Paraprofessional Education, A.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

(Code 420)

Suggested GRCC Program:

Associate in Arts

Contact: Child Development & Education Department (616) 234-3380

This program is designed to prepare students to work as paraprofessionals in K-8 classrooms and K-12 Special Needs classrooms. It is an Associate in Arts degree designed to satisfy federal requirements for Title I programs. Courses are designed to build knowledge and skills related to human growth and development, the field of teaching, characteristics of learners, special education, instructional content and practice, the teaching and learning environment, behavior management, communication, diversity of families, health, safety and emergency procedures, and professionalism and ethical standards. The majority of courses will also transfer into elementary teacher certification programs at four-year universities. Students should work closely with their advisor throughout the program to ensure transferability. Students working in Pre-K programs can either complete the Child Development program (Code 120) or follow this program.

Students in Paraprofessional Education may qualify for either the Associate in Arts degree or the Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree. Those wishing to earn the AA degree should be sure to meet the communications, humanities, social science and natural science requirements for that degree as indicated below.

CD 118 counts toward the social science requirements for an AA degree with MACRAO for students in the Paraprofessional Education (420) program.

The following scheme is presented as a guide only. Courses may be taken in any order as long as all requirements (including prerequisites) are met:

First Year

First Semester

EN 101 - English Composition 1 (3/3)
CD 215 - Adult-Child Interaction (3/3)
CD 118 - Human Growth and Development-1 (4/5)
PS 110 - Survey of American Government (3/3)
— — Social Science Elective (Recommended: HS 249 OR HS 250 ) (3/3)

Total Credits: 16

Second Semester

CD 119 - Methods in Preschool Education (4/6)
EN 102 - English Composition 2 (3/3)
ED 200 - Introduction to Education (3/3) OR
CD 105 - Foundations of Early Childhood Education (3/3)
MA 107 - Intermediate Algebra (4/4) *
WE 157 - Elementary Games and Rhythms (1/2)
WE 156 - First Aid (1/2) **

Total Credits: 16

Second Year

Third Semester

EN 250 - Children’s Literature (4/4)
CD 230 - Young Children With Special Needs (4/4)
— — Humanities Elective (Recommended: SP 101 ) (4/4)
MA 210 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 1 (4/4) OR
MA 211 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 2 (4/4)

Total Credits: 16

Fourth Semester

CD 260 - Emergent Literacy (3/3)
BI 101 - General Biology (4/5) OR
PC 101 - General Physical Science (4/6)
CD 280 - Cooperative Education in Child Development (3/3)
CD 285 - Assessment Tools in Child Development (2/2)
PY 201 - General Psychology (3/3)
— — Elective*** (1/2)

Total Credits: 16/17

Total Credits 64/65

* Students who have completed 3 years of high school math and meet the prerequisite for MA 210 without needing MA 107 are advised to take MA 210 and MA 211 .

** Students possessing current Red Cross First Aid and CPR Certification or American Heart Association First Aid with CPR & AED can submit proof to the Student Records Office to meet this requirement.

*** GRCC offers a variety of courses such as PY 251 , MUS 200 , and AT 255 that are aimed at students transferring into Elementary Teacher Certification programs. Students wishing to transfer should work closely with counselors to choose electives.

Transfer Opportunities:

The Transfer Guide for many bachelor’s degree majors offered at Michigan colleges and universities is available at the Counseling and Career Center and online at www.grcc.edu.