Students in the Associate in Early Childhood Education Pathways will apply their learned theories in real-life school settings. Curricula includes coursework in child growth and development, physical/nutritional needs of children, care and guidance of children, and communication skills with parents and children. Students learn to foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional and creative development of children.

The Associate in Teacher Preparation Degree Pathways prepare students to become responsible citizens and adults with the tools needed for success in life. Blue Ridge’s Teacher Preparation associate degree programs will give you a running start toward your future as a teacher. Our Teacher Preparation pathways are designed as transfer degrees for those wanting to teach kindergarten through twelfth grade, and they include both Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. These degrees are designed to be “2+2” transfer degrees, that is, two years at Blue Ridge Community College earning your associate’s degree, plus an average of two years at a university to complete your bachelor’s degree in teaching elementary, middle or high school.

The Elementary Education Residency Licensure Certificate is for those wanting to pursue a career in teaching in North Carolina. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and employed in a local school district may use residency licensing as one route to a teaching career. Residency licensing allows qualified individuals to begin teaching while completing North Carolina licensure requirements.