AA in Special Education
Northampton Community College
Key Information
Campus location
Bethlehem, USA
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Duration
4 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 2,535 / per semester *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* Northampton County PA: $2,535 Monroe County PA: $3,990 Other PA County: $5,325 Out of State/Country: $7,410. Additional fees may apply
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Special Education is an important and exciting career for persons interested in the education of young children and students with disabilities. NCC offers an AA degree in Special Education, designed for students who wish to continue their education and earn their bachelor's degree with Pre-K-12th special education teacher certification. Students completing the associate degree may also pursue employment as a Special Education Paraeducator.
NCC's program is grounded in philosophy and framework that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students explore evidence-based theory and practices to understand family and disability perspectives and the importance of collaborative relationships. Classroom observations and hands-on experience opportunities throughout the program ground students with an understanding of effective educational approaches, including Universal Design for Learning.
State licensing
If you are a Northampton Community College student living outside of Pennsylvania or intending to complete an internship outside of the state in an NCC program leading to professional licensure, you should review the requirements on the state board website to make sure that the program qualifies.
Licensure requirements vary from state to state and you may require additional authorization from the professional licensing agency in that state. Participating in a program from outside of Pennsylvania, if not properly authorized by that state's professional licensing board, could result in loss of licensing eligibility. If you need help or have questions, please contact the Program Director for more information.
Admissions
Curriculum
Graduates of the Special Education A.A. program are qualified to transfer to a 4-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree and/or teacher certification in special education; enter the workforce prepared in the competencies to be employed as a special education paraeducator in education settings. These settings include classrooms that support children of varying abilities from pre-k through age 21.
Progression
A student must maintain a grade of "C" or better in all Special Education courses.
First Semester
- COLS101 College Success
- CMTH102 Introduction to Communication
- ENGL101 English I
- MATH118 Foundations of Mathematics I
- SPEC160 Introduction to Special Education
- General Education Elective (SIT or SSHB)
Second Semester
- EARL106 Early Childhood Development and Learning
or
EDUC115 Education for All Students - ENGL151L English II
- MATH119 Foundations of Mathematics II
- PSYC103 Introduction to Psychology
- SPEC210GBehavior Support
Third Semester
- ENGL215G Multicultural Adolescent Literature
- HIST113 American History I
- PSYC251 Child Psychology
- SOCA102 Cultural Anthropology
or
SOCA103 Principles of Sociology - SPEC220 Assessment in Special Education
Fourth Semester
- SPEC240 Instructional Strategies in Inclusive Environments
- Science Transfer Elective (SCI) +
- Transfer Elective
- Transfer Elective
- Transfer Elective
+Students should refer to the program map for a full list of recommended Transfer Electives.
Program Outcome
Graduates will be able to:
- Explain the philosophy, history, framework, legal requirements and processes, and special education perspectives through the lens of equity.
- Apply knowledge of child development and individual differences across learning content and learning environments using universal design for learning (UDL) and inclusive practices.
- Use knowledge of appropriate multiple and varied assessments, technologies, strategies, and supports within a universally designed and inclusive framework to plan and make educational decisions that are instructional responsive and equitable.
- Explain and use a variety of evidence-based instructional strategies to support the learning of individuals with varying abilities.
- Describe and explain the role and nature of culturally relevant, collaborative relationships among families, educators, paraeducators, service providers, learners with varying abilities, and others across a wide range of settings.
- Explain and use appropriate and respectful language and professional and ethical practices, to support critical thinking, and positive communications, and to advance the profession.
- Practice being an advocate, a role model, and supporter of learners of varying abilities by upholding high professional standards in diverse education.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates of our program will be prepared to continue their studies and transfer to a four-year school or enter the workforce and obtain employment as a Special Education Paraeducator.
Future Career Paths
- Special Education Teacher
- Paraeducator
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Early Intervention Specialist/Early Childhood Special Educator
- Interpreter for the Hearing Impaired
- Special Education Administrator