Skip to main contentSkip to main navigationSkip to footer content

Associate in Science Degree with a Concentration in

Education, Secondary (885)

The secondary education concentration will prepare students to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor's degree in an academic discipline and teacher licensure (grade 9-12) in the state of Illinois.  

The associate in science (A.S.) degree is designed to complete the lower-division (freshman and sophomore) portion of a bachelor of science degree in STEM-related majors. As a result, the A.S. degree does not include the entire General Education Core Curriculum (GECC). Therefore, students will need to complete MORE general education courses after transfer by completing the GECC curriculum while enrolled at the participating Illinois transfer institution OR fulfilling the general education requirements of their selected non-participating transfer institution.

Follow this link for career information.

Transfer Considerations

General education and major field requirements vary significantly by intended transfer institution. Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program. Transfer guides for some universities are available at svcc.edu/transfer.

  1. Students will major in the academic discipline they intend to teach. Students planning to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a degree from a college of arts and science should be alerted to the probable need to complete a foreign language requirement before transfer.

Competitive Admissions

Since admission is competitive, completing the recommended courses does not by itself guarantee admission.

  1. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), dependent on the transfer school requirements, is required for program admission.
  2. Students will also need to achieve a C or better grade in all general education coursework.

Special Considerations

  1. To teach in Illinois public schools (grades 9-12), teachers must be licensed by the state of Illinois. Information regarding Illinois standards for Professional Educator License is available on the Illinois State Board of Education Website at isbe.net.
  2. Criminal History Check Policy: Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

Students who perform classroom observations through coursework at Sauk Valley Community College may be required by the selected school/site to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement. Students may be denied at any observation site based on the results of that check.

Students who feel their criminal background may exclude them from observation or employment should seek counseling with SVCC faculty or advising staff early in their program to determine how it may affect their participation and eligibility.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College

  • Academic Advising, 815-835-6354
  • Amanda Eichman, Professor of Education and English, 815-835-6319

 

Minimum Total Credit Hours - 64 Hours

Suggested Course Sequence

First Semester - 18 Hours

Course # Course Title Hours
** Mathematics 3 Hours
*** Major Electives 3 Hours
EDU102 Computer Education for Teacher 3 Hours
EDU105 Prep for Careers in Education 2 Hours
ENG101 Composition I 3 Hours
FYE101 First Year Experience 1 Hour
PSY103 Introduction to Psychology 3 Hours

 

Second Semester - 15-17 Hours

Course # Course Title Hours
** Additional Mathematics 3-4 Hours
* Life Science 3-4 Hours
*** Major Electives 3 Hours
ENG103 Composition II 3 Hours
PSY200 Human Growth & Development 3 Hours
- OR -
PSY214 Child Developmental Psychology 3 Hours

 

Third Semester - 16-17 Hours

Course # Course Title Hours
Fine Arts 3 Hours
Personal Development 1 Hour
* Physical Science 3-4 Hours
Social / Behavioral Science 3 Hours
COM131 Intro to Oral Communication 3 Hours
EDU220 Educ of the Exceptional Child 3 Hours

 

Fourth Semester - 14-16 Hours

Course # Course Title Hours
Additional Science 3-5 Hours
*** Major Electives 4 Hours
Humanities 3 Hours
**** EDU Elective 3 Hours
EDU276 Clinical Exper in Education 1 Hour

 

Footnotes

* One lab science required

** Teaching major will determine the most appropriate mathematics course(s)

*** Student's major (intended area of teaching) will guide the selection of major elective course work

**** Suggested electives include: EDU 176, 210, 222, 224, 275