Best Associate's in Elementary Education Programs in Maryland

Harford Community College offers an Associate of Arts in Teaching through its Teacher Education department in two tracks: Elementary Education, aimed at certification for grades 1 through 6, and Elementary Special Education, aimed at grades 1 through 8. Coursework is paired with a field placement in local schools during regular school hours, which may call for a background check and fingerprinting. The degree is built to transfer to any four-year Maryland college, where students complete the bachelor's portion and move toward teacher certification. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Maryland.

Hagerstown Community College's Elementary and Special Education Associate of Arts in Teaching is a transfer pathway offered on campus through the Behavioral and Social Sciences Division. It is articulated with four-year Maryland teacher education programs, so graduates can transfer with full junior status to complete a bachelor's degree and pursue state certification. Students complete field experience through an Education Capstone course and build a professional portfolio. The degree itself does not confer licensure. As an associate degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as teaching assistants in Maryland.

Carroll Community College's Associate of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education and Elementary Special Education is built as a transfer degree rather than a license, so it opens the door to bachelor's study at Maryland state and select private colleges. Students pick one of two tracks, general elementary or elementary special education, and get real classroom time early, since a directed practicum runs through three separate courses and gives three distinct internship experiences before graduation. That hands-on emphasis is paired with clear benchmarks, including a 2.750 GPA and the state's Basic Skills Assessment Requirement. A Basic Skills Advisor works with students to map out the required math coursework, so the path stays structured. The result is a foundation degree that treats fieldwork as central, not an afterthought. A associate-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among teaching assistants in Maryland.

Chesapeake College's Elementary Education and Elementary Special Education Associate of Arts in Teaching is a face-to-face, two-year transfer degree offered through the Education Department. It is not a licensure credential itself but is built to transfer into a Maryland four-year teacher education program leading to elementary or special education certification. The curriculum pairs professional education coursework with field work and supervised clinical placements, and students complete the bachelor's portion at the receiving institution to reach certification. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Maryland.

Frederick Community College's Elementary Education/Elementary Special Education, A.A.T. is a 63-credit transfer degree, not a licensure credential. It is designed to cover the first two years of teacher preparation before students transfer to a four-year elementary or special education program at a Maryland institution. The A.A.T. offers two tracks, Elementary Education and Elementary Special Education, and requires 45 hours of observation in a school-based setting as part of the coursework. Together these pieces give future teachers a structured, transfer-ready start toward a four-year program. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Maryland.

College of Southern Maryland offers the Elementary and Generic Special Education Associate of Arts in Teaching for grades 1 through 6 at its La Plata campus. This two-year, on-campus program is a transfer pathway toward a bachelor's degree and Maryland teacher certification rather than a standalone credential. It falls under a statewide Maryland articulation agreement, including a 2+2 partnership with Towson University at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland, and it also transfers to Notre Dame of Maryland University and the University of Maryland, College Park. As an associate degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as teaching assistants in Maryland.

Prince George's Community College offers the Elementary Education/Generic Special Education Associate of Arts in Teaching, a transfer degree housed in the Education Department. Designed for students who plan to earn a bachelor's degree and teach in elementary schools, it covers developmental and learning theories and how they shape work with diverse children, families, and classrooms. Students complete supervised field experiences in schools as part of the program. The associate degree prepares students to transfer and does not by itself confer a teaching license. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Maryland.

Cecil College's Associate of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education is a transfer credential rather than a license on its own, covering the first two years of preparation for future elementary teachers. The design mixes general education requirements with a core of professional education courses and supervised field experience, and its clinical placements reach across Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania so students see a range of classrooms early. Because it is built to move forward, the degree transfers to four-year institutions such as Towson University and Wilmington University. Statewide articulation carries students through to teacher certification once they finish the bachelor's portion, making this a deliberate first step on a longer path into elementary teaching. As an associate degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as teaching assistants in Maryland.

Baltimore City Community College's Associate of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education/Generic Special Education (PreK-12) is a 60 credit hour transfer degree spread across four semesters. Fieldwork comes through EDU 291, the A.A.T. Fieldwork Training Experience, taken in the fourth semester. The degree is a Maryland-wide transfer pathway: it has been articulated with all elementary education and generic special education transfer programs in the state, so graduates are eligible to be admitted directly as an elementary education or generic special education major at their Maryland transfer institution. It does not itself grant licensure at the associate level. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Maryland's 14 ranked associate's-level programs, at $2,640. As an associate degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as teaching assistants in Maryland.

Wor-Wic Community College offers the Elementary Education/Generic Special Education PreK-12 Transfer A.A.T., an on-campus associate's degree built for transfer to a four-year institution. The program prepares students to major in either elementary education, teaching first through sixth grade including middle school, or generic special education, teaching students with mild to moderate disabilities. It combines both areas of preparation in a single associate's pathway rather than two separate degrees. The A.A.T. is transfer-oriented and does not itself confer a teaching license. Earning an associate degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Maryland's teaching assistants.

The Teacher Education Associate of Arts with an Elementary Education Option at the Community College of Baltimore County works best as a bridge, carrying students who have already earned 35 or more credits in another major toward a bachelor's in education and, eventually, the classroom. Housed in the School of Wellness, Education, Behavioral and Social Sciences, it keeps theory close to practice through paired field-based courses, EDTR 271 and EDTR 273, which the program recommends taking together. Classes run both in person and online across the Catonsville, Dundalk, and Essex campuses, giving working students room to fit coursework around their lives. The degree is meant to lead into teacher preparation and ultimately licensure. Prospective students should note the college's own caution that credits do not transfer seamlessly to every Maryland four-year Teacher Education program, so early advising helps. Earning an associate degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Maryland's teaching assistants.

Garrett College's Teacher Education department offers an Elementary Education Associate of Arts designed for students who plan to teach kindergarten through sixth grade, with grade levels varying by transfer institution and state. The A.A. is built for transfer to four-year institutions outside Maryland, while students staying in Maryland are directed to the Elementary Education/Special Education A.A.T. instead. The program is a transfer pathway rather than a licensure-granting credential itself. Small class sizes and a dedicated Teacher Education advisor are cited. Earning an associate degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Maryland's teaching assistants.

Montgomery College offers an Associate of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education and Elementary Special Education, a four-semester sequence run through the School of Education. A single curriculum covers both elementary and elementary special education, with field experience embedded early in the program. Designed as the first two years toward Maryland teacher certification, the degree transfers to elementary education or special education programs at any four-year college in the state. It awards more associate's-level elementary education degrees than any of Maryland's 14 ranked associate's-level programs, 31 in the most recent year. As an associate degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as teaching assistants in Maryland.

Howard Community College's Elementary Education A.A. is a transfer degree offered through the Teacher Education instructional area within the Liberal Studies Division. It is designed for transfer into an Elementary Education or Elementary Special Education program at a four-year college or university, including programs outside Maryland. The curriculum addresses grades 1 through 6 with emphasis on grades 1 through 3 and includes a focus on students with special needs. As an associate transfer pathway, it prepares students for a bachelor's licensure program rather than granting a teaching license directly. Graduates of this elementary education program at the associate level often go on to work as teaching assistants.