Elementary, Middle and Secondary Education

Education courses are offered for students who plan to enter the teaching profession at all levels - elementary, middle school, and high school. These courses are designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year university to complete a Bachelor's degree in education. In addition an Associate in Arts in Elementary Education (AAEE) degree is offered to students who want to work in elementary classrooms.

Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

SCC offers a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program in collaboration with local elementary and middle schools. The Scottsdale Teacher Education Partnership (STEP) program is a field-based immersion program where student interns learn through direct experience in classrooms. The ten-month, full-time, teacher-in-training model allows students to spend 20 hours per week in classrooms and two afternoons per week in methods courses at the SCC campus. This fast-track program fulfills the requirements for Elementary Teacher Certification (K-8) and Provisional English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement, and is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education.

Professional Development and Endorsement Courses

SCC offers professional development courses for classroom teachers leading toward an endorsement in English as a Second Language Endorsement Grades K-12 and reading endorsement K-12. Courses are also offered for teachers holding emergency special education certification who are seeking a Provisional Cross-Categorical Special Education Teaching Certificate K-12. The endorsement and professional development courses are based on current national education standards and are accepted by the Arizona Department of Education.

Early Learning and Development at Scottsdale Community College

The Early Learning and Development program at SCC is designed to prepare individuals to enter the workforce as early childhood professionals, and to assist individuals employed in the field to upgrade and expand their skills. The program emphasizes the roles and responsibilities of early care and education professionals, family members and citizens who together meet the needs of young children today. Course work at SCC includes: professionalism and overview of early childhood work, philosophies and methods of early learning, creating and managing an environment for young children, developmental science, and the impact of regulations and standards on practice.

Individuals employed or assisting in state licensed early childhood programs must meet current regulatory standards. Requirements may include fingerprint/background checks, TB tests, immunizations and CPR/first aid and food handler training.

The Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) in Early Learning & Development is a shared degree program where students complete the first tier of courses on-site at the SCC campus and continue their second tier at Rio Salado College (RSC).  Courses are offered in day, evening and Saturday formats at SCC; courses are delivered online via the internet through RSC.

SCC also offers Play Lab credit courses for adult students who bring a child with them to the Lab classroom. Play Labs are unique in welcoming toddlers aged 13 months through the preschool years! The Labs provide an opportunity for all students to observe play in an intentionally prepared environment; to see up-close a model for parent education; and to be involved in practical, hands-on application of the principles of “developmentally appropriate practice” in early childhood development.

Students whose goal is employment in public school preschool and kindergarten classrooms will need an Arizona Early Childhood Teaching Certificate (birth to grade 3).  This requires transfer to a university for completion of a four year degree. Early academic advisement (both at SCC and the university) will ensure that transfer students complete the required general studies courses for entry, as well as appropriate early childhood coursework. SCC students may complete an Associate in Transfer Partnership (ATP) degree with Northern Arizona University (NAU), which offers a cohort program for a four year degree/teacher certification on the SCC campus (NAU at SCC).