Child Development

Elementary Teacher Education Program

Become an Elementary School Teacher, Start at Foothill!

• Take classes with us, earning your AA-T in Elementary Teacher Education.
• Transfer to a CSU and earn a Bachelor's degree. We recommend a  Liberal Studies degree designed for elementary teachers.
• After completing your bachelors degree at a CSU, you can earn your California State multiple subject teaching credential for eligibility to teach at the elementary school level. Some universities will incorporate the credential program into a BA or MA degree program.
• For information about California requirements for the credential, see the State of California Commision on Teacher Credentialing website.

Program Map

See the Elementary Teacher Education, AA-T Program Map to plan your courses!

Fall 2023- Preliminary scheduling

MATH 42- Will be offered, likely Tuesday/Thursday evenings

-Only offered every other year!

EDUC 2- Hybrid format, some zoom meetings only on Wednesday evenings

-Offered every Fall only

Learning Outcomes

After completing the Elementary Teacher Education program, you will be able to: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of the teaching profession including requirements and evaluation of effectiveness
• Identify major economic, political, and social policies that have affected the American school system
• Describe curriculum and instruction, including development and desig

TK Qualifications

If you're a credentialed teacher, looking to take ECE/CHLD classes in order to qualify to teach Transitional Kindergarten, read on!

Here is a list of core courses that we would recommend for someone with no ECE units earned so far. They appear in the order we would recommend a student would take them, though they really can be taken in any order.

CHLD 56N Principles & Practices of Teaching Young Children 4

CHLD 8 Child, Family & Community 4

CHLD 88B Positive Behavior Management 2                                   

CHLD 1 Child Growth & Development: Prenatal through Early Childhood 4

CHLD 89 Curriculum for Early Care & Education Programs 4       

CHLD 2 Child Growth & Development II: Middle Childhood through Adolescence 4

CHLD 51A Affirming Diversity in Education 4

CHLD 95 Health, Safety & Nutrition in Children's Programs 4      

CHLD 56 Observation & Assessment 4                                              

CHLD 86A Mentoring the Early Care & Education Professional 4  

 

These are quarter unit classes, and equal 38 quarter units or 25 1/3 semester units.

If you have previous coursework in ECE, or are questioning what you've already taken, you are welcome to contact Nicole Kerbey to work out a plan that's right for you. kerbeynicole@fhda.edu

Also, to find out more about current TK/UPK teaching requirements, see

this pageof the CA Department of Education site, as well as California Education Code (EC) Section 48000(g)(4)

It is also recommended that you are working with your district and/or County Office of Education on your specific status.