The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in
the order
in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in
a semester, you
should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below.
Some courses have
been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” . Should you need (or want) to take
classes
in the summer and/or winter intersessions,
the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed
schedule of
the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate
Degree”. If
you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only
required to take
the courses marked “Program Requirement” .
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you
decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer)
require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program
Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” , be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
The program is intended to prepare students for transfer into the study of Elementary Teacher.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Lower division major preparation for transfer into Elementary Teacher programs.
Icon Key
-
Gateway Course
-
Program Requirement
-
General Education
-
Appropriate for Intersession
-
Available Online
-
Global Citizenship
NOTE: This is a general transfer map that outlines courses required by most institutions. It is highly recommended that you meet with an Academic Counselor for educational planning, as major requirements vary by institution.
Semester 1
16 Units
This introductory course in rhetoric emphasizes clear, effective written communication and preparation of the research paper.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 21B or
- Prerequisite: ENGL 22
- Prerequisite: ESL 19B or
- Prerequisite: Group A on the Placement Test
- 1A: English Composition
- A2 - Written Communication
- Area IV-A: Language and Rationality (Group A)
This course covers concepts and procedures of descriptive statistics, elementary probability theory and inferential statistics. Course content includes: summarizing data; computation and interpretation of descriptive statistics;; classical probability theory; probability distributions; binomial, normal, T, Chi-square and F distributions; making inferences; decisions and predictions. This course develops, analyzes, and interprets confidence intervals for population parameters, hypothesis testing for both one and two populations, correlation and regression, ANOVA, and test for independence. This course develops statistical thinking through the study of applications in variety of disciplines. The use of a statistical/graphing calculator and/or statistical analysis software is integrated into the course.
- Prerequisite: MATH 20 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 18 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 49 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 50
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
This course introduces students to the concepts and issues related to teaching diverse learners in elementary school classrooms. Topics include teaching as a profession and career, historical and philosophical foundations of the American education system, contemporary educational issues, California's content standards and frameworks, and teacher performance standards. In addition to class time, the course requires a minimum of 45 hours of structured fieldwork in public school elementary classrooms that represent California's diverse student population, and includes cooperation with at least one carefully selected and campus-approved certificated classroom teacher.
- Skills Advisory: ENGL 1
This course surveys and analyzes the principles, institutions, policies, and politics of U.S. National and California State Governments. Students will use course concepts to situate themselves as citizens and political agents.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 4H: Political Science, Government & Legal Institutions
- D8 - Political Science, Government, and Legal Institutions
- US2
- US3
This course provides an exploration of intellectual, psychological, social and physical factors that impact lifelong learning, well-being and success. Topics include motivation and self-efficacy; critical thinking, academic integrity and active study strategies; health issues and lifestyle choices; relating to others as a global citizen; written and oral communication; time management; career exploration; and educational planning.
- E - Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development
Semester 2
16 Units
This general biology course is for transfer students who are not biology majors. Topics include basic molecular and cellular biology, genetics, the anatomy and physiology of plants, animals and humans, the diversity of life, evolution, and ecology. Current environmental issues and new developments in biological science are discussed. Laboratory experiences are integrated and stress scientific methodology and thinking. *Credit is allowed for one course from either Biology 3, 4, Botany 1. No UC credit given for Biology 3 if taken after Biology 21, 22 or 23.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 5B: Biological Science
- 5C: Physical or Biological Science LABORATORY
- B2 - Life Science
- B3 - Laboratory Sciences
- Area I: Natural Science
This course helps students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 1. The course emphasizes the application of logical reasoning, analysis, and strategies of argumentation in critical thinking and writing, using literature (both fiction and non-fiction) and literary criticism as subject matter.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 1
- 1B: Critical Thinking-English Composition
- 3B: Humanities
- A3 - Critical Thinking
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
This is a course in public speaking for students learning to prepare and deliver platform speeches. Assignments include speeches of description, exposition, and persuasion. Techniques for controlling tension, building self-confidence, and effective listening are emphasized.
- 1C: Oral Communication
- A1 - Oral Communication
This course will examine the major developmental milestones for children, both typically and atypically developing, from conception through adolescence in the areas of physical, psychosocial, and cognitive development. Emphasis will be on interactions between maturational and environmental factors within a culturally sensitive framework. While studying developmental theory and investigative research methodologies, students will observe children, evaluate individual differences and analyze characteristics of development at various stages.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 4I: Psychology
- D9 - Psychology
- E - Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
This course surveys the United States from the colonial period through post-Civil War Reconstruction, addressing developments in American culture; ethnic, racial, gender, and class relations; politics; and the economy. It also considers American interaction with other nations, including both foreign policy and the relationship of domestic developments to the larger history of the modern world.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 3B: Humanities
- 4F: History
- C2 - Humanities
- D6 - History
- US1
- Area II-A: Social Science (Group A)
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area III: Humanities
Semester 3
14-17 Units
This course fulfills the general education requirements for a laboratory science course. Students who successfully complete this course will understand basic chemical principles and how these principles relate to the Earth's natural systems and cycles, with emphasis on humanity's impact on Earth's natural environments. Students will gain a scientific understanding of the impact of human activity on natural systems and sustainability. Students will also learn common laboratory techniques, including the safe handling of chemicals and the proper use of laboratory equipment, as they analyze environmental problems and solutions. Course Note: This course does not fulfill the prerequisite for Chemistry 11.
