School of Education

The School of Education offers three B.S.Ed. programs that lead to certification in Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, and Special Education.

Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education

The B.S. degree in Elementary Education prepares students to teach grades preschool through five, and includes one endorsement: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The program utilizes an integrated approach to curriculum design and delivery that addresses the needs of all learners. Through a combination of academic and field-based learning, the program encourages the development of caring, competent and collaborative teachers who are committed to helping all students reach their highest potential. Each semester, GGC Elementary Education majors will undertake field experiences in diverse settings in the Gwinnett County Public Schools in preschool through grade five to ensure that they are prepared to teach in a variety of settings. During the final year, students will participate in a year-long student teaching experience and complete a leadership seminar. Refer to the GGC website for the most up-to-date program plan.

Bachelor of Science - Middle Grades Education

The B.S. degree in Middle Grades Education with a concentrations in Social Science and English Language Arts and Math and Science prepares students to teach grades four through eight. The program utilizes an integrated approach to curriculum design and delivery that addresses the needs of all learners.  Through a combination of academic and field-based learning, the program encourages the development of caring, competent and collaborative teachers who are committed to helping all students reach their highest potential.  Each semester, GGC Middle Grades Education majors will undertake field experiences in diverse settings in public schools to ensure that they are prepared to teach in a variety of settings.  During the final year of the program, students will participate in a year-long teaching experience and complete a leadership seminar

Bachelor of Science - Special Education

The BSED in Special Education is designed to prepare aspiring special educators with knowledge and skills to facilitate student achievement.  This includes preparing candidates to teach children and youth who have learning challenges including learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, EBD, and other areas of exceptionality in diverse learning environments.  The curriculum in this program is aligned with GAPSC standards and is designed to meet the requirements for the GAPSC special education general education curriculum certification as well as the GAPSC autism endorsement. In addition to completing core classes, students will complete meaningful field experiences over a two-year period while being a part of a cohort learning model.  During the final year, students will participate in a year-long student teaching experience.

Teacher Certification Programs

The School of Education works collaboratively with the Schools of Liberal Arts and Science and Technology to offer programs leading the certification to teach grades six through twelve in six disciplinary content areas: biology, chemistry, English, history, mathematics, and political science. Each B.S. or B.A, program includes a major in the appropriate disciplinary area plus professional preparation to teach in a Georgia secondary school.During the final year, students will participate in a year-long student teaching experience and complete a leadership seminar.  Refer to the GGC website for the most up-to-date program plan.

Admission to the Educator Preparation Programs

To be eligible to apply for admission, students must:

1. Declare a pre-major in one of the following: 

• Elementary Education (certification to teach grades preschool -5)
• •Middle Grades Education (certification to teach grades 4-8 with concentration inHistory/ELA or Math/Science)
• •Special Education (certification to teach grades preschool - 12)
• •Biology Teacher Certification (certification to teach grades 6 - 12)
• •Chemistry Teacher Certification (certification to teach grades 6 - 12)
• •Math Teacher Certification (certification to teach grades 6 - 12)
• •English Teacher Certification (certification to teach grades 6 - 12)
• •History Teacher Certification (certification to teach grades 6 - 12)
• •Political Science Teacher Certification (certification to teach grades 6 - 12)

2.  Earn at least 45 semester hours with an overall GPA of 2.5 or better.

3.  Be a student in good academic standing at Georgia Gwinnett College. This means that theapplicant should not be on academic warning or academic probation.

4.  Complete EDUC 2110, EDUC 2120 and EDUC 2130 (or approved transfer substitutions) with agrade of “C” or better.

5.  Receive satisfactory ratings on Educational Foundations Professional Practices and Behaviordispositional instrument in EDUC 2120 and EDUC 2130.

6.  For Elementary Education majors, complete MATH 2008 with a grade of “C” or better.

7.  For Middle Grades Education Math/Science concentration, complete Math 1113 and ISCI 2001 witha “C” or better.

8.  Pass the GACE Educators’ Ethics Exam (Test 360).

9.  Receive satisfactory ratings from your mentor recommendation form.

10  .Submit evidence of liability insurance. Liability insurance may be obtained through membership in aprofessional educators’ organization.

11.  For transfer students, provide verification that any prior enrollment in an Educator PreparationProgram did not result in dismissal from the program.

Applicants should work with their faculty mentor to complete and submit an EPP application packet for admission to Educator Preparation Program no later than November 15th.

Tier 1 Documentation Required for Application

GACE Educators’ Ethics Exam (Test 360)

• The candidate is required to pass the GACE Ethics Exam (Test 360) prior to being accepted into the EPP. Information for the GACE Educators’ Ethics Exam, along with information on accommodations for test takers, can be found at the following link. Please click here.

Application Review Process

EPAC Review Process

• The Educator Preparation Advisory Committee (EPAC) will review all submitted and complete application packets using the EPAC Educator Preparation Program Admission Rubric. The applicant must score a value of 20 points or higher on the rubric to successfully be admitted into the EPP. If the applicant scores a zero on any of the relevant areas, this will result in an automatic denial in to the EPP. Applicants will be informed of EPAC’s decision by the Dean’s Office. Followingadmission to EPP, candidates must complete Tier 2 documentation, which includes applying for a Preservice Certificate with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), a criminal background check and Verification of Lawful Presence documentation, which must include a notarized affidavit and valid proof of identity.

