The Associate of Arts Degree in Paraprofessional Education offered by UOP provides students with the knowledge and the skills that will enable them to become effective paraprofessionals in an elementary school classroom or teachers in a Head Start or private program. This innovative program integrates theory with practice as it addresses major topics that impact teaching; i.e., historical and philosophical contexts for contemporary educational approaches and issues; the nature of child development; and the professional and classroom tasks encountered in teaching. In so doing, it builds a foundation for thoughtful instruction in the classroom.