Educator: Para-Professional

College of Rural and Community Development
Interior-Aleutians Campus (907) 474-5439
www.uaf.edu/iac/

Certificate; A.A.S. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Certificate: 30 credits;  for A.A.S. Degree: 60 credits

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The educator: para-professional (EDPA) program is designed to prepare students to work in classrooms assisting the classroom teacher. The EDPA curriculum emphasizes school protocols, classroom methods, management and assessment. This program prepares students for employment as a para-professional educator and will improve the skills of those currently employed in various educational settings.

The certificate provides students with fundamental knowledge of how a school system "works" as well as hands-on training in content, methodology, classroom management and student assessment. The curriculum leads into the educator: para-professional associate of applied science degree. Graduates of the A.A.S. degree program may pursue many opportunities with school districts and local education agencies. The program meets mandates established by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 for teacher aides as well as the competencies developed by the state of Alaska. Students entering either the certificate or the A.A.S. degree program must meet with a program advisor to discuss a program of studies and to develop an individual learning plan. Students may receive credit for prior learning through work-based experience after evaluation of their learning experiences.

Certificate Program

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the certificate requirements.
3. Complete the following core requirements:
   CIOS 100--Intro to Personal Computers--1 credit
   ED 110--Becoming a Teacher in the 21st Century--1 credit
   PSY 101--Intro to Psychology--3 credits
   EDPA 190--Integrating Local Knowledge into the Curriculum--1 credit
   EDPA 199--Practicum--1 credit
   EDPA 210--Technology in the Classroom--1 credit
   ECE/PSY 245--Child Development--3 credits
4. Complete the following program requirements:
   EDPA 110--Intro to Para-Professional Education--2 credits
   EDPA 120--Classroom Management--2 credits
   EDPA 130--Differentiating Instruction--2 credits
   EDPA 140--Developing Children as Writers--1 credit
   EDPA 150--Developing Children as Readers--1 credit
   EDPA 160--Primary Math Methods (1)
        or EDPA 170--Upper Elementary Math Methods (1)--1 credit
   EDPA 250--Current Topics for Educators (1)
        or EDPA 299--Practicum II (1)--1 credit
5. Minimum credits required--30

Major--A.A.S. Degree

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the A.A.S. degree requirements.
3. Complete the following program requirements:*
   CIOS 100--Intro to Personal Computers--1 credit
   PSY 101--Intro to Psychology--3 credits
   ED 110--Becoming a Teacher in the 21st Century--1 credit
   EDPA 110--Intro to Para-Professional Education--2 credits
   EDPA 120--Classroom Management--2 credits
   EDPA 130--Differentiating Instruction--2 credits
   EDPA 140--Developing Children as Writers--1 credit
   EDPA 150--Developing Children as Readers--1 credit
   EDPA 160--Primary Math Methods (1)
        or EDPA 170--Upper Elementary Math Methods (1)--1 credit
   EDPA 190--Integrating Local Knowledge into the Curriculum--1 credit
   EDPA 199--Practicum I--1 credit
   EDPA 210--Technology in the Classroom--1 credit
   EDPA 250--Current Topics for Educators (1)
        or EDPA 299--Practicum II (1)--1 credit
   ECE/PSY 245--Child Development--3 credits
4. Complete 12 credits from one of the following concentration areas or combine no more than 2 concentration areas with 6 credits of course work in each of the two concentration areas*:

   Alaska Native Languages

   ANL 199--Practicum in Native Language Education--3 credits
   ANL 251--Introduction to Athabascan Linguistics--3 credits
   ANL 255--Introduction to Alaska Native Languages:  Eskimo-Aleut (3)
        or ANL 256--Introduction to Alaska Native Languages:  Indian Languages (3)--3 credits
   ANL 287--Teaching Methods of Alaska Native Languages--3 credits
   ANL 288--Curriculum & Materials Development for ANL--3 credits
   ANL Elective--3 credits

   Elementary Education

   ED 102--Orientation to Alaska Native Education--2 credits
   ED 201--Introduction to Education--3 credits
   ED Elective--3 credits

   Special Education

   ED 201--Introduction to Education--2 credits
   ECE 230--Introduction to Children with Special Needs--3 credits
   ECE 240--Inclusion of Children with Special Needs--3 credits
   ECE Elective--3 credits

   Counseling/Social Work

   HUMS 120--Cultural Diversity in Human Services--3 credits
   HUMS 125--Introduction to the Addictive Process--3 credits
   HUMS 205--Basic Principles of Group Counseling--3 credits
   HUMS Elective--3 credits

   Early Childhood Education

   ECE 105--Developing Appropriate Practice--1 credit
   ECE 120--Curriculum and Activities for Young Children--4 credits
   or
   ECE 121--Physical Activities for Young Children--1 credit
   ECE 122--Cognitive Activities for Young Children--1 credit
   ECE 123--Communicative Activities--1 credit
   ECE 124--Creative Activities for Young Children--1 credit
   ECE 130--Culture, Learning and the Young Child--1 credit
   ECE 140--Positive Social Development--3 credits
   or
   ECE 141--Class Management--1 credit
   ECE 142--Social Development of the Young Child--1 credit
   ECE 143--Developing Positive Self-Concepts in  Young Children--1 credit
   ECE 210--Child Development and Guidance--3 credits
   ECE 235--Screening, Assessment and Recording--2 credits
   ECE Elective--3 credits

   Information Technology Specialist

   CIOS 150--Computer Business Applications--1-3 credits
   CIOS 110--Microcomputer Operating Systems--1-3 credits
   CIOS 146--Using the Internet--1-3 credits
   CIOS 233--Desktop Publishing--1-3 credits
   CIOS 255--Microcomputer Graphics--1-3 credits
   CIOS Elective--1-3 credits

   Rural Development

   ANTH 230--The Oral Tradition: Folklore and Oral History--3 credits
   HIST 250--Alaska History for Local Historians--3 credits
   RD 255--Rural Alaska Land Issues--3 credits
   RD 256--Co-Management of Renewable Resources (3)
        or RD 265--Perspectives on Subsistence in Alaska (3)
        or RD 280--Resource Management Research Techniques (3)
        or WLF 201--Wildlife Management Principles (3)--3 credits
   Elective--3 credits
   or
   Any advisor approved discipline-based concentration area--12 credits

5. Minimum credits required--60

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.