- Skills Advisory: eligibility for Math 31
- 5A: Physical Science
- 5C: Physical or Biological Science LABORATORY
- B1 - Physical Science
- B3 - Laboratory Sciences
- Area I: Natural Science
- Area V: Global Citizenship
Chemistry 10 is a survey of introductory chemistry topics with a laboratory component. It is intended as preparation for Chemistry major or those planning to go into a STEM major or as a way to fulfill the science general education requirement. It introduces the main concepts and principles of chemistry and serves as a prerequisite for the General Chemistry sequence (CHEM 11 and CHEM 12). Emphasis is placed on understanding basic chemical principles and their quantitative application in various settings. Experimental techniques, including the safe and competent handling of chemicals and laboratory equipment will also be part of the course.
- Prerequisite: MATH 31 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 49
- 5A: Physical Science
- 5C: Physical or Biological Science LABORATORY
- B1 - Physical Science
- B3 - Laboratory Sciences
- Area I: Natural Science
This one-semester course is designed for students preparing for studies in nursing or related allied health professions. Topics include measurements, unit conversions, atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions and equations, gases, solutions and acid/base chemistry. There will be a special emphasis on properties and reactions of organic and biologically relevant compounds. NOTE: This course is NOT equivalent to CHEM 10 and does NOT meet the prerequisite requirement for CHEM 11.
- Prerequisite: MATH 31 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 50 or
- 5A: Physical Science
- 5C: Physical or Biological Science LABORATORY
- B1 - Physical Science
- B3 - Laboratory Sciences
- Area I: Natural Science
This course is similar to Physics 12 in content and difficulty level, but with a laboratory session added to enhance the learning experience. Physics 14 is designed for the student who is interested in a more conceptual and less mathematical approach to physics. It is a one semester survey course introducing the topics of mechanics, heat, sound, electricity and magnetism, light and modern physics. The emphasis will be on developing conceptual understanding of the laws of nature through hands-on experiences, laboratory experiments, and computer interactions, in addition to lectures and demonstrations. Maximum credit for Physics 12 and 14 combined is 4 units. High school math recommended.
- 5A: Physical Science
- 5C: Physical or Biological Science LABORATORY
- B1 - Physical Science
- B3 - Laboratory Sciences
- Area I: Natural Science
This course focuses specifically on Children's Literature, including the value of children’s books to child psychology and development, and the historical construction of childhood. It introduces representative works from major genres, develops students’ close reading and analytical writing skills, and promotes appreciation and critical understanding of the cultural, historical, and aesthetic qualities of literature.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 1
- 3B: Humanities
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
This course introduces Global Studies through a survey of the world’s major geographic regions. Students will encounter core concepts related to processes of global connection and change, while also developing basic geographic literacy in the distribution of human and natural features on Earth. Students will examine and discuss significant issues–cultural, social, political-economic, and environmental–impacting humanity today as both problem and possibility. In particular, this course considers the diverse localized impacts of globalization as a continuing story of peoples and places isolated and connected by imperial, colonial, and international systems of the past and present.
- 4E: Geography
- D5 - Geography
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course surveys world history from the rise of humanity to 1500, addressing human impact on the physical environment, the domestication of plants and animals, and the establishment of complex cultures. A thematic and chronological approach is used to examine the major civilizations of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe in terms of their political, social, economic, intellectual, and cultural development and their inter-regional relations.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 3B: Humanities
- C2 - Humanities
- D2 - Economics
- D3 - Ethnic Studies
- D4 - Gender Studies
- D5 - Geography
- D6 - History
- D7 - Interdisciplinary Social and Behavioral Science
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area III: Humanities
Transferable Elective Course 1-3 units
Semester 4
14-16 Units
This course presents an introduction to geologic processes that have shaped the Earth. Lecture topics include formation of the Earth, plate tectonics, rocks, minerals, earthquakes, geologic structures, geologic time, coastal processes, and groundwater. Laboratory exercises expand this information by dealing with rock and mineral identification, topographic and geologic map interpretation, and the interpretation aerial photographs. Upon completion of this course, the student will have a good understanding of the processes that form major features on Earth.
- 5A: Physical Science
- 5C: Physical or Biological Science LABORATORY
- B1 - Physical Science
- B3 - Laboratory Sciences
- Area I: Natural Science
This course is an introduction to the history of Earth and its evolution including surface environments, atmosphere, oceans, and life. Sedimentary rocks are studied for stratigraphic relationships, environmental indicators, and biologic significance to reconstruct the geological and biological evolution of Earth over time. Numerical methods, like geochronology, are also employed to assign absolute ages to past environments. The combination of both relative and numerical methods to the study of plate tectonics and geologic structures will allow the student to understand how Earth history is reconstructed. A particular emphasis is placed on the study of North American sequences.
- 5A: Physical Science
- 5C: Physical or Biological Science LABORATORY
- B1 - Physical Science
- B3 - Laboratory Sciences
- Area I: Natural Science
This course is designed for pre-service elementary school teachers. The course examines several content areas: numeration systems (historical development of numeration system, Hindu-Arabic numeration system, and place value systems); integers (structure, basic properties and computational algorithms); basic number theory (divisibility, primes and composites, prime factorization, Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, greatest common divisor, least common multiple); rational numbers (structure and properties, ratio and proportions); real numbers (structure and basic properties, arithmetic operations, rational and irrational numbers, decimal representation, number line representation); problem solving (patterns, connections, modeling, reasoning and representations, strategies, inductive and deductive reasoning); and national and state curriculum standards for elementary school math including Common Core State Standards.
- Prerequisite: MATH 20
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
Select one of: AHIS 1, 2, 11, 17; DANCE 5; MUSIC 30, 31, 32; TH ART 2, 5 to satisfy a transfer requirement
See the full list: CSU GE Area C1 Course