DTA with Emphasis in Elementary Education

Overview

DTA with Emphasis in Elementary Education, AAS-DTA (LASDTAA, DTA_ELEM) Active: Summer 2026

The Associate in Arts and Sciences (AAS) - Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) is awarded for completion of a program of study designed primarily for transfer to a four-year college or university. The AAS-DTA degree meets statewide general transfer guidelines, often referred to as the direct transfer degree, or DTA.

A DTA with Emphasis in Education prepares you to move into a bachelor's degree and teacher preparation program for teaching at the elementary level.

Requirements

Courses must be completed with a grade of ‘D’ or above.
A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 is required.

College Success - 2 units

A College Success course is mandatory for all new degree-seeking students. The class may be waived due to previous college coursework or the specific course of study. Certain programs are exempt from this requirement; please see the Academic Guidelines and Procedures for details.

Course Number	Course Title	Units
COLL 101	College Success	2
	Or
HP 101	Coll Success for Health Prof	2
	Or
STEM 101	College Success In STEM	2

Communication Skills - 10 units

Course Number	Course Title	Units
ENGL& 101	English Composition I	5
ENGL& 102	Composition II	5

Quantitative Skills - 5 units

Course Number	Course Title	Units
MATH& 107	Math In Society	5
	Or
MATH& 141	Precalc I: College Algebra	5

Please check with transfer destination to see which quantitative course would meet their requirments.

Humanities Distribution - 15 units

10 units from SOC 170 and CMST& 220

5 units from the DTA Humanities Distribution course list

Course Number	Course Title	Units
SOC 170	Intro to Power & Privilege	5
CMST& 220	Public Speaking	5
	Humanities Course	5

Recommended courses: ENGL 183, CMST& 210, World Languages

Social Sciences Distribution - 15 units

Course Number	Course Title	Units
ECED& 105	Introduction to ECE	5
PSYC& 100	General Psychology	5
EDUC& 115	Child Development	5

Natural Sciences Distribution - 15 units

Select courses from the DTA Approved Natural Sciences course list. Courses must be from 2 different disciplines. You must have at least 1 Lab Science course. No more than 5 units from Part C: Other Science courses may be used to fulfill this requirement. Any additional Natural Science units beyond 15 will be counted towards your Electives.

5 units from NUTR& 101

10 units from the DTA Natural Sciences Distribution course list

Course Number	Course Title	Units
NUTR& 101	Nutrition	5
	Natural Sciences Course	5
	Natural Sciences Lab Course	5

Recommended Courses: ANTH& 115, ANTH& 215, BIOL& 100

Program-Specific Courses - 22-25 units

These are the additional classes required to prepare you for transferring into an elementary education program. They must be completed in order to earn the DTA with Emphasis.

Course Number	Course Title	Units
EDUC& 101	Paraeducator Basics	3
EDUC& 130	Guiding Behavior	3
EDUC& 202	Introduction to Education	5
EDUC& 240	Diversity in Education	5
EDUC 250	Education In Action	1-4
EDUC 256	Education In Action Seminar	2
EDUC& 150	Child, Family and Community	3

Electives - 3-6 units

1-4 units must be selected from Communication Skills, Quantitative Skills, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or List A Transfer Electives.
2 units may be selected from those OR from List B Applied Electives.
No more than 3 PEHW activity units may be used.
College Success is a List B Elective. If this is not required, Electives will increase to 5-8 units total with no additional List B units.

1-4 units from the Communications, Quantitative Skills, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences Distributions, or List A Transfer Electives course list

2 units from those OR from any List B Applied Electives (100-level courses or higher)

Course Number	Course Title	Units
	Elective Course	3
	Elective Course	3

Program Learning Outcomes

Subject Matter Knowledge: Students will gain sound knowledge of the central concepts, foundational theories and intellectual frameworks of education and teaching—approaches to guidance and discipline, constructivist learning principles, the role of family and communities—and develop the capability to relate each area of knowledge to another.
Personal and Professional Self-understanding: Students will be introduced to a variety of educational philosophies, attitudes and approaches in order to understand issues of professional teaching standards—what it means to be a competent and ethical teacher in a democratic society—and to develop a personal and lifelong commitment to knowledge, to the continuing pursuit of questions, and to a willingness to take risks.
Instructional Strategies and Skills: Students will understand curriculum as a process—including learning goals and objectives, sequences of content, multiple instructional strategies and formal and informal assessment—through classroom observations and the development of instructional lessons that address individual learner needs and styles.
Human Development and Learning: Students will be introduced to a variety of perspectives on human development and learning that support the diverse cognitive, psychological, and social needs of learners; and will understand the role of positive learning environments and effective relationships with learners.