Political Science - Concentration: Teacher Certification (BA)

The School of Liberal Arts offers the Bachelors of Arts degree with a major in Political Science. The B.A. degree in Political Science is for students interested in a wide range of career choices, including government service, advocacy, legislative assistance, international non-government organizations, non-profit management, education, law school and graduate school. The Political Science major consists of two tracks: Political Science with Teacher Certification and General Political Science. Students pursuing the Teacher Certification track will take a combination of comprehensive education and political science courses designed to prepare graduates for careers as teachers. Students pursuing the General Political Science track will take upper-level courses that provide a broad foundation for the study of political science, including advanced study in one of the five concentrations: American Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Legal Studies and General. The General Political Science track also allows students to take additional political science courses or to take electives in another discipline.

Curriculum

General Education Requirements (60 hours)

The primary objective of the general education requirements is to guarantee that all students seeking a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science (BA) degree will share a common body of knowledge drawn from a broad spectrum of subject areas.

Additional Requirements (3 hours)

The physical education requirement is comprised of one credit hour of Wellness and two credit hours of additional Physical Education courses.

Legislative Requirements

Georgia law requires that each candidate for a degree demonstrate knowledge of the history and constitutions of the United States and Georgia. These requirements may be met by receiving a passing grade in certain courses, or by passing the appropriate examination. The courses and the requirement(s) each course satisfies are as follows:

1. HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 satisfies the Georgia and U.S. history requirement (if taken at a University System of Georgia institution).
2. POLS 1101satisfies the Georgia and US Constitution requirement (if taken at a University System of Georgia institution).
3. Students with transfer credit (HIST 2111, HIST 2112 or POLS 1101) from outside the University System of Georgia will need to contact the Testing Center regarding the legislative exams requirement.

Major Requirements (60 hours)

The major requirements consist of four areas of study: Political Science Required Courses, Concentrations, Additional Political Science/Outside Discipline electives and General Electives. The Political Science Core is designed to ensure that students receiving the BA degree in Political Science will share a common body of knowledge needed for a wide range of private and public sector organizations. Concentration courses allow students to delve further into areas of specialization. Additional Political Science/Outside Discipline electives and General Electives give students an opportunity to explore topics of interest at an advanced level.

Bachelor of Arts - Political Science

Concentration: Teacher Certification

Students in the Political Science Major (Teacher Certification Track) will be able to:

1. Demonstrate skills in critical analysis, ability to synthesize information and present logical arguments leading to creative solutions of various political problems
2. Demonstrate knowledge of different political systems, including the US/GA government, enabling them to become informed and responsible citizens and preparing them for careers in related fields;
3. Demonstrate international/multicultural awareness: Political science majors will demonstrate the ability to analyze a variety of current global issues, including international development and global security and comprehend the roles played by various international actors, including international organizations
4. The ability to explore a variety of approaches to politics and the study of government.
5. Satisfy the 12 Candidate Outcomes identified for the Teacher Education Unit.

Educator Preparation Outcomes

The School of Education is committed to preparing teachers who ensure that students reach high levels of achievement. GGC graduates are caring, competent, analytical, collaborative, and adaptive. Research supports the central role of each of these domains in fostering student achievement. Each of these domains is operationally defined by a set of specific learning outcomes which are expected of candidates in all programs.

Domain 1: Interpersonal Expertise

2.5 Candidates foster environments that reflect ethical behavior, respect, kindness, safety, and care.
2.6 Candidates create culturally inclusive learning environments that capitalize on the developmental characteristics and life experiences of learners.

Domain 2: Content and Pedagogical Expertise

2.1 Candidates know the content they are expected to teach and engage in ongoing learning opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in order to provide all learners with engaging curriculum and learning experiences based on local and state standards.
2.2 Candidates utilize a variety of content appropriate instructional strategies which include communicating effective and descriptive feedback to maximize learning for all students.
2.3 Candidates seamlessly integrate technology into the design, delivery, and assessments of learning environments and experiences.
2.4 Candidates manage learning environments and collaborate with learners to make appropriate adjustments and to set goals for their own learning.

Domain 3: Assessment and Analytical Expertise

3.7 Candidates assess student learning using appropriate assessment tools.
3.8 Candidates organize, analyze, and interpret assessment data from multiple sources, which guiding learners in examining their own thinking and learning as well as the performance of others.
3.9 Candidates’ instructional decisions are data-driven.

Domain 4: Leadership Expertise

4.5 Candidates assume leadership roles in classrooms and other school/community environments.
4.6 Candidates collaborate effectively with peers, school personnel, families, and community members.

Domain 5: Adaptive Expertise

5.1 Candidates exhibit routine and adaptive expertise for teaching.

Admission to the Educator Preparation Programs

Admission to the Educator Preparation is required for admission to junior- and senior-level courses in the majors. The following requirements must be met for admission into the Early Childhood Education and Special Education majors, as well as the Teacher Certification Tracks of the biology, English, history, mathematics, and political science majors.

1. The applicant must be a student in good standing at Georgia Gwinnett College. This means that the applicant should not be on academic warning or academic probation.
2. The applicant must have completed 45 semester hours of college level credit by the end of the semester of application with an overall GPA of 2.5 or better.
3. The applicant must have earned a grade of C or better in EDUC 2110, EDUC 2120, and EDUC 2130 (or have approved course substitutions) by the end of the semester of application.
4. The applicant must pass or exempt the GACE Basic Skills Assessment by the end of the semester of application.
5. The applicant must receive satisfactory ratings on the Pre-Professional Practices and Behavior in EDUC 2110, EDUC 2120, and EDUC 2130 OR submit a recommendation form from a professor at the non-GGC institution where the candidate took the EDUC courses.
6. The applicant must have a satisfactory performance on an oral presentation in EDUC 2110, EDUC 2120, or EDUC 2130 OR an oral interview with a faculty mentor at GGC.
7. The applicant must submit evidence of liability insurance. Liability insurance may be obtained through membership in a professional educators’ organization.
8. The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Educator Preparation which includes all of the required documentation.

Prospective applicants to the Educator Preparation Programs may obtain application information from their mentors or from the School of Education.

(Recommend a HIST sequence not taken in Area E)

• One semester of a foreign language (3) Credit Hours

• Choices for Life (1) Credit Hours
• Additional Physical Education (2) Credit Hours

(Formal Admission to Educator Preparation Required)

*required prior to Admission to Teacher Education