BAS-Teacher Education
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BAST) provides students an education, beyond the associate level, which is tailored to their community. The BAST degree is the next educational stepping-stone for many students who wish to pursue advanced degrees. The BAST degree provides quality teachers for a five county area: Lewis, Thurston, Pacific, Mason, and Grays Harbor counties.
The BAST program is designed to enable applicants with an AAS-ECE or an AA-DTA to combine their lower-division coursework with upper-division credits in education. This degree is designed with academic rigor enabling graduates to apply directly to Master level programs throughout the state. Students may qualify for one of the four (4) alternative routes for teacher certification.
Grays Harbor College prepares teachers to construct and facilitate culturally responsive learning experiences that simultaneously develop English language proficiencies and discipline-specific knowledge and advocate for English language learners (ELL) within the local school and community. The ELL endorsement prepares candidates to be effective teachers and to provide the required content and develop the skills needed to navigate a diverse learning environment with respect and confidence.
Admission to the BAST program is merit based. Meeting the minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admissions, as the number of qualified applicants may exceed the number of enrollment spaces. Admission applications open in October of each year with a deadline to apply in March for the following fall.
Early Childhood Education Degree Completers
Students who have earned an AAS in Early Childhood Education must complete all program entry requirements and program acceptance requirements with the exception of:
In order to be placed into the admissions pool, applicants must complete and submit all the following requirements:
BAST Program Application Requirements
- Completed BAST program application ($25 fee)
- Personal statement
- Resume
- Three (3) current letters of recommendation
- Transcripts from all college level coursework
- Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) clearance ($12 fee)
Prerequisites
To be accepted into the BAST program, students must complete (or be on track to complete them prior to starting the core courses in the fall) the following:
- 2.7 GPA in all required college level coursework.
- An earned Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education or an Associate of Arts Direct Transfer Agreement (or be on track to complete the degree before the BAST program begins).
- ENGL& 101 , English Composition
- ENGL& 102 , English Composition II
or ENGL& 235 , Technical Writing
- MATH& 131 and MATH& 132 , Math for Elementary Education I and II or any college level math course with Intermediate Algebra as a prerequisite
- ECED& 180 , Language and Literacy Development
- EDUC 201 and EDUC 202 or 1-year full-time experience in a structured educational setting must apply for Prior Learning Credit.
Lower Level Course Graduation Requirements:
In addition to the BAST required core courses, students must complete the following courses. These course may be completed as part of the AAS-ECE or AA-DTA degree:
- ENGL 233 , Children’s Literature
- HIST& 219 , Native American History
- ECED 235 , Educating Young Children in a Diverse Society or equivalent diversity coursework
AA-DTA Distribution Requirements Suggestions:
The courses listed below are suggested distribution requirements for BAST students. Any course identified with an * identifies courses that are required to complete prior to graduation from the BAST program.
Humanities
Social Science
Natural Science
AA-DTA Suggested Specified Electives:
These are suggested courses to be used as specified electives for the AA-DTA:
- PSYC& 200 , Lifespan Psychology
- SOC& 201 , Social Problems
- CJUS 151 , Drugs and Our Society
- US History or Western Civilization
NOTE: Successful completion of SPAN& 123 - Spanish III or the ability to demonstrate comparable equivalence by a GHC exam is strongly recommended given the demographics in our area school districts. All other factors being equal, preference will be given to applicants who meet this qualification.
AA-DTA Suggested General Electives:
These are suggested general courses to be used for the AA-DTA:
- ECED 235 , Educating Young Children in a Diverse Society or equivalent diversity coursework
- Any ECED or EDUC coursework
ELL Endorsement Option
Students who hold a current teacher’s certificate in the State of Washington, can obtain their ELL endorsement by successful completion of:
- Fulfill all the BAST program application requirements
- 2.7 GPA in all required college level coursework
- BAST 345 , ELA Methods
- BAST 355 , Reading Methods
- BAST 370 , Language and Culture
- BAST 371 , Advanced Language and Literacy
- ECED& 180 , Language and Literacy Development
- ECED 235 , Educating Young Children in a Diverse Society or equivalent diversity coursework
BAST Program Alternatives
Grays Harbor College is approved to offer four (4) alternative routes to teacher certification. The four alternative routes include:
Route 1: For district staff para educators with an associate degree with a current para educator certification.
Route 2: For district staff with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Route 3: For “career changers” with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Route 4: For district staff with a bachelor’s degree or higher and a limited certificate.
Alternative route students must meet the following:
- Associate Degree from an accredited college or university
- 2.7 GPA in all required college level coursework
- Fulfill all the BAST program application requirements
Complete the following prerequisites:
- ENGL& 101 , English Composition
- ENGL& 102 , English Composition II
or ENGL& 235 , Technical Writing
- MATH& 131 and MATH& 132 , Math for Elementary Education I and II or any college level math course with Intermediate Algebra as a prerequisite
- Successfully complete all the BAST core coursework of equivalent coursework
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