Bachelor's of Arts in Elementary Education & Special Education

A teacher smiling with students at their desks in the background.

Admissions to the Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education (BAEE/SPED)

Whether you are new to college or have prior credit, you can begin your journey to obtain a bachelor’s degree in education with a dual emphasis in Elementary Education and Special Education. Everyone is accepted to start the BAEE/SPED in the lower-division courses! Join us today.

Applicants who may still be deciding about where to transfer may want to consider starting their education program with our Associates in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE). Choosing this program will prepare you to continue with Maricopa’s full bachelor’s degree, or it will provide you with the ability to transfer to another college or university. The AAEE coursework includes the same first four semesters of the bachelor’s degree requirements, so you won’t miss a beat if you decide to pursue your bachelor’s degree with us at a later date.

Teacher working with young students in a classroom

Applying for the BAEE/SPED Teacher Educator Preparation Program (Upper-Division Classes)

To continue your pathway to a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education, you need to complete an additional application to verify that the appropriate state testing has been completed and so that our colleges can provide the necessary support to finish the degree and prepare for student teaching and certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Completion of Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) OR coursework equivalent to requirements of Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC), MAT256, MAT257, EDU221, and (EED222 or EDU222).
  2. Completion of the Arizona Constitution and United States Constitution course(s).
    1. GCU/POS113
    2. (HIS103 or POS110) and POS221
    3. POS220
  3. Minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
  4. Valid Identity Verified Prints (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card
  5. Names of two professional or academic references (electronic forms will be provided to the references directly as a part of the application)
  6. *Passing score on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA), Elementary Subtest I and II



*Teacher candidates may be conditionally admitted if they have taken, but not yet passed, the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA)/NES, Elementary Subtest I and II.

You can submit the application to begin your upper-division courses in the BAEE/SPED when you are within a semester (including your current and next semester) of completing the Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) OR equivalent coursework. This means, if accepted, you can begin the upper-division courses while you finish up some of your lower-division requirements. For example, if you are already taking classes in Fall 2023 and are on target to finish up the remaining requirements in Spring 2024, go ahead and complete the application! Contact the Educator Preparation Program at the college for more information.

The Program reserves the right to deny admission or readmission of an applicant if the applicant was dismissed from any program for issues relating to academic integrity and/or professional responsibility and ethical standards.

There is no application deadline; however, if you are accepted, enrollment in classes is based on the next available class start dates. Refer to the academic calendar and schedule for details, and pick the corresponding semester to start your upper-division classes in the application.

Yes. To continue with an application you saved, log into Dynamic Forms and view your Pending/Draft Forms.

The Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education/Special Education is open to all students. Whether you are new to college or have prior credit, you can begin your journey to a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Everyone is accepted! Join us today.

The Teacher Educator Preparation Program has specific requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be accepted into upper-division courses. You may receive an Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) prior to beginning your Teacher Educator Preparation Program if you so desire.

No, you do not need to have your associate's degree completed in order to apply to the bachelor’s degree program. Our bachelor’s degree programs are open-access, and all students are accepted.

No, you do not need to have your associate's degree completed in order to apply to the Teacher Educator Preparation Program. You can submit the application to begin your upper-division courses in the BAEE/SPED when you are within a semester (including your current and next semester) of completing the Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) OR equivalent coursework. This means, if accepted, you can begin the upper-division courses while you finish up some of your lower-division requirements. For example, if you are already taking classes in Fall 2023 and are on target to finish up the remaining requirements in Spring 2024, go ahead and complete the application!

Maricopa Community College’s Associates in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE), includes the same first four semesters of the BAEE/SPED requirements and will directly apply to the bachelor’s program.

For all other previously earned degrees, equivalent coursework such as the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) will apply. Contact an academic advisor at the college for more information.

Overview of BAEE/SPED and the Teacher Educator Preparation Admissions Process

No Prior College Credit

Prior College Credit

Step 1:

Apply to become a student and select the BA, Elementary Education and Special Education 

Step 1:

Apply to become a student and select the BA, Elementary Education and Special Education

 

As part of this process, you will be prompted to request transcripts from any previous colleges or universities you attended outside of the Maricopa Community Colleges.

Step 2:

Enroll in lower-division classes

Step 2:

Meet with a Teacher Educator Preparation advisor to determine if you have completed or will complete the current and next semester the following course requirements:

  1. Completion of Associate in Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) OR coursework equivalent to requirements of Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC), MAT256, MAT257, EDU221, and (EED222 or EDU222).
  2. Completion of the Arizona Constitution and United States Constitution course(s).
    1. GCU/POS113
    2. (HIS103 or POS110) and POS221
    3. POS220

 

If you do not meet these requirements, you will work with your advisor to enroll in the additional lower-division classes needed to apply for the BAEE/SPED Teacher Educator Preparation Program (Upper-Division Classes).

Step 3:

When you are within a semester of completing the lower-division requirements, apply for the BAEE/SPED Teacher Educator Preparation Program (Upper-Division Classes)

Step 3:

When you are within a semester of completing the lower-division requirements, apply for the BAEE/SPED Teacher Educator Preparation Program (Upper-Division Classes)

Step 4:

If accepted, continue with upper-division classes and complete BAEE/SPED

Step 4:

If accepted, continue with upper-division classes and complete BAEE/SPED

Refer to the Enrollment Steps for all of the details of admissions, placement, making payment arrangements, and more.

Application