The Florida Department of Education recently reported that the state of Florida will need to employ between 17,000 and 23,500 teaching positions per year for 2007 and 2008.  The Department also states that most of these positions are in the areas of Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education.  This is nearly 120% the size of the entire 2006 teacher workforce.  Lee County is among those counties that will experience the largest growth rates.*

The demand for classrooms teachers is expected to continue to grow for many years to come.  Southwest Florida College has recognized this opportunity and is now offering a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

Southwest Florida College’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is a four year program designed to prepare students to teach in an Elementary school setting.  The program includes coursework and field experiences including one full term of student teaching.  The program introduces you to the many facets of teaching from the foundation of designing instruction, classroom management and assessment to specialized topics such as ESOL principles and practices, teaching diverse populations, and integrating the Arts into instruction.  Students who successfully complete this program will also be eligible to sit for the ESOL certification in the state of Florida.

Let Southwest Florida College put you ahead of the class.  Southwest Florida College’s Elementary Education program will equip you with the practical skills and know how to prepare the next generation for a lifetime of success.

*Source: Office of Evaluation and Reporting, Florida Department of Education http://www.fldoe.org/evaluation/pdf/tchr_proj_feb07_text_rpt.pdf

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education is only available at the Ft Myers campus.

The Early Childhood Education Associate Degree program is designed to prepare students for careers in early childhood education. Early childhood educators work in preschools, childcare centers, school-age programs and in public schools with children through the age of 8. In addition, the coursework provides students with opportunities to study and apply their understanding in emergent literacy, the exceptional child, and in documenting observations and using the data to plan lessons to meet the needs of the children. Students will focus on the creation of developmentally appropriate curriculums, and instruction and assessment in their classrooms. The program includes a hands-on externship in an area school as the capstone course prior to graduation. Upon completion of the program, the student will have a strong background in the growth and development of young children; understand how children learn; be aware of the diversity in our population; be able to observe children and use the data to plan developmentally appropriate instructional experiences; and understand the roles of the teacher, the family and the school community in early childhood education.