Central Oregon Community College A.A.O.T. to Western Oregon University B.S. in Education

Concentration: Early Childhood / Elementary Teacher Preparation

Prepares you to teach all subjects in elementary schools.

A streamlined and affordable way to become a teacher

Western Oregon University and Central Oregon Community College have worked together to develop a smooth pathway to earning a B.S. in Education: Early Childhood / Elementary Concentration and becoming a teacher. Our teacher education pathway allows you to become a licensed elementary teacher in as little as four years. With flexible courses and teaching placements throughout Oregon, you have choices about where and how you complete most requirements.

Choose between our campus-based pathway or our evening/weekend/online pathway to complete the last half of your degree through WOU in the format that works best for you.

Start teaching and making a difference for Oregon students

Degree Timeline

Complete your lower division courses through Central Oregon Community College and then transfer to Western Oregon University to complete your upper division courses. You will have the flexibility of completing your upper division courses in the timeline and format that works best for you (full time or part time; on campus or remotely; daytime or evening). If you are a full time student, you can earn both your bachelor’s degree and your teaching license in four years.

Year 1 through COCC

  1. If you’re not a student at Central Oregon Community College already, apply for admission.

  2. Complete year 1 coursework.

  3. Meet with a COCC Education Advisor to develop an education plan and steps for transferring.

    Angie Cole

    acole@cocc.edu  |  541-318-3794

    Please email Angie to schedule an appointment.

  4. Meet with our WOU pre-education advisor if you started classes before 2020 or have already taken classes different from what’s listed in the course list below.

Year 2 through COCC

  1. Complete year 2 coursework.

  2. Apply for admission to WOU in fall term.

  3. Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) in October

  4. Complete Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) scholarship application in December.

  5. Complete WOU general scholarship application in February.

  6. Complete the Bilingual Teacher Scholars and/or Diverse Teacher Scholars scholarship applications (if eligible) in February.

  7. Complete first 30 hours of classroom observation

Year 3 through WOU

  1. Complete year 3 coursework.

  2. Complete second 30 hours of classroom observation.

  3. Apply to licensure program before the first Friday in April.

Year 4 through WOU

  1. Complete year 4 coursework.

  2. Complete student teaching.

  3. Apply for Oregon Teaching License.

  4. Interview for jobs.

Course Lists

The course lists below are based on WOU and COCC’s current course catalog,  if you are using a previous year’s course catalog please contact an advisor. Each student’s situation is unique, so individual advising is encouraged.

All foundational and discipline studies courses must be a minimum of 3 credits, except for HHP courses which may be any number of credits. All ED prefix courses must be passed with a B- or better. All other courses must be passed with a C- or better. Your cumulative GPA should be 2.75 or higher.

Course Credits
Writing
WR 121: Academic Composition 4
  • Choose one:
    • WR 122: Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition
    • WR 227: Technical Writing
4
Math
MTH 211: Foundations of Elementary Math I 4
Oral Communication
COMM 111: Fundamentals of Public Speaking or any AAOT-approved oral communication course 4
Health / Wellness / Fitness
HHP 295: Health and Fitness 3
Arts and Letters
  • Choose one:
    • ENG 104: Introduction to Literature: Fiction
    • ENG 105: Introduction to Literature: Drama
    • ENG 106: Introduction to Literature: Poetry
4
  • Choose one:
    • ART 101: Introduction to the Visual Arts
    • ART 131: Beginning Drawing
    • Any AAOT Approved Arts and Letters Course
3-4
  • Choose one:
    • ED 112: Children’s Lit and Curriculum
    • ENG 221: Introduction to Children’s Literature
3-4
Social Sciences
  • Choose one:
    • PSY 201: Mind and Brain
    • PSY 202: Mind and Society
    • Any AAOT Approved PSY Course
4
  • Choose two:
    • HST 201: Early America – History of the United States (pre-history to 1820)
    • HST 202: 19th and early 20th Century United States History
    • HST 203: 20th and Early 21st Century United States History
8
PS 201: Introduction to US Government and Politics 4
Sciences / Math / Computer Science
MTH 212: Foundations of Elementary Mathematics II 4
BI 102: General Biology: Evolution 4
GS 106: Physical Science: Geology 4
  • Choose one:
    • GS 104: Physical Science: Physics
    • GS 105: Physical Science: Chemistry
    • or any approved lab CH or PH course
4
Additional Courses
ED 269: Exceptional Children in Early Childhood Education 3
ED 243: Nutrition, Health and Safety for Young Children 3
MTH 213: Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics III 4
MTH 243: Introduction to Probability and Statistics I 4
ED 173: Movement, Music and the Arts in Early Childhood Education 3
ED 219: Multicultural Issues in Education Settings 3
  • Choose one:
    • GEOG 107: Cultural Geography
    • GEOG 201: World Regional Geography I
4
  • Choose one:
    • ED 200: Introduction to Education
    • ED 216: Purpose, Structure and Function of Education in a Democracy
    • ED 140: Introduction to Early Childhood Education
3 or 4
Total
You must complete a total of 90 quarter credits to earn the AAOT
88-91

Consider taking HD100CS, ED210, or LIB100 if needed to reach 90 credits (not required for your degree at WOU).

View course descriptions in the COCC Course Catalog.

Year 3 courses can either be completed in our traditional pathway format (face-to-face/daytime) or in our flexible pathway format (evening/weekend/online). All ED prefix courses must be completed with a B- or better. Your cumulative GPA should be 2.75 or higher.

Course Credits
ED 231: Typical & Atypical Development 3
ED 242: Applied Children’s Learning and Development 3
ED 352: Elementary Social Studies Methods 3
ED 325: Elementary Science Methods 3
GS 325: Learning Science Through Scientific Practices 3
MTH 396: Elementary Problem Solving 3
ARE 433: Art Education 3
ED 353: Elementary Mathematics Methods 3
LING 314: Language Study for Elementary/Middle Teachers 4
  • Choose one:
    • LING 214: Linguistics and Education
    • LING 209: Introduction to Language Study
4
ED 374: Teaching Writing in the Elementary Classroom 3
EXS 433: Physical Education in the Elementary School 4
ED 373: Intro to Curriculum and Assessment 3
ED 464: Families & Community Involvement in Early Childhood Education 3
ED 481: Intro to ESOL and Bilingual Education 3
Total 48

Year 4 includes a full academic year of student teaching on site at school districts throughout Oregon, plus upper division ED courses, which can be completed in our traditional pathway format (face-to-face/daytime) or in our flexible pathway format (evening/weekend/online). All ED prefix courses must be completed with a B- or better. Your cumulative GPA should be 2.75 or higher.

Course Credits
ED 404: Clinical Experience Seminar I 2
ED 411: Clinical Experience I 3
ED 405: Clinical Experience Seminar II 2
ED 412: Clinical Experience II 3
ED 418: Assessment, Planning and Instruction 3
ED 421: Technology Integration 3
ED 429: Professional Development Seminar III 2
ED 443: Supporting Language, Literacy and Culture 3
ED 444: Content Literacy 3
ED 446: Environments for Diverse Learners 3
ED 450: Methods for Classroom Management 3
ED 498: Clinical Experience III 10
Total 40

Contact Us

Western Oregon University

Brenda Plata-Hurtado

Bilingual Pre-Education Advisor who works with elementary transfer students.

Email: platahurtadob@wou.edu

Central Oregon Community College

Angie Cole

Assistant Professor II ED/ECE
Office: Bend Campus, Modoc Hall, Room 205
Phone: 541-318-3794
Email: acole@cocc.edu

Please email Angie to schedule an appointment.