Teacher Education Programs

The preparation of elementary and secondary school teachers is accomplished through the joint efforts of the College of Education and other academic units of the university. Teacher education programs, typically, are closely structured; therefore, students should select a teaching field during the sophomore year and follow the appropriate curriculum after declaring a major.

Columbus State University's teacher education programs are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Successful completion of an approved program earns the university's recommendation for a professional teaching certificate. To receive the certificate, an individual must also perform satisfactorily on the Praxis II test.

Students desiring a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, or bachelor of music degree may also take the professional education course sequence for certification. Students should consult the College of Education for advice concerning appropriate courses for certification.

Teacher education programs leading to the Bachelor of Science in Education degree are offered in the following fields:

Early Childhood Education (Grades P-5)
Middle Grades Education (Grades 4-8)

Concentrations in:

Language Arts/Social Studies

Science/Mathematics

Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)

Majors in:

English

Mathematics

General Science (with a teaching field emphasis in either biology or chemistry)

History

Social Science

All level fields (Grades P-12)

Art Education

Health, Physical Education, and Sports Science

Music Education (BM degree)

Special Education--Mental Retardation

Theatre Arts

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

During the sophomore year, students intending to complete a teacher education program make formal application to a specific degree program. Normally, this occurs after the student has completed three semesters of full-time course work. Application is made to the department offering the student’s intended major.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program is based on the following:

• completion of EDUF 2215 The American Educational Experience with a grade of C or better
• completion of 45 earned semester hours in the core with a GPA of 2.50 or better, including transfer credit, and a minimum institutional GPA of 2.75
• completion of nine earned semester hours at Columbus State University
• satisfactory performance on the Regents' Test
• satisfactory performance on all three parts of the Praxis 1 test, or an exemption based upon satisfactory scores on the SAT, ACT, or GRE tests
• satisfactory completion of word-processed essay
• good academic standing during the semester in which admission is requested
• no criminal record or discharge from the armed services that would prevent recommendation for teacher certification

 Additional admissions criteria may be applied at the departmental level.

 Admission decisions are appealable to the College of Education undergraduate appeals committee.

 Retention in the Teacher Education Program

A review each semester by the associate dean to determine retention in the teacher education program is based on the following:

• Maintenance of a 2.75 institutional grade point average.
• If the grade point average falls below 2.75, the student has one semester to raise the grade point average to 2.75 or the student must re-apply to the teacher education program under the current admission policies.
• Not less than a C grade in field and professional courses. Only 10 percent of the professional and field courses may be repeated at Columbus State University or another accredited college. Correspondence courses will not be accepted in field or professional courses.
• Students who fail to complete a degree program after three years from date of admission to teacher education will be excluded from the program and required to re-apply under current admission policies.

Students will spend one semester in full-time teaching activities under the supervision of a classroom teacher in elementary and/or secondary schools. Guidelines for admission to student teaching are as follows:

• Application for student teaching must be made by the end of the first week of classes one year prior to the semester that placement is requested. Applications should be made to the coordinator for school services.
• Students should not hold outside employment during the semester of student teaching.
• Students should complete all professional courses and a minimum of 90 percent of field courses prior to student teaching.
• Students must earn at least a C grade in each field course; earn a least a C grade in each professional course; and maintain a total grade point average of 2.50 or better based on total hours attempted, and an institutional grade point average of 2.75 or better.
• Students must be members in good standing in the teacher education program prior to application for admission to student teaching.
• Students must be recommended by both the academic advisor and the coordinator for school services.
• Student teaching placements are the responsibility of the coordinator for school services.
• Students must provide evidence of personal liability insurance.

 Recommendation for Certification

To be eligible for recommendation by Columbus State University for a Georgia professional teaching certificate, students must complete an approved program and meet the following criteria:

• Graduate from Columbus State University
• A 2.5 grade point average on all work attempted, and a 2.75 institutional grade point average
• No less than a C grade on all professional and field courses presented for graduation
• Successful completion of the Praxis II test

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

The College of Education offers initial teacher preparation programs for qualified students holding non-education baccalaureate degrees in a major similar to the requested post-baccalaureate teacher certification program. Each post-baccalaureate program is equivalent to the institution’s program approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC). Upon completion of a post-baccalaureate program, the student earns an institutional recommendation for a teaching certificate subsequently issued by the PSC, which is identical to the certificate earned by graduates of the baccalaureate teacher education program.

Admission to Post-Baccalaureate
Teacher Education

Students intending to complete a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program must first be admitted to Columbus State University as an undergraduate post-baccalaureate student and subsequently must apply for and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program.

Admission to the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program is based on the following:

• overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or better or a GPA of 2.75 or better during the junior-senior years
• completion of nine earned semester hours at Columbus State University
• satisfactory performance on all three parts of the Praxis 1 test, or an exemption based upon satisfactory scores on the SAT, ACT, or GRE tests
• satisfactory completion of word-processed essay
• good academic standing during semester in which admission is requested
• no criminal record or discharge from the armed services that would prevent recommendation for teacher certification

Additional admissions criteria may be applied at the department level.

Admission decisions are appealable to the College of Education undergraduate appeals committee.

Post-baccalaureate students wishing to enroll in graduate courses must meet Provisional or Regular Admission requirements for MEd programs. Admission decisions are appealable to the College of Education graduate appeals committee. 

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