College of Education

LEADING A NEW WORLD OF LEARNING

Dianne L. Hoff, Dean

678-839-6570
https://www.westga.edu/education/

College of Education Mission

Locally connected and globally relevant, the Mission of the College of Education is to prepare graduates for meaningful, professional careers in diverse settings within three dynamic areas of focus: Education, Leadership, and Health.  With programs that range from undergraduate through doctoral study, the College of Education is committed to excellence in teaching, professional service, engaged partnerships, and applied research.

College of Education Vision

The College of Education at the University of West Georgia will be recognized for Leading a New World of Learning, with relevant and innovative programs that change lives and contribute to the betterment of society.

Physical Education Requirement

The College of Education requires three hours of physical education. The student must satisfy this requirement by taking the 2-hour Health and Wellness course (PWLA 1600) and one 1-hour activity course.

A range of activity courses is offered each semester emphasizing lifetime activities, fitness-based activities, individual pursuits, and team sports. All activity courses encourage wellness and mental and physical health across the lifespan.

Military veterans with two or more years of active duty will not have to take the activity course.

Certification

1.  Early Childhood Education (Grades P-5)

2.  Early Childhood/Special Education - General Curriculum (Grades P-5)

3.  Secondary Education (Grades 6-12), with these majors:

4. All level Fields (Grades P-12)

The teacher education programs in Elementary, Elementary/Special Education, Physical Education, and Special Education lead to a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with certification.

The program for certification on the P-12 level in selected fields is organized on an interdepartmental basis. The student completes the requirements for a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and a Bachelor of Music, as planned by the student’s departmental advisor, while the professional education requirements are taken under the direction of the College of Education. Completion of one of the approved programs by the College of Education qualifies the graduate for an induction level four certificate in Georgia.

Georgia House Bill 671 requires that after July 1, 1976, any person certified as a teacher should have completed satisfactorily requirements in the identification and education of children who have special needs.

Note: The educational requirements of all programs are designed to enable one to meet present certification assessment(s) required by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission; however, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission may change required certification assessment(s) prior to the completion of the course of study. While reasonable efforts will be made to enable one to satisfy additional requirements, no assurances can be made that the University will be able to offer these additional courses or, if taken, that such courses will entitle one to take and pass the certification assessment(s). Prior to receipt of induction certification, the appropriate certification assessment(s) required by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission must be completed and passed. The candidate has the responsibility to register for the appropriate certification assessments.

All post-baccalaureate students seeking initial certification must be admitted to teacher education and have an approved program of study planned prior to the end of the first semester of enrollment. All students must complete the program of study at West Georgia. In all cases, the appropriate certification assessment(s) will be required.

State authorization to provide a program related to the preparation of teachers or other P-12 school / system personnel does not indicate eligibility for an Alabama certificate. Applicants for an Alabama certificate based on reciprocity must meet Alabama’s test requirements and submit a valid, renewable professional educator certificate/license issued by another state at the degree level, grade level, and in the teaching field or area of instructional support for which an Alabama certificate is sought and for which Alabama issues a certificate. Applicants for Alabama certification in an area of administration must also document at least three years of full-time employment as an administrator in a P-12 school system(s). www.alsde.edu

Admission to Teacher Education

Admission to the teacher education program is a prerequisite to enrollment in professional education courses.  Admission to the program is based on meeting specific qualifications.  Application instructions will be provided to students by their academic advisor once qualifications have been met.

