Program Summary

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION: LIBERAL STUDIES WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT EMPHASIS (PK-6 PREP) - Associate in Arts

The Associate of Arts Degree in Elementary Education: Liberal Studies with Child Development Emphasis (PK-6 Prep) is designed to provide students with a foundational coursework pattern necessary for entering upper-division requirements in a baccalaureate teacher preparation program. This program emphasizes the development of competencies in critical thinking and communication, both spoken and written, while covering essential elementary subject matter. It also includes 14-16 of the 24 PK-3 unit requirements established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. For students seeking to transfer, this pathway is especially well-aligned with the requirements at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, offering the most seamless transition for those continuing their education there. The courses within this degree meet the first two year course requirements for the 2+2 Liberal Studies program taught on the Cuesta College campus and the Liberal Studeis program taught at Cal Poly.

Career Opportunities
Preschool through 6th grade teacher
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Prep Core Courses (47-49 units)
Units: 47.0-49.0
BIO 201A OR BIO 211 OR (BIO 212 AND BIO 212L)
3.0-5.0
BIO 201A
BIOLOGY
5.0
OR
BIO 211
LIFE SCIENCE
3.0
OR
 
4.0
BIO 212
HUMAN BIOLOGY
3.0
AND
BIO 212L
HUMAN BIOLOGY LABORATORY
1.0
COMM C1000
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING
3.0
EDUC 200
INTRODUCTION TO THE TEACHING PROFESSION
3.0
ENGL C1000
ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING
4.0
ENGL C1001
CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING
4.0
ETHN/EDUC 210
3.0
ETHN 210
ETHNIC STUDIES FOR EDUCATORS
3.0
OR
EDUC 210
ETHNIC STUDIES FOR EDUCATORS
3.0
HIST 203A
HISTORY OF WORLD CIVILIZATIONS
3.0
HIST 207A
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
3.0
STAT C1000
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
4.0
PHIL 212 OR PHIL 213 OR PHIL 206
3.0
PHIL 212
PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS IN THEORY OF REALITY AND OF KNOWLEDGE
3.0
OR
PHIL 213
PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS IN ETHICS AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY
3.0
OR
PHIL 206
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
3.0
PSCI 210
ENERGY AND MATTER
4.0
PSCI 211
EARTH SCIENCE
4.0
PSYC C1000
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
3.0
ART 200 OR MUS 235 OR DRA 207
3.0
ART 200
ART APPRECIATION
3.0
OR
MUS 235
MUSIC APPRECIATION: CLASSICAL MUSIC
3.0
OR
DRA 207
INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE
3.0

All General Education Transfer requirements are already met through the above section. 

PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential Prep Core Courses (13-15 units)
Units: 13.0-15.0
CDFS 201
CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
3.0
CDFS 202
CHILD, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY
3.0
CDFS 203
CURRICULUM FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
3.0
CDFS 205 OR CDFS 235
1.0-3.0
CDFS 205
INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
3.0
OR
CDFS 235
UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIORS THAT CHALLENGE
1.0
CDFS 234
CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND NARRATIVES
3.0
Total: 60.0-64.0
Program Outcomes
Design and implement curriculum that is developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate, based on foundations of early childhood education and knowledge of individual children.
Curriculum portfolio, essay questions, group work.
Identify early childhood educators' professional roles, requirements, and responsibilities, including observation and assessment, reflection, effective communication, ethical practice, responsibilities to children and families, and commitment to ongoing professional development.
Exam questions, group discussions, personal reflections.
Apply foundational knowledge in Child Development to address challenging behaviors in the classroom, using developmentally and culturally appropriate strategies, and to work effectively with diverse student populations, recognizing unique challenges and histories.
Exam questions, child observations and vignettes.
Apply foundational knowledge and theories of child development, birth to age eight, including typical/atypical behaviors and major milestones. Interpret children's behavior within a cultural and family context and recognize the importance of the adult-child relationship for healthy development.
Exam questions, personal reflections, theory diagrams, and group discussions.
Demonstrate comprehensive understanding and proficiency in foundational content areas for a multiple subject teaching credential program.
Exam questions, group discussions, lab assignments
Evaluate and analyze fieldwork experiences in diverse public elementary school classroom settings through structured observations and intentional reflection practices.
Personal reflections and group discussions.