Education (BA)

The Division of Professional Preparation Programs within the Education Department at Prescott College prepares students to teach in a variety education specialties.  In all Prescott College professional preparation programs, undergraduate students are eligible to receive Institutional Recommendation for Teaching Certification with the Arizona Department of Education upon graduation and successful completion of certification requirements. 

Admittance Requirements for Professional Preparation Programs - The Division of Professional Preparation Programs requires a formal admission process.  All students interested in teacher certification must meet the following requirements:
Successful completion of 36 credits of general coursework (upper or lower-division)
Completion of the following courses:
EDU 47001 Foundations of Education (3 credits)
EDU 47050 Working in Schools:  Orientation (1 credit)
A one-page synopsis teaching philosophy synopsis
Completed application for admission to the Division of Professional Preparation Programs

Students seeking admission into one of the Professional Preparation Programs should apply no later than the semester before intending to register for certification coursework. 

Teaching Certification Breadth

Students outside of Education can pursue the required coursework leading to teaching certification in Elementary Education, Secondary Education or Special Education.  Please consult the Education Department for details at education@prescott.ed

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION BACHELOR DEGREES

• 60 credits
• Required courses in the competence 
• Foundations of Education
• Curriculum Design, Assessment & Evaluation
• Working in Schools: Orientation
• Student Teaching (12 weeks)

The Education Faculty at Prescott College offers courses of study culminating in the Bachelor of Arts, Post Baccalaureate Certificate, or Master of Education in Mild/Moderate Special Education (K-12).  The Mild/Moderate Special Education course of study at Prescott College is an Arizona Department of Education approved teacher certification program. Candidates who successfully complete the program are eligible to receive the Prescott College Institutional Recommendation and can apply for Arizona teaching credentials in Mild/Moderate Special Education (K12). Arizona is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC). For participating states and reciprocity rules for Arizona and other participating states and territories, please see: https://www.nasdtec.net/page/Interstate

The Early Childhood Education program at Prescott College is the only online program integrating nature- and place-based early learning into all courses. Students can look forward to an experience like no other! In addition to being prepared in areas such as family-school relationships, curriculum design, and inclusive classroom management, students will also gain valuable knowledge and skills in activating the power of nature to support children’s learning and development as they approach early care and education with a lens of the child as a competent individual and curious co-creator of their own learning.

Students who complete this program can look forward to an advanced career working in public or private childcare, preschool, and pre-kindergarten settings. Professionals certified in Early Childhood Education are additionally qualified to teach Kindergarten through third grade classes in public elementary schools. Early childhood education is a fast-growing field gaining national recognition as a key element in building an equitable and prosperous future for all.

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (120 credits) consists of 60 lower-division and  60 upper-division semester credits.  The program is designed to cultivate the knowledge and skills required for educators of infants and very young children (birth to age 8).   Successful completion of degree requirements leads to an Institutional Recommendation for Arizona Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Education.

In addition to the 60 credits of lower-division coursework and general College graduation requirements, the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education is comprised of upper-division coursework totaling 36 credits. 
 

Sample Courses

• Nature & Place-Based Methods Integration: Math and Science S.T.E.M. (4)
• Positive Child Guidance (3)
• Early Childhood Education Practicum (4)

The Bachelor of Arts in Education with Environmental Education emphasis consists of 120-semester credits and a minimum of 40 upper-division credits. The program is designed to cultivate the knowledge and skills required for educators in environmental education programs. This program does not lead to an Institutional Recommendation for certified practice within K-12 schools.

Sample Courses

• Advanced Special Education Methods (4)
• Foundations of Language & Literacy (3)
• Special Education Classroom Management (3)

The Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (120 credits) consists of 60 lower-division and  a minimum of 36 upper-division semester credits. The program is designed to cultivate the knowledge and skills required upper-division semester credits for educators of young children (grades K-8).   Successful completion of degree requirements leads to an Institutional Recommendation for Arizona Teacher Certification in Elementary Education.

In addition to the 60 credits of lower-division coursework and general College graduation requirements, the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is comprised of upper-division coursework totaling 36 credits. 

Sample Courses

• Curriculum Design, Assessment & Evaluation  (4)
• Arts & Place-Based Methods Integration: Language Arts & Social Studies (4)
• Creating & Managing Learning. Communities (3)

The Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (120 credits) consists of 60 lower-division and  a minimum of 36 upper-division semester credits. The program is designed to cultivate the knowledge and skills required for educators of teen-age adolescents (grades 6th-12).  

Successful completion of degree requirements leads to an Institutional Recommendation for Arizona Teacher Certification in Secondary Education.

In addition to the 60 credits of lower-division coursework and College graduation requirements, the Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education is comprised of the following upper-division coursework and competence electives.

Sample Courses

• Secondary Reading Methods (3) 
• Adolescent Psychology (4)
• Secondary Content Methods (4)

The Education Faculty at Prescott College offers courses of study culminating in the Bachelor of Arts, Post Baccalaureate Certificate, or Master of Education in Mild/Moderate Special Education (K-12).  The Mild/Moderate Special Education course of study at Prescott College is an Arizona Department of Education approved teacher certification program. Candidates who successfully complete the program are eligible to receive the Prescott College Institutional Recommendation and can apply for Arizona teaching credentials in Mild/Moderate Special Education (K12). Arizona is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC). For participating states and reciprocity rules for Arizona and other participating states and territories, please see: https://www.nasdtec.net/page/Interstate

Education students who complete the special education program at Prescott College can look forward to a challenging and fulfilling professional career as a highly qualified certified classroom teacher, resource specialist or intervention specialist. Professionals certified in mild/moderate special education work with children, adolescents and young adults ages 6 to 21 with mild or moderate exceptionalities, including learning, physical and mental disabilities. Special Educators perform a multitude of professional tasks outside of teaching, such as managing a student caseload, supervising education assistants or writing a student Individual Education Plan. Special Education teachers are excellent collaborators, skilled advocators, and think clearly in potentially stressful situations. 

Certified Special education teachers are employed in public, private, elementary and secondary schools. They are highly trained to execute the academic curriculum at the pace of each student and assists with developing basic life skills so that exceptional students can maximize and enjoy rich, independent lives beyond the classroom. 

The Bachelor of Arts in Special Education (120 credits) consists of 60 lower-division and  a minimum of 39 upper-division semester credits. The program is designed to cultivate the knowledge and skills required for educators of exceptional students (grades K-12).   Successful completion of degree requirements leads to an Institutional Recommendation for Arizona Teacher Certification in Special Education.
 

Prescott College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The College offers State-accredited online professional preparation programs in teacher education for both undergraduate and graduate students, in the areas of School Counseling, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education, and Integrated Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education.  

We partner with national and internationally recognized education associations which inform our work, such as the Council for Exceptional Education (CEC), the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment & Support Consortium (InTASC).