Eligibility

Admission to the teacher education program is a prerequisite to enrollment in professional education courses. Eligibility requirements for admission to teacher education for undergraduate programs include the following:

1. Completion of all core requirements for Areas A, B, C, D, E and F.
2. A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 is required for those entering the Physical Education degree program; a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 is required for those entering Art, Music, French, Spanish, Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education.
3. Proficiency in oral communication as demonstrated by a grade of C or better in any course found in Area B - Category 1 (Oral Communication) of the Core Curriculum, or by other means determined by the department-e.g., interviews or tapes of oral communication.
4. Satisfactory completion of the program admission assessment (or exemption) required of all candidates admitted to teacher education - GACE Basic Skills/Program Admission Assessment or Praxis I. (Praxis I is appropriate only for candidates who achieved a passing composite score on this test by September 1, 2006). See individual advisors for specific details. All out-of-state transfers must fulfill this requirement during the first term enrolled at the University of West Georgia.
5. Completion of the GACE Educator Ethics - Program Entry Assessment.
6. Successful completion of Area F courses with grades of C or better.
7. Satisfactory completion of the physical education requirement of the college from which the candidate will graduate. See the Undergraduate Catalog for further details.
8. Completion of any other additional requirements specified by individual departments, e.g., a departmental interview.

Education Program Completion Requirements

Candidates are eligible for the Georgia educator certificate only upon successful completion of the teacher education program and passing scores on the appropriate assessments for certification as required for certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Candidates must meet the following requirements for successful completion of the teacher education program:

1. See specific bachelor’s degree program as applicable.
2. Complete SPED 3713  (Special Education programs only) or SPED 3715 , or department approved alternative to meet the special education requirement of Georgia House Bill 671.
3. Earn a grade of C or better in all professional education courses, in teaching field (content) courses, and in supporting courses for the teaching field, including Area F of the Core. (See program sheets.)
4. Complete successfully all field experiences, including exhibiting responsible professional behavior at the field placement sites and in interactions with peers, faculty, and students.

Field Experiences

All teacher education programs require satisfactory completion of field experiences. Check with appropriate College of Education departments for information on field experience requirements and procedures for application.

Application/enrollment for placements for all practicum, internship, and block courses must be completed through Tk20. Field experience applications are due the semester prior to enrollment. Due dates for submittal will be announced via student portal announcements/emails.

Students are expected to complete all professional education and content course work prior to their teaching internship (student teaching) semester. Traditionally, students enrolled in the teaching internship have been limited to no more than 12 hours, defined as 9 hours of internship and 3 hours of student teaching seminar. With advisor consent, students may be allowed to complete one additional course during their teaching internship. Under no circumstances will students be allowed to take more than one additional course during their teaching internship.

Internship/Practicum Fee

A course-related fee is associated with internships and practicums to include student teaching, block, and other experiences in educator preparation programs at the University of West Georgia. The fee, which was endorsed by the West Georgia Student Government Association is applied to costs associated with field experiences (including evaluation forms, supervision travel, and mentor teacher development).

Liability Insurance

All teacher education candidates must provide their own liability insurance. Candidates, not the University of West Georgia, are responsible for acts committed while participating in professional field experiences. Keep in mind that financial penalties can be extreme, particularly when public school students are injured as a result of the candidates’ negligent acts or omissions. Terms of the liability insurance policy can be obtained from the Office of Field Experiences. Coverage may be obtained through Student Professional Association of Georgia Educators (SPAGE) and/or Georgia Association of Educators (GAE). Information concerning these organizations is available from each department in the College of Education, the Academic Advisement Center, and/or the Office of Field Experiences.

UWG Pre-Kindergarten

West Georgia operates a pre-kindergarten in the Education Annex for children aged four to five years who meet eligibility requirements for Georgia Pre-K. The program is under the direction of the COE Dean’s Office. The pre-kindergarten program is open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays, August through May.

During the regular school year, the program employs four full-time general education teachers, one special education teacher, and four assistant teachers. There are three general education classrooms and one inclusion classroom housed in the Pre-K. Practicum experiences are provided for numerous graduate and undergraduate students in several fields of study.

The four-year-old pre-kindergarten program is funded through a state grant from Bright from the Start.

For further information, call 678-839-6563.

Innovations Lab

The Innovations Lab is designed to provide a space for university faculty, students, and local educators to learn, use, and innovate emerging technology for use in the classroom and the community.  The lab also supports students and faculty in checking out various electronics that may be needed for classes and assignments. For hours of operation and general information, visit: www.westga.edu/academics/education/innovations-lab.php.