or
ENH241 or
ENH242 or
HUM250 or
HUM251		 Children's Literature or Introduction to Literature or American Literature Before 1860 or American Literature After 1860 or Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Early Civilizations to the Renaissance or Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Renaissance to the Contemporary World EDU291 or ENH291 recommended HU or AHM, C, HU or AHM, C, HU, L or AHM, HU or AHM, H, HU, L or AHM, H, HU, L 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU221 or
EDU230		 Introduction to Education or Cultural Diversity In Education Critical course Gateway course SB, SCB or AHM, C, HU 3
ARH100 or
ARH101 or
ARH102 or
DAH100 or
DAH201 or
DAH250 or
MHL140 or
MHL145 or
MHL146 or
MHL153 or
THE111 or
THE220		 Introduction to Art or Art from Prehistory Through Middle Ages or Art from Renaissance to Modernism or Introduction to Dance in the United States or Dance, Culture, and Global Contexts or Dance in Popular Culture or Survey of Music History or American Jazz and Popular Music or Survey of Broadway Musicals or Rock Music and Culture or Introduction to Theatre or Modern Drama AHM, HU or AHM, H, HU or AHM, H, HU or HU, AHM or AHM, G, HU or AHM, C, HU or AHM, HU or AHM, C, HU or AHM, HU or AHM, H, HU or AHM, HU or AHM, HU, L 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3
NSI Natural Sciences Life Sciences: Select any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences [NSI] area from the Biology (BIO) prefix NSI 4
IAM Institutions of the Americas IAM 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU222 Introduction to the Exceptional Learner C, SB, SCB 3
BPC110 or
CIS105 or
EDU/EED115		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems or Digital Literacy for Teaching and Learning in Education BPC110, CIS105 or EDU/EED115 is required for the BAEE at MCCCD and NAU.
BPC110, CIS105 or EDU/EED115 should only be bypassed if transferring to ASU. 		CS or CS or CS 3
OCM Oral Communication COM225 Recommended OCM 3
MAT256 Investigating Quantity: Number, Operations and Numeration Systems 4
EDU+++ Any EDU Education course Select one additional EDU course (other than EDU221, EDU222, EDU230 or EDU250). Recommend EDU220, EDU236, or (EDU292, HUM292, or STO292). 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GCU/POS113 or
HIS103 or
POS110 or
POS220		 United States and Arizona Social Studies or United States History to 1865 or American National Government or U.S. and Arizona Constitution Select one of the following US History/Government courses. These courses satisfy the United States Constitution requirement for state teacher certification. H, SB or H, HU, IAM, SB or IAM, SB or None 3
NSI Natural Sciences Physical Sciences or Earth/Space Sciences: Select any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences [NSI] area from one of the following prefixes: AGS, ASM, AST, CHM, GPH, GLG, PHS, PHY. NSI 4
Content Area Content Area Electives Course(s) selected must be different from those used to fulfill a requirement of the AGEC-A and/or those used to fulfill Required Courses. 3
MAT257 Investigating Geometry, Probability and Statistics Note: MAT257 is required for Maricopa, NAU and U of A bachelor`s degree. MAT257 should only be bypassed if transferring to ASU 0–4

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:

  • Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits)
  • Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits)

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:

  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits)
  • Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits)
  • Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits)
  • Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits)

For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU221 or
EDU230		 Introduction to Education or Cultural Diversity In Education Critical course Gateway course SB, SCB or AHM, C, HU 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3
MAT14+ or
MAT15+ or
MAT187 or
MAT188		 College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions or Precalculus or Precalculus OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved general education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206.

Note: MAT182, MAT206, MAT256, and MAT257 do not meet the [MA] requirement. 		QNR or QNR or MA, QNR or QNR, MA 3–6

