Education - Middle or Secondary | Cascadia College

Education - Middle or Secondary

Degree:

Associate in Integrated Studies – DTA

Area of Interest:

Social Sciences, Human Services and Education

Program Length:

90 College-level Credits

Cost:

Review tuition, fees, and residency classifications

Review international rates

Modalities:

Coursework may be completed through a combination of in-person (web enhanced), hybrid and online modes, though not every course is offered in the same modality each quarter. Specific courses may be offered at certain times of the year. Consult the current Class Schedule.

Placement:

Many courses at Cascadia College have placement prerequisites for reading, writing and math ability. The courses that you will place into determine how you progress through your pathway and how long your degree will take. There are a variety of ways to find your English and Math placement level. 

Find your placement options

Math Notes:

You will need to consult with an academic advisor after placement to be sure to enroll in a course that is consistent with your planned course of study. 

One college level math needed to complete degree, as well as transfer, but depending on what subject you’d like to teach this requirement could be more. MATH& 107 Math in Society or MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics are recommended, please see an academic advisor if you have questions about transfer requirements.

Contact:

If you have any questions about this pathway, contact: advising@cascadia.edu 

Planning Your Courses: 

Advisors are here for you. Academic Advisors will help you develop the skills to make sound academic decisions. Through advising, Advisors will support you to make connections between academic interests, long-term goals, and career opportunities. Advisors help with educational planning, university transfer options, college application processes, and graduation requirements. You will have touchpoints with Advisors to ensure you are on track to success. Be sure to connect with the Advising, Career, and Transfer team!

The Annual Course Planning Guide shows Cascadia’s tentative plan for classes and the quarters in which they are offered. It is intended for planning purposes only and should not be considered a guarantee of class offerings. Actual quarterly sections may be changed, added, or removed. Students should use the Searchable Quarterly Class Schedule to see up to date class offerings.

Courses:

0-30 credits

  • COLL 101 College Strategies   
  • ENGL& 101 English Composition I
  • ENGL& 102 Composition II 
  • *Math Requirement  
  • Humanities Distribution Requirement (View Choice Classes)  
  • Social Sciences Distribution Requirement (View Choice Classes)

*Refer to math notes

30-60 credits

60-90 credits

*If not already completed, be sure to complete EDP requirements by taking a class numbered 150, an additional EDP class and an IL (View Choice Classes).

Choice Classes: Distribution and Elective Requirements - Explore and align your interests. 

The recommended choice classes listed below were thoughtfully chosen to help you gain the necessary skills in this pathway. You are welcome to choose other choice classes outside the recommended list, but consult with an academic advisor to be sure that the classes meet the specific requirements for this pathway.

150 Equity, Diversity, and Power (10 credits)

To meet the Equity, Diversity, and Power completion requirement, you must complete one 150-series EDP course, and at least one additional EDP-designated course for a total of ten (10) credits. EDP courses in the 150-series ground students in the needed cognitive tools and background to critically analyze their position in our increasingly interconnected, complex, and diverse world so they can pursue further study and seek out their careers more intentionally. EDP designated courses may also apply toward Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science, or General Elective distribution requirements as indicated.

Choose one:

  • CMST 150 Multicultural Communication
  • GS 150 Globalization, Culture and Identity
  • HIST 150 Cultural Diversity and Challenges in United States History
  • HUMAN 150 Introduction to Cultural Studies
  • SOC 150 Social Inequality

Choose one additional course designated in EDP in any distribution area by choosing from the choice classes below or checking the current class schedule for additional EDP designated courses.

Integrated Learning (5 credits)

You will include an Integrated Learning Experience in your course selections. This requirement can be satisfied through the completion of learning communities, linked classes, classes containing formal community-based learning, classes taken as part of an academic study abroad program, or classes with an academic internship. Through Learning Communities (LC) or other Integrated Learning Experiences (IL), you will demonstrate abilities to integrate skills, concepts, information, and analytical and methodological frameworks from two or more areas of inquiry in a purposeful project or experience.

For more information on Integrated Learning and current learning community offerings please follow this Integrated Learning and current learning communities.

Humanities:

Completion of a minimum of 15 credits from at least 2 different disciplines with a maximum of 10 credits from 1 discipline.  No more than 5 credits from those courses designated as performance/skills, applied theory or lecture/studio courses. Only 5 credits of world language at the 100 level may be included.

Recommended:

  • HUMAN 107 Technology, Culture, and Innovation  
  • MUSC& 105 Music Appreciation  
  • SPAN& 121 Spanish I
  • SPAN& 122 Spanish II
  • SPAN& 123 Spanish III 

Social Sciences:

Completion of a minimum of 15 credits from at least 2 different disciplines with a maximum of 10 credits from 1 discipline.

Recommended:

  • EDUC& 205 Introduction to Education
  • PSYC 171 Human Relations 
  • PSYC 245 Social Psychology  
  • SOC 231 Gender and Sexuality in Society 
  • SOC 241 Love Relationships, and Families

Natural Sciences:

Completion of a minimum of 15 credits from at least 2 different disciplines with a maximum of 10 credits from 1 discipline, including at least 5 credits of a LAB course. At least 10 credits required in physical, earth and/or biological sciences. Only 5 credits of Mathematics may be used.

Lab Science Recommended:

  • ENVS& 101 Introduction to Environmental Science

Non-Lab Science Recommended:

  • NUTR& 101 Nutrition  
  • PHYS& 100 Physics for Non-Science Majors

Program Elective Credits

  • Elective credits may be selected from any of the distribution requirements.

Transfer Opportunities: 

Associate in Integrated Studies-Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) 

The Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) associate degree is designed to transfer to most Bachelor of Arts degrees at all four-year colleges and universities in Washington state. The DTA is sometimes called an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Arts and Sciences.

DTA degrees provide students:

Priority consideration in admissions for most humanities and social science majors at public universities in Washington ahead of students without a degree.

Completion of lower division general education requirements.

Credit for all courses completed within the DTA up to and in some cases beyond 90 credits.

Opportunity to explore several fields of study through the category of up to 30 credits of elective courses.

Opportunity to complete prerequisites for a future major.

Local Transfer Opportunities:

To work as either a public middle or high school teacher, you need at least a Bachelor's degree from an approved teacher education program.  In Washington state, you will need a teaching license which can be earned through numerous teacher education programs across the region. You also need to complete 24 to 36 hours of college work in the area you wish to teach. (This number will vary by individual school.)

Many students with Middle or Secondary Education plans pursue programs in Middle School Education and Teaching, Secondary Education and Teaching, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction. See Career Planner for all of the programs in these areas in Washington state.

University of Washington, Seattle

University of Washington, Bothell 

View Cascadia’s Transfer Agreements for details of our partnerships with other colleges and universities. 

University admissions requirements may vary – consult with the Career and Transfer Center for transfer assistance to plan your career and future educational goals.

Career Possibilities

Middle or Secondary School Teachers, specialized teachers such as Special Education Teachers, or may work in supporting roles as Teacher Aides. 

You can learn more about career possibilities related to your interests in this pathway through O*Net Online. O*Net Online shares information about related careers, salary, skills related to the industry and more. 

Connect with Cascadia’s Career and Transfer Center for assistance as you go through the process of planning career and future educational goals. 

Some job opportunities may also exist in business corporations, non-profits and Tribal Enterprises.

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