SPC, LCU add secondary education degree

by Caroline Basile, editor-in-chief

Lubbock Christian University and South Plains College recently signed an articulation agreement to create an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree in secondary education.

The agreement between the two schools was signed on Sept. 29, and is the first of its kind for both LCU and SPC, according to Yancy Nunez, dean of arts and sciences at SPC.

“We wanted to give students who want to teach at the high school level the option of getting their credentials in the field they want, as well as the education degree,” said Nunez.

The agreement opens the door for specialized degrees in secondary education for SPC students transferring to LCU. Many colleges and universities require a full degree in a field, in addition to an education degree, such as a degree in a certain field and the additional education degree and certification to teach in a specialized subject area. With this new agreement, both LCU and SPC collaborated to create an alternate route for education majors to receive a degree in 8-12 education.

In addition to creating the secondary education degree, the agreement also extended the elementary and middle school education degree plan.

LCU and SPC agreed on a secondary education degree plan that allows students to incorporate their preferred field of education without receiving a degree in that field, but using the additional classes toward their degree.

"The elementary and middle school degree options have been so well received at SPC, we decided to add in 8-12," said Dr. David Boyer, chairman of LCU's education department. "It's an exciting thing. We don't know of any other schools that have this option."

To graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in secondary education, students are required to complete 12 credit hours of classes in the specialized field they have chosen, in addition to the core curriculum required at SPC. Secondary education students can receive specialized degrees in business administration, mathematics, Spanish, composite science and composite social studies.

"It provides a seamless transfer, and students can get a good, solid foundation in the subject area they want to teach," said Annette Smith, instructor in education at SPC. "This is a degree program that implements both the subject area and the education classes."

Students who are part of the education program and transfer to LCU with an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree will be able to enter their junior year seamlessly with all their credits transferred.

Every course an education student completes toward a secondary education degree will transfer to LCU, where students can then go on to graduate with a bachelor's degree and certification in secondary education.

"I don't know of many other agreements that have been done with an A.A.T. degree, but this one is certainly different and unique for SPC," Smith said. "It offers a great opportunity for education students, because not everyone wants a degree in math to teach math. It allows the student to learn what they need to in order to teach at the secondary level."

For more information, contact Rhonda Wearden at LCU at Rhonda.Wearden@lcu.edu, or call (806)720-7580. SPC’s Smith can be reached at asmith@southplainscollege.edu or (806) 894-9611, ext. 2173.