teacher standing in front of classroom where children are raising their hands

Alternative Routes Program

Name​ ​of​ ​Program​

Bachelor of Applied Science in Teaching 

Route(s)​ ​Offered

Route 1 for classified instructional employees (paraeducators) with an associate degree

Endorsement(s)​ ​Offered

Early Childhood Education (P-3) and Early Childhood Special Education (P-3)

Main​ ​Address

​Pierce College Fort Steilacoom 

Delivery Method​

Hybrid and in-person coursework

Delivery Format

Part-time evening program and full-time late afternoon program 

Regions​/School Districts Served

Bethel School District, Chief Leschi Schools, Clover Park School District, Federal Way Public Schools, Franklin Pierce Schools, North Thurston School District, Orting School District, Puyallup School District, Steilacoom Historical School District, Sumner School District, Tacoma Public Schools, University Place School District

Brief​ ​Description​ ​of​ ​Program

The BAS-T program serves paraeducators employed in Pierce County school districts and enables them to earn their initial residency certificate while still employed. The first year of the program is 300 level coursework followed by a yearlong residency which allows candidates to learn to teach while co-teaching with a mentor teacher. The program is designed around the framework of Pedagogical Content Knowing which proposes that you need to know who, what, where, and how to be an effective teacher. Who refers to needing to know the individual students you are teaching. Where refers to the community you are teaching in. What refers to the content areas that you are teaching. How refers to the science and art of teaching. The BAS-T is a blended program that combines outcomes for early childhood general education and early childhood special education to ensure that graduates are prepared to work with each and every child from birth to third grade. It prepares graduates to work with children and families who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse. Philosophically, this provides graduates with a holistic view of children and ensures that they have the knowledge, skills and dispositions to work in programs serving children representing the diverse population of Pierce County.

Contact​ ​Information​

teaching@pierce.ctc.edu

Estimated Time to Complete Program

2 years

Prerequisites

AAS-T in ECE or equivalent and scores on the WEST-B (or equivalent SAT or ACT scores)

Sample Cost Breakdowns

Full time program: $2239–2268 per quarter for 6 quarter.

Part time program: $1764–2557 per quarter for 8 quarters.