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU221 or
EDU230		 Introduction to Education or Cultural Diversity In Education Critical course Gateway course SB, SCB or AHM, C, HU 3
OCM Oral Communication COM225 recommended OCM 3
IAM Institutions of the Americas IAM 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS/ECH176 or
CFS205 or
ECN211 or
ECN212 or
GCU121WG or
HIS104 or
PSY101		 Child Development or Human Development or Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or World Geography: People, Places, and Culture or United States History 1865 to Present or Introduction to Psychology CFS176 or ECH176 recommended SB or SB, SCB or SB, SCB or SB, SCB or G, SB, SCB or H, SB, SCB or SB, SCB 3
EDU/ENH291 or
ENH110 or
ENH241 or
ENH242 or
HUM250 or
HUM251		 Children's Literature or Introduction to Literature or American Literature Before 1860 or American Literature After 1860 or Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Early Civilizations to the Renaissance or Ideas and Values in the Humanities: Renaissance to the Contemporary World EDU291 or ENH291 recommended HU or AHM, C, HU or AHM, C, HU, L or AHM, HU or AHM, H, HU, L or AHM, H, HU, L 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ARH100 or
ARH101 or
ARH102 or
DAH100 or
DAH201 or
DAH250 or
MHL140 or
MHL145 or
MHL146 or
MHL153 or
THE111 or
THE220		 Introduction to Art or Art from Prehistory Through Middle Ages or Art from Renaissance to Modernism or Introduction to Dance in the United States or Dance, Culture, and Global Contexts or Dance in Popular Culture or Survey of Music History or American Jazz and Popular Music or Survey of Broadway Musicals or Rock Music and Culture or Introduction to Theatre or Modern Drama AHM, HU or AHM, H, HU or AHM, H, HU or HU, AHM or AHM, G, HU or AHM, C, HU or AHM, HU or AHM, C, HU or AHM, HU or AHM, H, HU or AHM, HU or AHM, HU, L 3
NSI Natural Sciences Life Sciences: Select any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences [NSI] area from the Biology (BIO) prefix NSI 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU222 Introduction to the Exceptional Learner C, SB, SCB 3
MAT256 Investigating Quantity: Number, Operations and Numeration Systems 4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BPC110 or
CIS105 or
EDU/EED115		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems or Digital Literacy for Teaching and Learning in Education Note: BPC110, CIS105 or EDU/EED115 is required for the BAEE at MCCCD and NAU.
BPC110, CIS105 or EDU/EED115 should only be bypassed if transferring to ASU. 		CS or CS or CS 3
EDU+++ Any EDU Education course Select one additional EDU course (other than EDU221, EDU222, EDU230 or EDU250). Recommend EDU220, EDU236, or (EDU292, HUM292, or STO292). 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GCU/POS113 or
HIS103 or
POS110 or
POS220		 United States and Arizona Social Studies or United States History to 1865 or American National Government or U.S. and Arizona Constitution Select one of the following US History/Government courses. These courses satisfy the United States Constitution requirement for state teacher certification. H, SB or H, HU, IAM, SB or IAM, SB or None 3
NSI Natural Sciences Physical Sciences or Earth/Space Sciences: Select any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences [NSI] area from one of the following prefixes AGS, ASM, AST, CHM, GPH, GLG, PHS or PHY. NSI 4

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Content Area Content Area Electives Course(s) selected must be different from those used to fulfill a requirement of the AGEC-A and/or those used to fulfill Required Courses. 3
MAT257 Investigating Geometry, Probability and Statistics Note: MAT257 is required for Maricopa, NAU and U of A bachelor`s degree. MAT257 should only be bypassed if transferring to ASU 0–4

Content Area Electives

A total of six (6) semester credits are required to satisfy the Electives for Arizona Professional Teacher Standards: three (3) credits in an additional Education course and three (3) credits in Content Area Electives. Courses must transfer to all public Arizona universities as Elective Credit, Departmental Elective, or Equivalent to a university course as indicated in the Arizona Course Equivalency Guide in effect when the course is taken. Courses identified as Non-transferable in the Arizona Course Equivalency Guide cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

Content Area Electives: Select three (3) credits from the following:
ARH+++ Any ARH Art Humanities course(s) 3
ART+++ Any ART Art course(s) 3
BPC+++ Any BPC Business-Personal Computers course(s) 3
CFS/ECH176 Child Development 3
CFS205 Human Development 3
CIS+++ Any CIS Computer Information Systems course(s) 3
DAH+++ Any DAH Dance Humanities course(s) 3
ECN+++ Any ECN Economics course(s) 3
EDU+++ Any EDU Education course(s) 3 (except EDU221, EDU222, EDU230, and EDU250)

EED215 Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Physical Fitness (3) OR
CFS123 Health and Nutrition in Early Childhood Settings (1) AND
CFS125 Safety in Early Childhood Settings (1) 2-3

ENG+++ Any ENG English course(s) 3
ENH+++ Any ENH English Humanities course(s) 3
GCU+++ Any GCU Cultural Geography course(s) 3
GPH+++ Any GPH Physical Geography course(s) 3
HIS+++ Any HIS History course(s) 3
MAT+++ Any MAT Mathematics course(s) higher than MAT142 (except MAT256 and MAT257) 3-5
MHL+++ Any MHL Music: History/Literature course(s) 3
MTC+++ Any MTC Music: Theory/Composition course(s) 3
POS+++ Any POS Political Science course(s) 3
PSY+++ Any PSY Psychology course(s) 3
SOC+++ Any SOC Sociology course(s) 3
SWU+++ Any SWU Social Work course(s) 3
THE+++ Any THE Theatre course(s) 3
THF+++ Any THF Theatre and Film course(s) 3
THP+++ Any THP Theatre Performance/Production course(s) 3
Any Foreign Language course 4-5
Any Natural Science course 3-4

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Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Education program.

General Help

Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • AHM = Arts and Humanities
  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First-Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts & Design
  • IAM = Institutions of the Americas
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • NSI = Natural Sciences
  • OCM = Oral Communication
  • QNR = Quantitative Reasoning
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SCB = Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • WCM = Written Communication

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/acres.woa/wa/customView?id=16461944.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Arts - Elementary Education (AAEE) in Associate in Arts, Elementary Education