• Education: Childhood Track

    The Education: Childhood Track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing teaching in Grades 1 through 6 as a career and who plan to transfer to Queens College.

  • The Education: Childhood Track is coordinated by the Education and Language Department and is designed for students who are interested in teaching Grades 1 through 6. This Track provides a clearly defined academic path that leads to continued study at a four-year college. Successful completion of LaGuardia's Associate in Arts (AA) degree requirements in the Education: Childhood Track can result in admission to the Professional Sequence at Queens College, Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education leading to the New York State Initial Certificate in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6). This program can lead to admission to Queens College upon successful completion of LaGuardia's Associate in Arts (AA) degree requirements in Liberal Arts and provide a clearly defined academic path that leads to New York State provisional certification in teaching. Students in the Childhood Education program must have a grade of B in at least one course in each of the core content areas: Math, Science, Social Studies and English Language Arts.

  •  Advising Team

    In support of the LaGuardia’s mission to educate and graduate its students to become critical thinkers and socially responsible citizens, the College has undertaken a team approach toward advising, designed to support you in your major from orientation through graduation.

    Your Advising Team is made up of faculty, professional and peer advisors. They will guide you at every step during your college career. They are ready to help you:

    • Explore your major
    • Select introductory and advanced courses
    • Connect you with campus support services
    • Prepare an educational and career plan

    Visit the Advising page to learn more about when to get advised and how to prepare for an advising appointment, and check out the Advising Calendar for information sessions, events and more.


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     Career Profile and Transfer Opportunities

    Career Profile

    The Childhood Education Option was established as a response to a predicted teacher shortage nationwide. This shortage is envisioned as being particularly acute among minority teachers, especially in the City of New York. The Liberal Arts Options in the Education program are also designed to respond to the shortcomings within the teaching profession itself by combining a strong Liberal Arts course of study with an early experiential component. The program provides a broad intellectual foundation and an understanding of the world we live in, its history, diversity and cultures.

    Elementary school teachers are required to have a bachelor’s degree in addition to state certification; New York City public school teachers are required to obtain a master’s degree. Private schools have various degree and certification requirements. The Liberal Arts: Childhood Education Option at LaGuardia will prepare you for continued studies to earn a four-year degree.

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of elementary school teachers is expected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, and the median salary of elementary school teachers in 2015 was $54,550.i

    [i] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/kindergarten-and-elementary-school-teachers.htm(visited June 21, 2016).

    Explore career possibilities on Career Connect.

    Transfer Opportunities

    Visit the Articulation Agreements page to learn more about transfer opportunities.


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     Classroom Observations

    Classroom observation hours in New York City public schools (Grades 1-6) are required in Education Program core courses. See course descriptions for number of observation hours required in each course. These observation hours are designed to integrate theory and practice. Classroom observation hours at LaGuardia will partially satisfy New York State Certification Requirements. The intent of the classroom observations is to involve students in the educational life of the classroom, to let them experience a variety of school settings and to learn beginning skills in a teaching role. Through this experiential component, students will have the opportunity to clarify their personal goals, gain insight into the teaching profession and make informed career decisions about continuing in the field of urban education. For further information please contact the Education Program Fieldwork Coordinator.


     Degree Map – Graduate in Two Years

    Current Students
    Log in to My LaGuardia to review your Degree Audit to find out what classes to take. Have questions about using Degree Audit? Visit LaGuardia's Degree Audit page for tutorials and how-to guides.

    Prospective Students
    Review the curriculum.

    Please note: Students will be held to the program and degree requirements of the year that they enter the College, unless the student changes their major in a different academic year. In that case, the student will be held to the current year requirements as listed in the catalog. Learn more.

    Degree Map
    Use the Degree Map and DegreeWorks to assist in academic planning and creating your own graduation plan in ePortfolio. See a full list of Flexible Core courses on the Pathways page.

    For information about this program’s retention and graduation rate visit the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment website page.

     Required NYCDOE Fingerprinting for Fieldwork and Observations

    All Education and TESOL students at LaGuardia Community College must be registered in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) database specifically for LaGuardia Community College students and Fingerprinted by the NYCDOE before registering for an education course. Click here for New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Fingerprint Verification and Security Clearance Requirements.