Admission Process

Tier 2 Documentation

• After the EPAC completes its review of each submitted application packet and render a decision on the admission of each applicant, the Dean’s Office will send an EPP Admission Status email notification to the applicants regarding their admission status and directions for completing and submitting all required Tier 2 Documentation, which are outlined below.

Liability Insurance

• Each pre-education student who is accepted into the EPP must purchase professional liability insurance. This insurance is offered through multiple organizations and can be found online through an educational organization such as The Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the National Educational Association.

Preservice Certificate

• The preservice certificate is part of Georgia’s tiered teacher certification system and provides a statewide structure to organize procedures related to preservice teachers once admitted to certain state-approved educator preparation programs. Teacher candidates are not able to complete field experiences at a school site unless they have been issued a preservice certificate. This certificate is active for five (5) years. If you withdraw or postpone/suspend your enrollment in the EPP, your preservice certificate will be cancelled. You will have to apply for a renewal of your preservice certificate before you reenter the EPP or during the EPP Reentry Process.

Criminal Background Check

• A state criminal background check is required for a Preservice certificate and verified by the GaPSC as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.03. Although state and federal criminal background checks are not part of the certification process in Georgia other than as required for a Preservice certificate, FBI background checks (fingerprint) are required for professional employment in Georgia public, private, waiver, strategic waiver system, charter system or charter schools. Georgia criminal background checks are also required every five (5) years for certificate renewal and affirmed by the employing school or school system.

Verification of Lawful Presence

• The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) requires that lawful presence verification documentation to be submitted for all teacher candidates enrolled in an EPP. This documentation requires the submission of a notarized affidavit and valid proof of identity. Please click here for more information.

Courses Registration Process

• All program courses can only be taken once accepted and admitted to the EPP. Year 1 teacher candidates will receive an email from the Dean’s Office with directions to register for courses

Transfer Students Applying for Admission to the EPP

• Transfer students are responsible for completing and submitting the same Tier 1 documentation and required material for the application packet as outlined above for GGC pre-education majors by the November 15th deadline. It is their responsibility to apply early enough for admission to GGC as a pre- education major so that they have enough time to then apply for admission to the EPP by the November 15th deadline. Transfer student can email the SOE Senior Mentor at soeadvising@ggc.edufor assistance and support in determining their eligibility to apply for the EPP once they are admitted to GGC as a pre-education student. The Senior Mentor will work with transfer students who are eligible to apply to the EPP on preparing their application packet until they are assigned faculty mentor. If they didn’t complete any of the three educational foundations courses at GGC (i.e., EDUC 2110, EDUC 2120, and EDUC 2130), they would need to include a complete referral with their application packet from a course instructor at the institution where they completed these courses. The referral form template can be provided by the faculty mentor or SOE Senior Mentor. This form must be submitted directly to soeadmissions@ggc.edu by the course instructor(s).

EPP Admission Checkpoints

• The EPP spans two years using the cohort model. Once admitted to the EPP, teacher candidates will be assigned to a specific block of courses for each of the four semesters in the EPP (i.e., Year 1 fall, Year 1 spring, Year 2 fall and Year 2 spring). Information about your assigned block of courses and course registration will be sent via email by the Dean’s Office prior to the fall and spring semester. The EPAC Committee will review and score the Tier 1 documentation provided in the application packet student using the EPAC Educator Preparation Program Admission Rubric. Pre-education students who apply are responsible for making sure the application packet includes all Tier 1 documentation and is sent by email to soeadmissions@ggc.edu no later than November 15th. Applicants will receive an email confirmation regarding their admission status from the Dean’s Office by the beginning of February. The EPP Admission Status email notification will include directions for completing Tier 2 documentation and other material to confirm and finalize your admission into the EPP. Once pre-education applicants are fully admitted into the EPP, they are then referred to as “teacher candidates” or teacher candidates who are in their first year in the EPP (i.e., Year 1 teacher candidates). At this point, your major will change from pre-education to education, with the word “pre” dropped from your major. Teacher candidates who transition to their second and final year in the EPP are referred to as “student teachers” or “Year 2 student teachers”. See Appendix A for details and description of Checkpoints. Transfer Students Applying for Admission to the EPP

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

1.1 Candidates foster environments that reflect ethical behavior, respect, kindness, safety, and care.
1.2 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
2.2 Candidates utilize a variety of content appropriate instructional strategies that 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 maXimize student success.

Domain 3: Assessment and Analytical Expertise

3.1 Candidates assess student learning using appropriate assessment tools.
3.2 Candidates organize, analyze, and interpret assessment data from multiple sources.
3.3 Candidates’ instructional decisions are data-driven.

Domain 4: Leadership Expertise

4.1 Candidates assume leadership roles in classrooms and other school/community environments.
4.2 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.

General Education: (60 semester hours)

Additional Requirements (3 hours)

Program of Study (60 semester hours)

Formal Admission to Educator Preparation Required