Southwestern and Southern Oregon University (SOU) have partnered to create a seamless pathway for earning an elementary teaching license on the South Coast!  Southwestern's Associate of Science (AS) in Elementary Education prepares students to directly transfer into SOU's Bachelor of Science (BS) in Elementary Education. This associate's degree establishes a strong foundation in early education, and will also benefit students that are interested in pursuing a career as instructional assistants in elementary school settings.

The AS in Elementary Education includes foundational courses, professional education courses, specific general education courses, as well as field experiences to prepare graduates to enter most elementary education degree programs. This degree  meets all of the requirements of an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree and is articulated with SOU’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Elementary Education program. Students choosing to transfer to SOU's program will have junior standing.

Students that transfer to SOU for the BS in Elementary Education have the option of completing the program through Southwestern Oregon Community College campus University Center.  The SOU program includes face-to-face and online courses.  Students will attend mostly face-to-face courses held on the South Coast and some will require travel to Medford.  For further information about SOU's BS program, visit the University Center or contact SOU Department of Education.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 90 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Twenty-four (24) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the degree is awarded.

Courses that are developmental in nature, (designed to prepare students for college transfer courses), are not applicable to this degree.

Complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will:

• Develop professional knowledge of theory and pedagogy appropriate for pre-kindergarten, elementary, and middle-level school settings.
• Reflect on the scope and role of public education in American life.
• Describe and apply child development principles in planning lessons for children from pre-Kindergarten through early adolescence.
• Build background knowledge in content disciplines for teaching in pre-Kindergarten through middle-level grade settings.
• Gain experience in pre-Kindergarten through middle-level education settings via practicum and course assignments.
• Demonstrate the completion of foundational student learning outcomes required for the AAOT degree.

Pre-Program Courses

Students are required to take the following courses prior to the program courses, depending on students' college placement information. See advisor for details:

Program Guide