Program Description
The AS in Paraprofessional Education degree allows students to complete a curriculum designed to meet the federal No Child Left Behind act requirements for paraprofessional educators working in K-12. Completion of this degree also will allow students to enter a four-year degree program at an institution of higher learning.

Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for an Associate of Science degree can be found in the South Dakota Board of Regents Policy Manual, Policy 2:3-Admissions. Specific information for the Associate of Science degree is found under section 2.B-E. All students will need to complete an admissions application, completing the portion pertaining to the university from which you would like to receive the degree.

Course Information
The AS in Paraprofessional Education degree is composed of the System General Education Requirements (which include seven goals), major requirements, information technology literacy requirements, and elective courses. The System General Education Requirements compose 21 credits, the major requirements compose 22-23 credits, the information technology literacy requirements compose 3 credits and the electives compose 18-19 credits. The total number of credits needed for the major requirements and electives will depend upon the institution from which you will be receiving the AS degree.

System General Education Courses

Course Requirement	Credit Hours
ENGL 101 - Composition I	3
ENGL 201 - Composition II	3
MATH 101 or 102 - Intermediate or College Algebra	3
MIS or CIS 105 - Introduction to Computers	3
Natural Science: BIOL 101/101L, CHEM 106/106L, or PHYS 101/101L	3
PSYC 101/101A - General Psychology	3
SPCM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech	3
	21 credits

Paraprofessional Education Courses

Course Requirement	Credit Hours
EDFN 200 - Classroom Instructional Management	3
EDFN 210 - Issues and Strategies in Teaching Reading	2
EDFN 475 - Human Relations	3
EPSY 302 - Educational Psychology	BHSU - 3 or NSU - 2
EPSY 327 - Child/Adloescent Development	3
LIBM 205 - Children's Literature	3
MATH 341 - Math Concepts for Teachers I	3
SPED 300 - Special Education for Elementary Teachers (BHSU) or SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons with Exceptionalities (NSU)	3
	22-23 credits

The seven goals within the System General Education Requirements include:

• Goal 1: Students will write effectively and responsibly and understand and interpret the written expression of others.
• Goal 2: Students will communicate effectively and responsibly through speaking and listening.
• Goal 3: Students will understand the structures and possibilities of the human community through study of the social sciences.
• Goal 4: Students will understand and appreciate the human experience through arts and humanities.
• Goal 5: Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.
• Goal 6: Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.
• Goal 7: Students will understand and be sensitive to cultural diversity so that they are prepared to live and work in an international and multicultural environment.

Assessment Information
Each student enrolled in the AS in Paraprofessional Education degree will be required to take the Proficiency Examination after the completion of 32 credit hours or prior to graduation. The student must have completed or be enrolled in the 15 credit hours listed below in order to take the exam.

Credit Hours	Course Requirement
3	Composition (Goal 1)
3	Social Science (Goal 3)
3	Humanities and Fine Arts (Goal 4)
3	Mathematics (Goal 5)
3 (6 recommended)	Natural Science (Goal 6)