Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT)

This transfer program prepares students to transfer to a four-year college or university in the state of Maryland. The Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree has been articulated with all of the transfer programs in the state of Maryland. Students who receive the AAT degree must have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75, and pass a basic skills test.* Upon completion of the AAT degree, students are eligible to be admitted to their major at their Maryland transfer institution.

The Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree is not a guarantee of admission but rather an assurance of eligibility. Students may be required to take additional courses as part of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree and teacher certification at four-year institutions.

Associate of Arts (AA)

This program is designed for students who are interested in transferring to a Teacher Education program at a four-year college or university outside of Maryland as well as students who are not eligible to complete the requirements of the AAT degree. While this program is designed to prepare students to pursue a bachelor’s degree program at the college or university level, students are advised to check the requirements of the institution to which they intend to transfer.

Education requirements vary among transfer institutions and are currently being evaluated. It is essential to meet with an advisor regularly to be aware of program and certification changes.       

Professional Education Courses for Maryland Certification

This course of study is designed for persons who already have a Bachelor’s Degree and wish to become a certified teacher in Maryland. Students may enroll in certification courses, but they should also have their college transcripts evaluated by the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Certification. Before the Maryland State Department of Education transcript evaluation can occur, students must pass a basic skills test and have the scores reported to MSDE. Upon receipt of the transcript evaluation, students determine what courses Howard Community College offers that meet the MSDE Professional Education course requirements.

NOTES

1. All certification areas require Maryland passing scores on a basic skills test.*
2. Most certification areas require Maryland passing scores on the Praxis II: Subject Assessments
3. All certification areas require documented teaching experience before an initial certificate is awarded. Howard Community College does not provide this opportunity.
4. Additional Professional Education courses may be required in some certification areas.
5. To request a transcript analysis by mail from the Maryland State Department of Education, submit the following:

• Qualifying scores on a basic skills test.*  Praxis II may be required for full professional certification but is not needed for an initial evaluation.  A photocopy of the score report is acceptable.
• Official transcript(s) for all course work taken (community college, baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, if applicable).  Your transcript must show the degree and date of conferral.  Student copies in an unopened mailer are also acceptable.  (Do not have the college/university send transcripts directly to MSDE.)
•  A cover letter with your name, complete mailing address, social security number, and the area of certification for which you are seeking an evaluation.  Day time telephone number and e-mail address are optional.
• You may request only two evaluations per year.

          Send the complete packet to the following address:

                   Maryland State Department of Education
                   Certification Branch
                   200 W. Baltimore Street
                   Baltimore, MD 21201

Your academic credentials will be reviewed and an evaluation(s) with the requirements needed for certification in the area(s) requested will be sent to you.

Call the Certification Assistance Line (410-767-0412) for general information. Staff is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for state holidays.

Additional information is available at:
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/certification/certification_branch/certification_inf/

Early Childhood Development Career Program

Career programs at Howard Community College are designed to prepare students directly for the jobs of their choice.  Students completing career programs are not intending to transfer to four-year colleges or universities.  A student may certainly choose to pursue a four-year degree after completing the career certificate or AAS degree, but in that case not all career program credits will transfer to four-year college programs.  Each of the choices below is a pathway leading to a childcare career goal.

Three Early Childhood Education Career Program Pathways:

     1.  Letter of Recognition – 6 college credits

• The Letter of Recognition equals the 90-hour training required for childcare senior staff qualification.

     2.  Certificate of Proficiency – 30 college credits

• The Certificate of Proficiency meets the educational requirements for a director of a small group center of up to twenty children.

     3.  Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) – 62 college credits

• The AAS degree prepares the student to become a director or owner-director of group childcare centers of forty children or more. 

Howard Community College provides free academic advising to help you decide on the career or transfer pathway that is right for you.

*Students in a Teacher Education Transfer Program must submit scores from a required basic skills test to the Social Sciences Division prior to the completion of the 30^th credit hour.  Scores from the basic skills tests are used for admission to four-year Teacher Education programs and are required for teacher certification in Maryland and most other states.  Basic skills test options and Maryland passing scores are:

• Praxis I – 177 in Math, 177 in Reading, 173 in Writing or total composite score of 527*   -OR-
• SAT – composite score of 1100 in Math and Verbal (prior to 4/95, the SAT score equivalent is 1000)   -OR-
• ACT – composite score of 24