The Associate of Arts in Education Program is designed for students interested in pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Elementary Education with a Middle School Endorsement, and/or Secondary Education after transferring to a four-year college or university Educator Preparation Program (EPP). This program allows students to move into P-3, K-6, K-6 with 5-8 endorsement, and/or K-12 certification programs to become fully certified teachers or to seek employment as paraprofessionals upon completion.
All students considering Education as a major at RVCC and beyond must meet with an advisor before or during their first semester and every semester thereafter to ensure appropriate course selection for transfer. Most students entering an Education major in a Bachelor’s degree program will be required to declare a second academic major. With appropriate advisement, some courses for the second major may be completed at RVCC to increase the number of credits that may transfer to the intended four-year college or university EPP.
Additionally, all Teacher Candidates, or Education majors, in the state of New Jersey, must successfully pass the Praxis Core tests in Reading, Writing and Mathematics as part of the admissions process to any New Jersey EPP. It is advised that RVCC Education majors take the exam while pursuing their Associate’s degrees to expedite the transfer process. For more information on the Praxis Series of tests, visit https://www.ets.org/praxis/. All Teacher Candidates in the state of New Jersey are required to maintain a GPA of B+ or better. For more information on the certification process and testing and/or GPA requirements, visit nj.gov/education/educators/ .
Finally, the Raritan Valley/Centenary University partnership provides a path to transfer into Centenary’s Bachelor’s in Elementary Education Liberal Arts degree. When you enroll in this program, you’re considered a Centenary University student from your first year at community college. You’ll have access to the same academic and career services as Centenary students. In addition, a Centenary advisor will work with you to ensure that the RVCC courses that you’re completing will apply toward your Centenary University degree as well. It’s a seamless transfer process with lots of benefits, including an additional scholarship. https://www.centenaryuniversity.edu/admission-aid/transfer-students/rvcc-centenary/
Graduates are able to:
• demonstrate knowledge in a broad general education background as part of their overall Teacher Education program of study.
• identify and discuss the historical and philosophical foundations of education.
• observe in classroom settings and engage in self-reflection with regard to education theory.
• think critically and communicate effectively through oral and written expression.
• demonstrate an understanding of and appreciation for the diverse learning needs and preferences of children and adolescents.
Raritan Valley Community College Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree programs are designed to comply with the New Jersey Community Colleges General Education Foundation which supports transfer of courses to NJ Public four-year colleges and universities. Students who intend to transfer to a NJ college or university can further improve the transfer of courses by using the Recommended Transfer Program (RTP) feature in NJTransfer.org.
NOTE: Students considering transfer to Rutgers University should choose a Global & Cultural Awareness (GCA) General Education course not replicated elsewhere in their curriculum. Students who have already fulfilled the GCA requirement for their Associates of Arts (AA) degree should select an additional Social Sciences or Humanities General Education elective.
NOTE: Students considering enrolling in the articulated 2 + 2 program with Centenary University are advised to pay particular attention to the footnotes that follow the suggested course sequence outlined below to ensure they are meeting requirements for the AA in Education P-12 at RVCC and the BA in Elementary Education Liberal Arts at Centenary University concurrently.