Education STEP Post-Baccalaureate K-8 Teacher Preparation

STEP is a one-year model unlike any other in Arizona!

The Scottsdale Teacher Education Partnership (STEP) post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program at Scottsdale Community College (SCC) is designed for students with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in any discipline who would like to become an elementary teacher in grades K through 8. It fulfills the requirement for the Institutional Recommendation leading to K-8 Elementary Arizona Teacher Certification.

The SCC STEP program offers the following:

Reduced community college tuition cost
A twelve-month intensive program that meets two evenings per week to complete coursework
Hybrid instructional format (face-to-face in-person meetings and online work)
Live Online instructional format for residents outside Maricopa County (face-to-face online meetings and online work)
Relationships with schools throughout the state
Courses taught by experienced classroom teachers and college professors
Integration of college coursework and classroom field experience
Cohort group of students participate in all courses together
High marketability for graduates
Program approved by the Arizona State Board of Education

SCC offers Two Pathways to Teacher Certification

The SCC STEP program offers two pathways to teacher certification. Both pathways are designed for individuals who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

adult learner sitting at a desk

Traditional Teacher in Training

Field-based preparation that allows candidates to learn to teach by completing three internships in grades K-8 and 12 weeks of supervised student teaching.

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Adult learner using a laptop

Teacher in Residence

Immersion-based preparation that allows candidates to be employed full-time in a K-8 classroom and complete internships and student teaching within their own classroom and campus.

Learn More

Explore Courses

The Scottsdale Teacher Education Partnership (STEP) post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program at Scottsdale Community College (SCC) is designed for students with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in any discipline who would like to become an elementary teacher in grades K through 8. It fulfills the requirement for the Institutional Recommendation leading to K-8 Elementary Arizona Teacher Certification.

The total amount of credits required for this program is 51.5 credit hours. Classes are taken as a cohort and are not offered every semester.

The course listing below is an overview of the required classes in the STEP Program. The classes are not in the order in which they will be completed.

Course descriptions can be found online on Find a Class.

Course #	Credits	Course Title
EDU 225	1	Professionalism & Ethics in Education
EDU 287AA	1	Master Teacher Seminar
EDU 287AC	1	Master Teacher Seminar
EDU 254	1.5	Educational Internship
EDU 254	1.5	Educational Internship
EDU 254	1.5	Educational Internship
EDU 222	3	Introduction to the Exceptional Learner
EDU 239	3	Structured English Immersion Grades K-8
EDU 267	3	Reading Instructional Practices, Interventions, & Assessments
EDU 268	3	Science of Reading Including Systematic Phonics Instruction
EDU 269	3	Educational Technology
EDU 270	3	Learning And The Brain
EDU 272	3	Educational Psychology
EDU 276	3	Classroom Management & Behavior Analysis
EDU 290	3	Science Methods & Curriculum Development
EDU 293	3	Mathematics Methods & Curriculum Development
EDU 295	3	Social Studies Methods & Curriculum Development
POS 220	3	U.S. & Arizona Constitution
EDU 288AA	8	Student Teaching

Apply for STEP

Applications are now being accepted for the November Cohort through September 26, 2025.

Applications are closed for the May 2025 Cohorts

Send in your application today to reserve your spot.
More detailed information and forms can be found under the "STEP Applications" tab in the left-hand page menu.
Please email STEP@scottsdalecc.edu with any questions.
Submit applications to STEP@scottsdalecc.edu

Acceptance into the STEP program is not guaranteed. Once the paperwork has been received, an in-person interview will be scheduled. Formal acceptance into the program will occur once all elements of the application and interview results are evaluated by the STEP Education Acceptance Committee.

STEP Applications

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STEP Recommendation Form

STEP Q&A

STEP Traditional or Teacher in Residence Application - May

STEP Traditional or Teacher in Residence Application - November

STEP Statewide Live Online - May

STEP is proud to partner with Arizona Teachers Academy!

The goal of the Arizona Teachers Academy (ATA) is to promote education as a career and bring more qualified individuals into the classroom. Please note that the availability of this scholarship is subject to funding and legislative approval. In the event of insufficient funding or if the relevant legislation is not renewed or continued, the scholarship may not be awarded for the current or future academic years. We encourage all applicants to stay informed about the status of funding and legislative actions that may impact the scholarship program.

The Arizona Teachers Academy at SCC provides financial assistance to qualified candidates who are enrolled in the STEP post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program. The scholarship will pay for tuition costs and course fees.

ATA scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for students who meet the following eligibility requirements:

Are admitted to the SCC STEP program
Have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Must be an Arizona resident.

For each academic year the Arizona Teachers Academy scholarship is awarded, you will be expected to teach in an Arizona public or charter school. Since the STEP program crosses two academic years, you will be expected to teach in an Arizona school for at least two years.

If a candidate does not fulfill the required two years of teaching in an Arizona school, the candidate will be required to reimburse the Arizona Board of Regents for the amount of the awarded ATA scholarship for tuition and fees.

STEP Student Testimonials

See what previous STEP students have to say about the teacher certification program:

Nicholas Young: STEP Live Online Cohort 2021-2022 My name is Nicholas Young, and I am a fourth-year teacher currently working in Yuma Arizona. I entered the field of education under a temporary teaching certification and am now in the process of securing my official state teaching license.

