The Career
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln once described education as “the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” The social significance of this career places a serious obligation on those who enter into it: to be highly committed to both their students and academic specialty.
ECC education majors have many career choices depending on where and who they want to teach. Options include private or public education, and early childhood, elementary, middle school, secondary (high school) or special education students.
They can also enter into related fields such as vocational counseling, business training, adult literacy education, speech pathology, school administration or instructional coaching/development. Those who complete their associate degree in teaching at ECC are prepared to enter an undergraduate program leading to training in these areas.
Professional Traits
Successful educators should:
- Establish and maintain an environment conducive to academic success.
- Present subject matter in ways that engage students and enable them to learn.
- Be patient, trustworthy, ethical and socially responsible.
- Have strong communication, listening, organizational and critical-thinking skills.
- Be able to work collaboratively and have a certain degree of creativity.
Employment and Salary Information
Nationwide, the number of kindergarten, elementary, middle school and special education teaching jobs are increasing at an average rate* compared with other occupations. High school positions, however, are increasing more slowly. In Missouri, the starting annual salary for new public school teachers (with a bachelor’s degree) was $27,504* as of the 2012-2013 academic year.
* Data sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
The Program
The college’s Teacher Education Department seeks to provide students with the knowledge base and specialized skills they need to become effective teachers. ECC education majors wanting to earn their four-year degree in this field are enrolled in the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) program. This statewide articulated course of study helps East Central graduates make a seamless transition to a four-year Missouri public college or university.
The AAT degree consists of the 43-credit general education core required of all transfer programs plus the necessary electives tailored to education majors. ECC also offers practicum experiences and various related student organizations and activities such as the Student Missouri State Teachers Association.
Admission Requirements for AAT Program
This is a selective admissions program. To be accepted, students must satisfy both the general ECC admissions criteria and that of the AAT program:
- High school diploma or the equivalent (documentation must be sent to the registrar)
- Application for admission
- A placement test as specified by the college (please note: some coursework requires minimum placement results)
- Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.75
- ACT composite score of 20 or higher (within the last five years)
Applicants should contact an academic advisor.
Degree Requirements
In addition, AAT degree candidates must also:
- Complete 65 to 66 credit hours of coursework (excluding developmental and continuing education)
- Have a cummulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on all education coursework
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on all other college credit earned
- Satisfy the college residency requirement (15 of the last 30 credits must be earned at ECC)
Transfer Options
ECC graduates who earn their AAT degree and transfer to a Missouri public baccalaureate institution will enter as a junior. All lower division general education coursework will be satisfied and the core block of teacher education curriculum will transfer.
Accreditation
East Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400
Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504
800-621-7440
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