Mission and Purpose of the Education Transfer Program

Mission

The department’s mission statement and goals state two primary purposes. These are:

• To provide knowledge, training and skill development for persons interested in working in the area of social services with specific educational opportunities for those interested in early childhood development, human services, and education.
• To serve the community as an information and knowledge-base in the area of social service, with specific expertise in early childhood education and development, human services, and education.

Goals

The department will meet these purposes for the student in the Education Transfer Program by pursuing four goals. These include:

• To provide a program of study which will develop sufficient student competence so that graduates might enter directly into entry level positions assuming responsibility as paraprofessionals in educational settings.
• To provide a program of study which will prepare graduates for upper-division collegiate work in a four year program which upon completion will lead to increased responsibility in educational settings.
• To provide a program of study which will upgrade the skills and knowledge-base of persons currently working the field of education, increasing their competence in their professional activities.
• (To participate in community activities in education by collaboration with community organizations and professionals working in the areas of teaching and learning in educational settings.

The current activity of the Education Transfer Program clearly fits into these purposes and goals. The catalog states that the two year program of study of Education is intended to prepare students as paraprofessionals in careers that direct the delivery of services to students in educational settings. Students must transfer to a four year college to complete state requirements for Teacher Certification. Prior to completion of this advanced degree some employment opportunities exist in organizations employing paraprofessionals in educational classrooms.

In the A.A. program, students may transfer their credits with ease to a bachelor’s level program at many four-year colleges or universities with a number of general education majors and further work in education coursework.

Special Application Requirements

There are no special application requirements for students beyond those required by the college for admissions. While students are not required to do student teaching in this program, they are required to submit to a Criminal Offense Records Investigation in this academic program before being placed in community settings or tutoring sites, as required by coursework in the program. Those students with concerns about the CORI requirements should see the college CORI officer for further information.

Program Competencies

Once completing the Associate of Arts in Education at Bunker Hill Community College, the graduate will show competency in all areas of General Education, including but not limited to the following areas:

• Demonstrate skills as critical thinkers, readers, and writers.
• Describe the interaction of history, culture, literature, economics, and science as studied within a broad liberal arts curriculum.
• Describe the characteristics of the major psychological theories.
• Understand current perspectives regarding the relationship between the mind and body.
• Demonstrate an understanding of chronology for their subject.
• Articulate the importance of information synthesis.
• Use currently accepted science concepts to investigate problems and ideas presented in college level science coursework.
• Use science concepts to evaluate their own science-related concerns such as personal health or careers in teaching of science.
• Use laboratory technology, equipment, and techniques critically and safely to investigate scientific problems using proper scientific methods.
• Demonstrate analytical skill in evaluating people and problems.
• Analyze and solve quantitative problems.
• Reason logically from hypothesis to conclusion.
• Understand and appreciate an analytical approach to problem solving.

Associate in Arts concentrations are designed to permit the student to transfer smoothly to four-year colleges and universities. Although extreme care has been taken by fashioning these transfer-focused degrees, the student is advised to consult the institution to which he/she wishes to transfer to make the wisest choice of courses at BHCC. These students should also work with the BHCC transfer counselor and academic advisors in planning both the curriculum at BHCC and the transfer process.

Generic Syllabi

There are not generic syllabi for this program beyond those offered in Early Childhood, Human Services or from their General Education Departments.

Special Courses for Education Majors

EDU 102-BECOMING A TEACHER:  A LEARNING COMMUNITY SEMINAR FOR EDUCATION MAJORS

A special Learning Community Seminar (LCS) has been developed for students interested in teaching as a career.  Designed for beginning students, LCS courses are taken in the first two semesters of enrollment at BHCC and provide the student with information about college life, study skills, and career exploration.  LCS classes provide students with opportunity to learn in a supportive and engaging environment, benefiting from teacher-to-student mentoring, peer mentoring, and integrated support services while considering teaching as a life-long career.  For more information about this course, see the course section on this website.

Special Certifications

There are no special certifications attached to this transfer program.  Students must graduate with a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college before being certified to teach in the K-12 school system in the Commonwealth. This program DOES NOT certify a student to work as a qualified teacher in early care and education programs or child care.

For further information regarding these requirements, contact the Department Chair and the Coordinator of the Education Program.

Program Success

Program success is judged throughout the program by looking at student’s work and learning in a number of ways. Student success in general education coursework is the main success measurement. Each department offering General Education coursework has its own student outcome assessment plan. See specifics of these in each individual department for more detail.

The Urban Teaching Program

The mission of BHCC’s Urban Teaching Program is to create a career pathway for students who are interested in teaching in the K-12 system. The participants meet with the coordinator to enrich their educational experience through mentoring, mutual support, and special programs. Eligibility for the program includes a competitive application process. The program covers tuition and fees. For more information, please e-mail Andy Reyes, Education Program Coordinator or call 617-228-2033.

Practicum Sites/Information

Practicum experiences in the program, while not involving a complete student teaching assignment, will require teaching activities in the community doing tutoring and other learning experiences as a part of community schools, public school programs and other similar learning activities with children of varying ages.

Life Learning Credits Through Prior Learning Assessment Program

Students may be eligible for credit through the Prior Learning Assessment Program if they have completed work in the following areas:

• Family Development Credentialing Program (applicable to Early Childhood and Human Services Programs)
• Child Development Associate Credentialing (applicable to Early Childhood Program)
• BEST Youth Development Training Program (applicable to Human Services Program and Early Childhood Programs)
• Community Outreach Education Credential (applicable to Human Services Program)
• National Association for Family Child Care Accreditation (applicable to Early Childhood and Human Services Program)
• Early Childhood Development Institute (applicable to Early Childhood Program)
• Human Services Employment Ladder Program (HELP)-Morgan Memorial Goodwill Agency (applicable to Human Services Program
• Jumpstart (applicable to Early Childhood Development Program)

Additional national or community training programs may count toward prior learning credit. However, work experience alone will not count toward prior learning credit through the Department. For further information, contact the Department Chair or the Director of the PLAP program at 617-228-2350.

Specialty Options

There are no specialty options in this program

Articulations

Students may transfer credits into the program according to the college’s requirements for transfer. These courses may be from either two or four year colleges. See the Admissions office for specific information about transfer.

Accreditations

This program does not have accreditations attached to its curriculum.

Job Outlooks

Graduates of this concentration, which meets all the requirements of the Commonwealth Transfer Compact, qualify to transfer to four-year colleges or universities as juniors. Potential teaching careers include teacher aid; early elementary, later elementary, middle school and high school teaching; preschool and kindergarten teaching; and special education teaching. Students must obtain a bachelor’s degree as the minimum requirement for entry into these fields. Graduate work may be necessary, as well.

Upon completion of this concentration graduates will be able to:

• Describe the interaction of history, culture, literature, economics, and science as studied within a broad liberal arts curriculum.
• Demonstrate a mastery in reading and writing/ literacy skills and the organization of critical thinking and problem solving behaviors.