What is an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education Degree?

An associate of arts in elementary education is an associate degree that qualifies someone to work with children as an aid in the classroom. Many people begin their teaching career by taking an associate of arts in elementary education and then moving on to take a bachelor’s degree program to become qualified to teach in an elementary school. 

• An associate in arts in elementary education is a beginning degree that typically takes 2 years to complete if attending college on a full-time basis. Much of the material covered by this type of degree is general education courses along with some beginner elementary education courses as well. 

• To pursue an elementary teaching career, it is necessary for a teacher to take an associate of arts in elementary education degree program prior to moving on to a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. To obtain this degree, an additional 2 years of schooling is needed.

• This type of degree can be taken at a 4-year college or university as well as at a community college. However, if the student wishes to pursue a teaching degree, the credits earned at a community college will need to be transferred over to the 4-year college of their choice to continue with the educational requirements of an elementary teacher.

• An associate of arts elementary education degree qualifies the student to work as a teacher’s aide or assistant in the classroom. This position has a starting salary of $20,000 a year. Many students pursue this career choice while continuing their education with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.