Teacher Education

Overview

Impacting the lives of children and adolescents through education is a special calling.  Will you answer that call? WMCC can provide you with the skills to impact young lives in the classroom. The Associate in Arts degree in Teacher Education concentrates on the foundations of education in a well-balanced approach.  The program is designed to allow students to transfer all WMCC credits to a four-year degree program to become a certified elementary, middle, or secondary education teacher.

The Associate in Arts in Teacher Education concentrates on the foundations of education in a well-balanced approach.  The program is designed to allow students to transfer to a four-year degree program to become teachers.  It allows students to focus on elementary, middle, and secondary education. Students may elect to focus on any of the following areas:

• Elementary Education
• Math Education
• Science Education
• Social Science Education
• English Education

Students taking the Associate in Arts Degree in Teacher Education may select the Special Education Track. This program provides teachers and paraprofessionals with the knowledge, skills and strategies for supporting students with disabilities.

By offering a broad range of courses, the program prepares graduates to be para educators or to transfer their credits to baccalaureate degree-granting institutions to pursue a career in teaching. White Mountains Community College has transfer agreements with the University System of New Hampshire. Those students who intend to transfer to Plymouth State University must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.7 in addition to passing the Praxis 1 exam.

Specific admission requirements include the following:

• Algebra I and Algebra II with a grade of C or higher.
• Strong verbal and written English language skills are major considerations for acceptance.
• Personal interview with Admissions Director and/or faculty member may be required.
• Students interested in matriculation in a baccalaureate teacher program after completion of the Associate Degree are responsible for researching the requirements of such programs and their transfer procedures.

Health Considerations

Candidates for positions and careers in education are encouraged to explore health requirements associated with employment in a school setting. Prospective students with special needs requiring accommodations that may affect their learning are encouraged to contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator.

Character Expectations

The health and safety of children, adolescents and other learners is of paramount concern to the program. Applicants for teaching positions in public and private schools in New Hampshire should be aware that background checks through the New Hampshire Department of Safety must be completed by potential employers prior to employment.Students must also be aware that the college requires national criminal background checks for admission into the Teacher Education, Special Education Certificate, and Career and Technical Education Certificate Programs. The cost of the background check is the responsibility of the student. Applicants, who have been in difficulty with the law, depending upon the nature of their experience, may not be employable or even eligible for field experience. Applicants are advised that such matters may be discussed during an admission interview so that future goals to be a teacher will not be compromised.

Program available in Berlin.

First Year

Second Year

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be prepared to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of and a beginning understanding of the teaching profession in regard to its historical context, the implications of the profession, and the role played by public education in contemporary society.
• Articulate a beginning philosophy of education that incorporates an understanding of relevant theories and models of education.
• Be reflective practitioners that recognize the impact of ongoing reflection in order to become effective educators.
• Demonstrate college-level proficiency in written and oral communication, and analytical mathematical and scientific reasoning that support the effective use and application of the knowledge, skills and dispositions required in the teacher education as measured by the Praxis.
• Reflect and make an informed decision regarding multiple learning environments and appropriate curriculum in order to meet the individual needs of all children.
• Demonstrate knowledge of self and a general understanding of the human condition that promotes an appreciation for diversity, historical context, and exceptionalities.

Technical standards have been established to provide guidance to students as to skills and abilities required to function successfully in the program and ultimately in the public and private school classroom as teachers. Applicants who think they may not be able to meet one or more of the technical standards should contact program faculty members to discuss individual cases. Department faculty will give serious consideration to all academically qualified candidates providing that the technical standards can be met with reasonable accommodations. Students in the program must have sufficient strength, stamina and motor coordination to perform the following:

• Sufficient hearing and visual acuity to ensure a safe environment and the ability to respond quickly in the event of emergency;
• Sufficient verbal ability to express and exchange information and ideas, as well as to interpret important instructions to children, adolescents, colleagues, and parents;
• Sufficient writing skills to accurately record students’ daily progress and milestones, as well as a variety of reports;
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions, to respond appropriately to unexpected situations, and to cope with extreme variations in workload and stress levels.

Upon successful completion of this program, the students will

• understand the learning process and how curriculum is planned, adopted, implemented, and assessed;
• be able to demonstrate an understanding of various instructional modalities and educational delivery systems;
• be able to demonstrate a knowledge of how children learn and develop, and provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social and personal development.