Mar 13, 2026  
GRCC Curriculum Database (2025-2026 Academic Year) 
    
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GRCC Curriculum Database (2025-2026 Academic Year)
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EDU 200 - Introduction to Education

Description
This course is designed to help prospective teachers make informed decisions about careers in education. Classroom observations, interviews, personal assessments, and readings are important components of this course. Course content focuses on the foundations of education, the practical realities of day-to-day teaching and the responsibilities of educators in different roles.  Topics include but are not limited to social and cultural factors that shape learning outcomes, funding, Common Core, identity as a teacher, and professional roles and responsibilities in education.  This course requires 6 hours of field experience in a school/classroom setting.
Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Course Fees: $5.00
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit:
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
Paraprofessional Education, A.A.A.S., Pre-Birth to Kindergarten, A.A. (Grand Valley State University), Pre-Elementary Education, A.A. (Ferris State University), Pre-Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching + Educational Studies, A.A. (Grand Valley State Univ)
General Education Requirement:
None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA
Course Learning Outcomes:
  1. Through interaction, reflection, research and guidance, the student will begin a personal decision-making process about a career in education.
  2. Develop a basic understanding of the structure and organization of public schools
  3. Examines responsibilities of educators in different roles within the school setting.
  4. Develop and demonstrate an initial awareness of teachers and their work.
  5. Identifies individual and social factors that may shape learning outcomes.
  6. Develop and demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the diversity of students found in school classrooms.
  7. Identifies current issues in the field of education.
  8. Demonstrates an initial awareness of the impact various policies and procedures on teachers/students.
  9. Analyzes the impact of personal beliefs on teaching and learning.
  10. Identifies principles of effective teaching and learning as well as elements of ethical/professional code of conduct.
  11. Identify agencies and resources in the community that support children’s learning and well-being.

Course Outline:
  1. Historical Background of Education
    1.  Colonial times
    2. Brown V. Board of Ed
    3. A Nation at Risk
    4. No Child Left Behind
    5. Federal/State/Local Government
  2. School Responsibilities
    1. Teacher
    2. Principal
    3. Superintendent
    4. Speech Pathologist
    5. Social Worker
    6. Secretary
    7. Custodian
  3. Diversity
    1. Generalizations/Stereotypes
    2. Unconscious Bias
    3. Microaggressions
    4. Special Education/Gifted students
  4. Social Factors in Education
    1. Family Background
    2. Socio-economic Status
    3. Community Resources
  5. Professionalism in Education
    1. Classroom/school environment
    2. Social Media
    3. Ethical and Personal Code of Conduct
    4. Teaching Responsibilities
  6. Issues and Trends
    1. Funding
    2. Common Core/Curriculum
    3. Best Practices for Education
    4. School Policy/Procedures
  7. Effective Teaching
    1. Class Structure
    2. Curriculum
    3. Understanding Personal Bias

 

 

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
Yes
Instructional Strategies:
Instructor Lecture/Facilitated Discussion: 30-70%

Individual/Collaborative Classroom Activities: 30-70%
Mandatory Course Components:
Emphasize the importance of students begining the process of creating, selecting and assembling portfolio artifacts and the materials that demonstrate a commitment to the teaching profession.
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course-Specific Placement Test:
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: IRW 99

Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
Course Type:
Program Requirement- Offering designed to meet the learning needs of students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
People Soft Course ID Number: 102837
Course CIP Code: 19.9999
Maximum Course Enrollment:
General Room Request: Classroom on 3rd Floor of RJF
School: School of Liberal Arts
Department: Education
Discipline: ED
Faculty Credential Requirements:
Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement), Professionally qualified through work experience in field (Perkins Act or Other) (list below), Certification/License Requirement (list below), Other (list below), 18 graduate credit hours in discipline being taught (HLC Requirement)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
ED 200 instructors must hold a Master’s Degree, or higher. Coursework in curriculum and instruction is required. A K-12 teaching certificate and a minimum of 2 years K-12 classroom experience are required. As an introduction/survey course, instructors should possess a knowledge of the history, philosophy and psychology of education. Knowledge of the critical issues facing American education, and membership in education-based associations are also required.
Major Course Revisions: Prefix
Last Revision Date Effective: 20220217T16:06:04
Course Review & Revision Year: 2026-2027


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