Educator: Para-Professional

College of Rural Alaska
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 for prior 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
    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
    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
    ANL 251--Introduction to Athabascan Linguistics 3
    ANL 255--Introduction to Alaska Native Languages: Eskimo-Aleut (3)
    or ANL 256--Introduction to Alaska Native Languages: Indian Languages (3) 3
    ANL 287--Teaching Methods of Alaska Native Languages 3
    ANL 288--Curriculum & Materials Development for ANL 3
    ANL Elective 3

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

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

    Counseling/Social Work
    HSV 120--Cultural Diversity in Human Services 3
    HSV 125--Introduction to the Addictive Process 3
    HSV 205--Basic Principles of Group Counseling 3
    HSV Elective 3

    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
    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
    ECE 235--Screening, Assessment and Recording 2 credits
    ECE Elective 3

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

    Rural Development
    ANTH 230--The Oral Tradition: Folklore and Oral History 3
    HIST 250--Alaska History for Local Historians 3
    RD 255--Rural Alaska Land Issues 3
    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
    Elective 3
    or
    Any advisor approved discipline-based concentration area 12
  5. Minimum credits required 60

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