Each class that we have taken in the course has been designed with the knowledge that everyone in the cohort is currently working as a full-time teacher, and our class lessons and homework reflect this fact. Our work in the program builds off our experiences in the classroom and feels meaningful and productive, versus the random filler work that other college classes sometimes give out. In fact, there have been several times already where I have taken what we learned in our STEP classes and applied it to my current classroom and the way that I teach.

My peers in the program have been an incredible asset as well. We all come from different walks of life, yet we are all in the same position in how we are working toward our state teaching license. Right away our group bonded together and have been extremely supportive in our learning process. In the end though, the greatest part of this program so far has been the professors who have been teaching the courses. Each one of them is an experienced teacher with years spent working in classrooms and as academic coaches. They have all been very engaging and very accommodating.

Overall, I have greatly enjoyed my time in the STEP program and greatly benefitted from the content that we have been taught. I have made some great friends in the program, while also being exposed to valuable resources that teachers need to manage their classes. This program was very well organized and convenient, being fully online and accessible from anywhere in the state. I would fully recommend this program for anyone interested in becoming a teacher in the future.

Annika Himebaugh: STEP Cohort 2018-2019 The STEP program was an amazing experience that has given me the confidence and skills to be a competent educator. I loved the relationships I built with my cohort and faculty. I felt supported throughout every part of my experience. Being able to take courses concurrently with in-field internships helped me develop my ability to manage a classroom and prepare engaging lesson plans.

Kate Long: STEP Cohort 2016-2017 The STEP program was exactly what I needed to enter the education field. After being out of school for 30 years, I needed a jump start on learning to learn again. STEP provided me with the tools I needed to transition into being a teacher that a solely online program could not. The classroom experiences were key to my success and love for the profession.

Matt Lins: STEP Cohort 2005-2006 The SCC STEP program was by far my best educational experience. The entire year was packed with learning from extremely hands-on faculty, my amazing cohort peers, and the many inspirational teacher mentors who guided me. The SCC STEP program created relationships that have impacted my career and molded me into the educator that I am today.

Traditional Teacher in Training

The Traditional Teacher in Training pathway is a field-based immersion program where candidates, who have a bachelor’s degree, learn alongside highly qualified teachers for a full year while concurrently completing required education coursework.

Candidates complete the program, which begins in May and ends the following May, as a cohort and are required to commit to the program for the full year.

Classes are a blend of face-to-face and online learning and meet Monday and Tuesday evenings from 5 – 8:30 pm.

From mid-May through July: candidates attend classes at SCC.
From August to February: candidates attend classes at SCC and spend two consecutive full days at K-8 schools as an intern working side-by-side with teachers in classrooms (usually 7:30 am – 3 pm).
From February to May: candidates no longer attend classes at SCC and spend five days per week, for a total of 12 weeks, student teaching in a K-8 classroom.

Candidates complete the program, which begins in May and ends the following May, as a cohort and are required to commit to the program for the full year.

Classes are online and meet Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5 – 7:30 pm.

From mid-May through July: candidates attend online classes through SCC.
From August to February: candidates attend online classes through SCC and spend two consecutive full days at K-8 schools as an intern working side-by-side with teachers in classrooms (usually 7:30 am – 3 pm).
From February to May: candidates no longer attend online classes at SCC and spend five days per week, for a total of 12 weeks, student teaching full time in a K-8 classroom.

Candidates complete the program, which begins in November and ends the following December, as a cohort and are required to commit to the program for the full year.

Classes are a blend of face-to-face and online learning and meet Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5 – 8:30 pm.

From November through December: candidates attend classes at SCC.
From January to mid-May: candidates attend classes at SCC and spend two consecutive full days at K-8 schools as an intern working side-by-side with teachers in classrooms (usually 7:30 am – 3 pm).
From mid-May through July: candidates attend classes at SCC.
From August to October: candidates attend classes at SCC and resume interning in classrooms.
From October to December: candidates no longer attend classes at SCC and spend five days per week, for a total of 12 weeks, student teaching in a K-8 classroom.

Teacher in Residence

The Teacher in Residence pathway allows candidates, who have a bachelor’s degree, to sign a teaching contract and teach in the classroom while concurrently completing required education coursework. The candidate is responsible for securing a full-time teaching position in a K-8 public, charter, or private school.

Candidates complete the program, which begins in May and ends the following May, as a cohort and are required to commit to the program for the full year. Classes are a blend of face-to-face and online learning and meet on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 5 – 8:30 pm. The internships and twelve weeks of student teaching will be completed within the candidate’s own classroom and campus.

Candidates complete the program, which begins in May and ends the following May, as a cohort and are required to commit to the program for the full year. Classes are online and meet on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5 – 7:30 pm. The internships and twelve weeks of student teaching will be completed within the candidate’s own classroom and campus.

Candidates complete the program, which begins in November and ends the following December, as a cohort and are required to commit to the program for the full year. Classes are a blend of face-to-face and online learning and meet Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5 – 8:30 pm. The internships and twelve weeks of student teaching will be completed within the candidate’s own classroom and campus.