Normandale’s Elementary Education Pathway has been approved by the Minnesota Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) and allows students to transfer smoothly to any of the Minnesota State Universities Elementary Education programs: Minnesota State University, Mankato, St. Cloud State University, Southwest Minnesota State University, Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University, Moorhead, Metropolitan State University, and Winona State University. Each university has admission requirements, so be sure to check their websites.
Skills Acquired
Elementary Education Foundations provides students with skills to do the following:
Apply knowledge of schools, students and teachers today to the classroom setting
Discover how young students learn
Create a positive classroom environment for diverse learners
Build strong relationships with students, colleagues and families
Apply learning theory and management theory to the classroom setting
Apply knowledge of diverse learners
Apply a strong liberal arts background required for the field of education
Recognition
The Education Training Academy (EdTrAc) was founded in 2005 through support of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. The grant provided funding to develop and implement certain courses and services that would meet the goals listed below. Following the expiration of the grant in 2009, Normandale has continued to support the EdTrAc program to ensure the quality foundational preparation of future teachers.
Careers in Elementary Education
Projected Job Growth
According to ISeek.org, the growth rate in the state of Minnesota for Elementary School Teachers is 4.5%.
Types of Jobs
(ISeek.org)
Individuals who take Elementary Education Foundations can pursue careers in:
Elementary School Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Average State Pay
According to ISeek.org, in 2010, elementary school teachers earned a median salary of $57,884 in the state of Minnesota.
Degrees & Certificates in Elementary Education Foundations
The Associate of Science degree in Elementary Education Foundations prepares students for a major in elementary education at a 4-year college or university. It also is excellent preparation for students who wish to work as paraprofessionals or educational assistants in an elementary classroom.
This degree incorporates all Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) goals. The degree also includes the requirements for entrance into third-year courses in other 4-year universities offering an elementary education major. Normandale has a partnership which enables students to obtain a 4-year elementary education degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato on the Normandale campus. Completion of the AS in Elementary Education Foundations degree does not guarantee entrance into any particular program.
This degree also provides students with a strong STEM Background. Students take 11-12 credits of sciences and 9 credits of Mathematics. Students are offered the opportunity to take ENGT 1050, Bridging Engineering and Education, which allows them the study how engineering is taught at the elementary level. After completing all these courses with acceptable success, students will receive a STEM content endorsement.
The Elementary Education Foundation Transfer Pathway (AS) offers students a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an Associate of Science degree with course credits that directly transfer to designated Elementary Education bachelor's degree programs at Minnesota State universities. *The curriculum has been specifically designed so that students completing this pathway degree and transferring to one of the seven Minnesota State universities enter the university with junior-year status. All courses in the Transfer Pathway associate degree will directly transfer and apply to the designated bachelor's degree programs in a related field.
*Universities within the Minnesota State system include Bemidji State University; Metropolitan State University; Minnesota State University, Mankato; Minnesota State University Moorhead; Southwest Minnesota State University; St. Cloud State University; and Winona State University.
Minnesota State University, Mankato offers the Bachelor of Science program in Elementary Education on the Normandale Community College campus.
Individuals who have been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offense should investigate the impact that the arrest, charge or conviction may have on their chances of employment in the field they intend to study or on their chances to obtain federal, state and other higher education financial aid.
