Education Teacher Preparation

What Will I Study?

Whether you choose elementary or secondary education as your major, at the conclusion of your degree you will be able to demonstrate the scope of knowledge and skills based on the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards.

The INTASC standards are:

• The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and the structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.
• The teacher understands how children learn and develop, and can provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social, and personal development.
• The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
• The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
• The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation.
• The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
• The teacher plans instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, the community, and curriculum goals.
• The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social and physical development of the learner.
• The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
• The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students' learning and well-being.

Elementary Education

The Associate of Arts, Elementary Education Teacher Preparation is the program for you if you are seeking a career in elementary education. The degree requirements include a well-balanced general education curriculum along with programming such as technology in education, special education, classroom management, children's literature, number concepts, child psychology and more. The specific curriculum will provide you with educational theory and practical field work in the elementary education school setting. This course of study is designated as a university transfer program that fully meets the requirements for the first two years of Elementary Education and Special Education majors at Nevada State University and substantially meets the requirements for the first two years of study for the Elementary Education majors at UNR.

For transfer to UNR, elementary education has emphases embedded into three areas of focus: Early Childhood Education, Special Education, or English Language Acquisition and Development, and you should choose emphasis courses that meet the requirements for your program of choice.

For transfer to NSC, you should choose emphasis requirements that are a part of the two plus two transfer agreement between TMCC and NSC for either Elementary Education or Special Education. NSC has a program in Reno if you wish to participate in most courses online while still having an opportunity to complete practicum requirements in Northern Nevada.

Be sure to work with an academic advisor to ensure you are choosing the appropriate emphasis requirements for the school you plan to transfer to. Please note: any concerns or questions regarding upper division requirements when entering a teaching certification program need to be addressed by advisors at the university of interest.

Secondary Education

If you are more interested in teaching middle and high school aged students, you will want to choose a Secondary Education major. Secondary education is different from elementary education in that teachers have a specialty as well as a foundation in education. The degree requirements include a well-balanced general education curriculum as well as education specific courses such as introduction to secondary education, special education, technology in education and more. Program specific curriculum provides students with educational theory and practical field work in the secondary education school settings. In addition, students will also need to select a “teaching major” and complete some of the coursework that is specific to that major. For example, if you wish to teach English, you will also complete a handful of English courses as part of your degree requirements. Our secondary education majors are university transfer programs that substantially meet the requirements for the first two years of study for the B.A. in secondary education majors at UNR and NSC. Please note: any concerns or questions about requirements when entering a teaching certification program need to be addressed by advisors for the specific university of interest.

Classroom Observation, Field Experience and Practicum Work

Some of your Education program courses will require that you are actively involved in a classroom. To get a teaching credential, one must conduct many hours of observation and practice in real classrooms. You will gather priceless ideas inside actual classrooms about subject matter, management, and lessons. The live classroom is where you experience deep learning so that you can become a great teacher. Also, at local school sites, you start the process of networking and connecting with teachers and administrators so that you can more easily get a local job.

After completing your degree at TMCC, you will need to continue your education in a bachelor’s level teaching program. Many of these programs require an application that must include verifiable experience working with children in a learning environment, as well as letters of recommendation from educators.

PRAXIS and CBEST Tests

PRAXIS and CBEST Tests are tests required for teacher licensure, and for application to teacher education degree programs. These tests assess competency in college-level reading, composition and mathematics, so it is a good idea to take these tests as soon as English 102 and Math 120 or Math 126 are completed.

Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself. This is why I chose Education. It’s to have a chance to change the lives of young students. The Education program at TMCC has given us students great teachers who give us encouragement and motivation to keep us going.

Yulisa V., TMCC Education Major

Career Paths

While you may assume that getting a degree in Education means that you will be teaching a classroom filled with young people, it is important to note that although that is what many choose to do with their education degree, there are other options that you might want to consider. Many professionals with degrees in Education work behind the scenes, in school administration, curriculum design, or education policy. There are other alternatives to the traditional school environment, such as teaching online or teaching English abroad. Some of the professions that you might consider with an Education degree include:

• Admissions Recruiter
• Career Counselor
• Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
• Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
• Education Consultant
• Elementary School Teachers
• Instructional Designer
• Private Tutor
• Secondary School Teachers
• School District Administrator
• Standardized Test Developer
• Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
• Substitute Teachers

You May Also Be Interested In

• Early Childhood Education
• Human Development and Family Studies