Instructional Assistance

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Instructional Assistance program is designed to prepare students for employment as an assistant to the classroom teacher in grades K through 12. The program emphasizes the philosophical, cultural, and linguistic processes involved in teaching children through required coursework in foundations of education combined with practical application within practicum experiences.

Details

Offered At

Mesa

Field of Interest

Education

Degree Type

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

Academic Plan

Instructional Assistance (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

3119

Total credits required

60-63

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Effective Term

Fall 2023

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Implement developmentally and culturally appropriate instructional strategies and materials.
Accommodate field-sensitive and field independent styles of teaching and learning.
Explain the basic philosophical premises of first and second language acquisition as well as the role of culture in learning.
Participate in K-12 classroom field experiences as an assistant to the teacher.
Include multicultural literature in instruction to increase cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Evaluate and apply various computer/technology applications for educational purposes.
Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary

$29,580 Show expanded career information for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
EDU221	Introduction to Education			SB	3
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).		FYC or FYC	3
MAT112	Mathematical Concepts and Applications		OR Satisfactory completion of a higher-level mathematics course		3
Restricted Electives				RE
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
CFS176 or ECH176	Child Development or Child Development			SB or SB	3
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or RDG111, or RDG112, or RDG113)], or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or an appropriate district placement, or permission of Instructor.		L	3
EDU222	Introduction to the Exceptional Learner			C, SB	3
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC or FYC	3
BPC110 or CIS105	Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems		Students must select one of the following technology/computer usage courses	CS or CS	3
Restricted Electives				RE

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites	SB or SB or L or SB	3
EDU230	Cultural Diversity In Education		C, HU	3
Natural Science	Any general education course from the Natural Sciences area		NS	4
Restricted Electives			RE

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Area	Credits
EDU220	Introduction to Serving English Language Learners (ELL)	L	3
EDU291 or ENH291	Children's Literature or Children's Literature	HU or HU	3
Restricted Electives		RE
HIS103 or POS110 or POS227	United States History to 1865 or American National Government or United States and Arizona Social Studies	H, HU, SB or SB or H, SB	3

Program Electives

Select from the following courses to meet the Restricted Electives requirements.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
CFS101AR	Learning With Toys			1
CFS160	Using Music, Speech, And Movement With Children's Literature			1
ECH128	Early Learning: Play and the Arts			3
ECH273	Math for the Young Child			1
ECH274	Books And Verse For The Young Child			1
ECH275	Literacy Development and the Young Child			1
ECH279	Early Childhood Curriculum Development			1
EDU101++	Tutor Training and Practicum (any suffixed course)		RE	1–3
EDU270	Learning And The Brain	Prerequisites: Baccalaureate Degree and formal acceptance to a Maricopa Community College state approved post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program or permission of Department or Division.		3
EDU272	Educational Psychology			3
EDU282++ or EED282++	Service-Learning Experience in Education (any suffixed course) or Service-Learning Experience in Education (any suffixed course)		RE or RE	1–3
EDU292 or HUM292 or STO292	The Art of Storytelling or The Art of Storytelling or The Art of Storytelling		C, HU or C, HU or C, HU	3
EDU298++	Special Projects (any suffixed course)		RE	1–3
EED212	Guidance, Effective Interactions and the Environment			3
EED215	Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Physical Fitness			3
EED245	Early Learning: Language Acquisition and Literacy Development			3
EED272	Early Childhood Educational Psychology			3
EED278	Early Learning Curriculum and Instruction - Birth to Age Eight	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in EED200.		3
EED280	Standards, Observation and Assessment of Typical/Atypical Behaviors of Young Children Birth to Age 8	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CFS/ECH176, or CFS235, or EED205.		3
POS221	Arizona Constitution			1
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology		SB	3
SLC201	Introduction to Linguistics		HU, SB	3
SOC101	Introduction to Sociology		SB	3
SOC140	Race and Ethnic Relations		C, SB	3
SWU171	Introduction to Social Work		H, SB	3
THP211	Creative Drama			3
ENG213	Introduction to the Study of Language	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG102, or ENG111, or permission of Instructor.	HU, SB	3
BPC110 or CIS105	Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems		CS or CS	3
EDU236	Classroom Relationships			3
Foreign Language			RE

Course Area Key

C = Cultural Diversity in the US
CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
FYC = First Year Composition
H = Historical Awareness
HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design

L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
NS = Natural Science
RE = Restricted Elective
SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm3?id=182568).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.