Para Professional Pathway: Associate of Arts
JCC offers you this custom degree for Educational Paraprofessionals to:
- Be relevant to your job needs and skill development
- Prepare you for the Basic Skills option
- Keep your options open for future work toward higher degrees
- Be achievable by your deadline of January 2006
The Para Professional Pathway leads you to an Associate of Arts by concentrating on courses that will help you in the field of education, and that are most often offered after your school day ends, on the weekends, and on the Internet. While the Associate of Arts degree offers many options, we believe these will be most helpful to you as you work toward meeting the Title 1 federal requirements. If you have other college credits, or other preferences for courses, work with a JCC Academic Advisor to plan the degree that works best for you.
Click below for further information.
| Steps to Success | Degree Requirements | Contacts for Help |
Steps to Success
Getting Started.
- Apply to JCC, or if you have attended before, update your information with us.
- Have Official Transcripts from any other colleges you have attended sent to JCC Admissions.
- If you have no previous college credits, complete a JCC Course Placement Assessment.
- File for Financial Aid and turn in a Certification Form.
- Register for Summer classes.
Deciding What to Do.
JCC Academic Advisors will assist you in exploring your options. Mary Ann Rainey (517-796-8454) is the advisor coordinating services to Paraprofessionals. She is working closely with full-time JCC faculty member and Education Coordinator, Mary Belknap, to organize the ParaPro Pathway.
Keeping Up.
Just want to take the Basic Skills Test? To prepare, take the English and Mathematics classes during the next few semesters. Another option, rather than take courses, is to work with Susan Berendes-Wood in the Center for Student Success, Walker Hall. Use PLATO, a computer-aided learning tool, for a small per-semester fee and unlimited access during staffed times. Call 517-787-0800 extension 8303.
JCC offers free personal tutoring. Visit the Center for Student Success in the Library of Walker Hall. Our faculty encourage students to see them during office hours for extra help.
Paying For It All.
Work closely with Financial Aid to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and certification form each year. Be sure to apply for JCC scholarships, and ask about community scholarship information.
JCC offers an easy payment plan. Be sure to ask the Cashier about FACTS Tuition Management.
You will find your locally supported, state-funded community colleges to have competitive tuition and fees, full-time professional faculty, and array of services to help you achieve your educational goals.
Back to TopA Custom Degree for Educational Paraprofessionals
Minimum credits: 60
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Minimum JCC credits: 12
|
Subject Areas |
Number of Credits Required |
Recommended Choices |
More Options, Some Notes |
|
English |
6 credits
(2 courses) |
ENG 131 (3
credits):
Writing Experiences ENG 132 (3
cr.):
Writing Experiences |
|
|
Mathematics |
3 credits
(1 course) |
MTH 131 (4
cr.):
Intermediate Algebra |
Fulfilling this will likely call for MTH 110 and MTH 120 as
pre-requisites.
Taking MTH 120 will give you 4 elective credits |
|
Science |
8 credits
(2 courses, each with a lab) |
NSC 131 (4
cr.):
Contemporary Science (plus 1 more course from list in the next column) |
Choose 1 more course from -
BIO 131
(4 cr.):
General Biology
GEL 160
(4 cr.):
Intro to
Geology
PHY 131
(4 cr.):
Our Physical World
CEM 121
(4 cr.):
Chemistry of Life |
|
Humanities |
9 credits
(3 courses) |
ART 112 (3
cr.):
Art History: Renaissance to Present ENG 236 (3
cr.):
Women in a Changing Society (offered in the Winter semesters) ENG 254 (3
cr.):
Children's Literature |
You could choose your 3 courses instead from -
ART 111
(3 cr.):
Art History: Prehistoric to 1400
ENG 210
(3 cr.):
Introduction to Film
(offered in the Winter semesters)
ENG 249
(3 cr.):
African-American Literature
HIS 231
(3 cr.):
American History to Civil War
HIS 232
(3 cr.):
American History since Civil War
PHL 231
(3 cr.):
Introduction to Philosophy
THR 116
(3 cr.):
Introduction to Theatre
HUM 131 (3 cr.): Cultural Connections |
|
Social Science |
9 credits
(3 courses) |
PSY 140 (4cr.):
Introduction to Psychology SOC 251 (3 cr.):
Modern Social Problems SOC 231 (3
cr.):
Principles of Sociology |
You could also choose 2 of your courses from this list, but
do take PSY 140 -
ANT 131
(3 cr.):
Cultural Anthropology
SOC 152
(3 cr.):
Social Psychology
SOC 235
(3 cr.):
Minority Groups in America
SOC 236
(3 cr.):
Women in a Changing Society
(offered in the Winter semesters)
PLS 141
(3 cr.):
American National Government
PSY 252
(3 cr.):
Developmental Psychology
HIS 231
(3 cr.):
American History to Civil War
HIS 232
(3 cr.):
American History since Civil War
GEO 131
(3 cr.):
Physical Geography
GEO 132
(3 cr.): World Regions |
|
Health & Physical Fitness |
1 credit
(1 course) |
HPF 277 (2
cr.):
Stress Management |
You could choose your 1 course instead from -
HPF 160
(1 cr.):
Wellness
HPF 221
(3 cr.):
Jazz Techniques
HPF 278
(2 cr.):
Stress Management for Parents |
|
Electives |
About 24 credits*
(about 8 courses) |
CIS 101 and lab
(3 cr.):
Information Technology Education MUS 133 (3 cr.):
Music Education SPH 231 (3
cr.):
Communication Fundamentals EDU 221 (3
cr.):
Exploring Teaching ART 131 (3
cr.):
Art Education
(offered Fall semesters) EMS 110 (2
cr.):
CPR & First Aid |
More Choices for Electives -
CIS
100
(1 cr.):
Introduction to Information Technology Education
CIS 083
(1 cr.):
Windows Workshop
CIS 050
(1 cr.):
Internet
SEC 109
(1 cr.)
or SEC 131
(3 cr.):
Keyboarding
SPN 131
(4 cr.):
Elementary Spanish
SPN 132
(4 cr.):
Elementary Spanish II
SPH 240
(3 cr.):
Interpersonal Communication
EDU 130
(3 cr.):
Emergent Literacy
EDU 144
(3 cr.):
Early Childhood Education
EDU 132
(3 cr.):
Working with Exceptional Children
PSY 245
(3 cr.):
Infancy Childhood
PSY 256
(3 cr.):
Educational Psychology
PSY 290(3
cr.):
Human Sexuality |
| * Take enough elective credits to bring your total of all credits to 60. | |||
NEED HELP?
Check out the following contacts.
General Information, Appointment for Advising, Questions
Mary Ann Rainey
(517) 796-8454
maryann_rainey@jccmi.edu
Transcripts
Steve Bloomfield
(517) 796-8533
stephen_bloomfield@jccmi.edu
Financial Aid
Linda Hoard
(517) 787-0800 ext. 8115
linda_hoard@jccmi.edu
Teacher Education Program, Kindergarten - 12
Coordinator Mary Belknap
(517) 796-8575 (or you may call (517) 796-8581)
mary_belknap@jccmi.edu
Early Childhood Development Education, Pre K - 2
Coordinator Lori Gardner
(517) 524-7340
lori_a_gardner@jccmi.edu
Michigan Basic Skills Teacher Test Support
Susan Berendes-Wood
(517) 787-0800 ext 8303
susan_berendes_wood@jccmi.edu
Center for Student Success
(517) 796-8415
JCC Admissions
(517) 796-8425
