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2017-18 Catalog (Archived Catalog)

Paraprofessional Educator

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Academic Programs

Paraprofessional Educator - Associate in Applied Science (041)

(041) Associate in Applied Science

The Illinois State Board of Education http://www.isbe.net/licensure/html/paraprofessional.htm awards a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an educator license with stipulations to individuals who: 1) are at least 20 years old; 2) Hold a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent (GED) and has met one of the following criteria

  • Holds an associate degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution of higher education; (evidence is an official transcript); or
  • Has completed at least 60 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education (excluding remedial coursework); or
  • Presents an official score report from Educational Testing Service (ETS) showing a score of 460 or higher on the ParaPro test; or
  • Presents evidence of earning the following scores on the Work Keys test (offered by ACT): Reading for Information (4), Writing or Business Writing (3), and Applied Mathematics (4).

 

Work and Employment

The Paraprofessional Educator degree will assist individuals in securing the education and credentials needed to obtain employment as a paraprofessional. The program incorporates general education and professional requirements, as well as related electives, and prepares individuals to obtain employment as an instructional assistant in pre-K-12th grade. The employment of elementary and secondary paraprofessionals is dependent upon publicly-funded resources. Most employment opportunities in this occupation will result from fairly high attrition or turnover. Many employment opportunities include part-time positions but full-time employment is available on a limited basis. These positions usually merit entry-level pay.

Advancement to other occupations related to child and adolescent care is possible with further education, training and experience.

Special Considerations

Entry level child care position salaries may begin at minimum wage. This program is not designed, nor intended, to transfer as a package; however the curriculum includes many transferable courses for the student who decides to pursue a baccalaureate degree.

To be a Title I Paraprofessional, students must hold state approval as a Teacher Aide. Title I paraprofessionals seeking employment should be prepared to provide the employer with a current academic transcript or demonstrate successful completion of a State Paraprofessional Certification Examination

For more information, refer to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) website at http://www.isbe.net/nclb/htmls/paraprof.htm.

Criminal History Check Policy

Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

Students who perform classroom observations through coursework at Sauk Valley Community College may be required by the selected school/site to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement. Students may be denied at any observation site based on the results of that check.

Students who feel their criminal background may exclude them from observation or employment should seek counseling with SVCC faculty or advising staff early in their program to determine how it may affect their participation and eligibility.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College
Academic Advising, 815/835-6354
Janis Jones, Assistant Professor of Education, 815/835-6410

 


Professional Core Requirements - Sem/Hrs: 25
  • ECE 202 - Language Development in Young Children 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 101 - Introduction to Education 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 102 - Computer Education for Teachers 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 210 - Diversity in Education 3 Semester hour(s)

  • OR

  • EDU 275 - Educational Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 220 - Students with Disabilities in School 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 221 - Children's Literature 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 276 - Clinical Experience in Elementary Education 1 Semester hour(s)

  • or

  • EDU 277 - Clinical Experience in Secondary Education 1 Semester hour(s)
  • MAT 111 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II 3 Semester hour(s)
  • PSY 200 - Human Growth and Development 3 Semester hour(s)

  • or

  • PSY 214 - Child Developmental Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)

Related Requirements - Sem/Hrs: 13-14

To be selected from the following list or others as approved by the department.

When making choices, students should consult with their advisor to be sure that vocational training needs and state licensing requirements for teacher's aides are being met.

  • Additional Physical/Life Science 3-4 Semester hour(s)

  • CJS 208 - Juvenile Delinquency 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ECE 114 - Child Care and Development 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ECE 115 - Principles of Early Childhood Education 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ECE 118 - Parent-Teacher-Child-Community Relations 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ECE 200 - Art and Music for Young Children 3 Semester hour(s)

  • or

  • ECE 208 - Guidance Principles for Children 0-13** 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ECE 228 - Child Health, Nutrition and Safety 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ECE 250 - Early Childhood Education Practicum I 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 222 - Teen and Adolescent Literature 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 227 - Music for Elementary Teachers 3 Semester hour(s)
  • HSV 101 - Introduction to Human Relations 3 Semester hour(s)
  • HSV 270 - Substance Abuse 3 Semester hour(s)
  • HUM 150 - American Ethnic Cultural Expression 3 Semester hour(s)

  • or

  • PHL 104 - World Religions 3 Semester hour(s)

  • or

  • EDU 224 - Education as an Agent for Change 3 Semester hour(s)
  • LAN 161 - Beginning Spanish I 4 Semester hour(s)
  • PED 213 - First Aid 2 Semester hour(s)
  • PED 220 - Rhythms and Games for Children 2 Semester hour(s)
  • PSY 217 - Abnormal Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)

General Education Requirements - Sem/Hrs: 24-25
  • Communications (ENG 101, 103 and SPE 131 required) 9 Semester hour(s)
  • Social/Behavioral Science (PSY 103 required, SOC 251 recommended) 6 Semester hour(s)
  • Science (Physical/Life Science) 3-4 Semester hour(s)
  • Humanities/Fine Arts 3 Semester hour(s)
  • Mathematics (MAT 110 required) 3 Semester hour(s)


SVCC Requirement - Sem/Hrs: 1

 


  • FYE 101 - First Year Experience 1 Semester hour(s)

Total Hours Required for A.A.S. Degree: 64

Note

Due to State guidelines, students enrolled in this degree may earn no more than 20 credits through prior experience as listed in the [[permalink=11|same]][[/permalink]] section of this catalog.



Suggested Program


First Semester - Sem/Hrs: 16

  • EDU 101 - Introduction to Education 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 102 - Computer Education for Teachers 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ENG 101 - Composition I 3 Semester hour(s)
  • FYE 101 - First Year Experience 1 Semester hour(s)
  • MAT 110 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I 3 Semester hour(s)
  • PSY 103 - Introduction to Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)

Second Semester - Sem/Hrs: 15

Related Requirements 3 Semester hour(s)

  • ECE 202 - Language Development in Young Children 3 Semester hour(s)
  • ENG 103 - Composition II 3 Semester hour(s)
  • MAT 111 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II 3 Semester hour(s)
  • PSY 200 - Human Growth and Development 3 Semester hour(s)

  • or

  • PSY 214 - Child Developmental Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)

Third Semester - Sem/Hrs: 18
  • Related Requirements 6 Semester hour(s)

  • EDU 220 - Students with Disabilities in School 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 221 - Children's Literature 3 Semester hour(s)
  • SOC 251 - Human Sexuality and Marriage 3 Semester hour(s)
  • SPE 131 - Introduction to Oral Communication 3 Semester hour(s)

Fourth Semester - Sem/Hrs: 15
  • Humanities/Fine Arts 3 Semester hour(s)
  • Physical/Life Science 3-4 Semester hour(s)
  • Related Requirements 4-5 Semester hour(s)

  • EDU 210 - Diversity in Education 3 Semester hour(s)

  • OR

  • EDU 275 - Educational Psychology 3 Semester hour(s)
  • EDU 276 - Clinical Experience in Elementary Education 1 Semester hour(s)

  • or

  • EDU 277 - Clinical Experience in Secondary Education 1 Semester hour(s)
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