Preparing highly qualified professional educators has been the cornerstone of the College of Education. Based on standards from state, regional, and national accrediting agencies, best practices, and relevant research, the teacher preparation programs emphasize what beginning professional educators should know and be able to do at the end of their undergraduate studies. Every program requires extensive field experiences for teacher candidates to demonstrate their ability to plan, implement, and evaluate learning opportunities for students in diverse settings. These field experiences are conducted under the close supervision of a certified teacher in the public schools and a college supervisor. In order to graduate and be recommended for certification, all teacher candidates must demonstrate in a P-12 classroom the competencies for success of beginning teachers in their chosen field of study.
Mission of the College of Education
The College of Education is committed to excellence in the preparation of teachers, kinesiology professionals, counselors, and administrators for service with diverse populations in a wide variety of settings. The professional educators involved in the various programs prepare students for today’s opportunities through a collaboratively developed series of courses and appropriate field experiences, while demonstrating outstanding teaching techniques and procedures from relevant research and best practice.
The College of Education is committed to relevant research and other scholarly activities leading to the advancement of knowledge and good practice in the total learning and schooling process. Research is conducted in collaboration with students, public school practitioners, and colleagues from other colleges to determine those things that work, do not work, and/or need to be revised in order to maximize the learning opportunities.
The College of Education is committed to a service mission which provides leadership in the development and dissemination of relevant knowledge to address the wide range of challenges faced by students, parents, teachers, kinesiology professionals, counselors, and administrators in the learning and schooling process.
Degree Programs
- Minor in Kinesiology
- Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Health and Physical Education
- Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a Concentration in:
- Exercise and Sports Science
- Health Science
- Nutrition
- Pre-Physical Therapy
- Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Middle Grades Education
- Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Special Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching with a Concentration in Early Childhood Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching with a Concentration in Foreign Language
- Master of Arts in Teaching with a Concentration in Health and Physical Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching with a Concentration in Middle Grades Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching with a Concentration in Music Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching with a Concentration in Secondary Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching with a Concentration in Special Education
- Master of Education with a Major in Curriculum and Instruction
- Master of Education with a Major in Counselor Education with a Concentration in:
- Clinical Mental Health and/or School Counseling
- Master of Education with a Major in Leadership with a Concentration in:
- School Administration (Tier 1)
- Teacher Leadership
- Master of Science in Kinesiology
- Specialist in Education with a Major in Counselor Education with a Concentration in:
- Clinical Mental Health
- School Counseling
- Specialist in Education with a Major in Curriculum and Instruction
- Specialist in Education with a Major in Educational Leadership (Tier Two)
- Specialist in Education with a Major in Educational Leadership- Extended Performance- Based Program Track
- Doctor of Education with a Major in Educational Innovation with a Concentration:
- Educational Leadership
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Post Master’s Certificate in Advanced Counseling and Supervision-Professional Licensure
Non-degree Certification Only
- M.Ed. Leadership Tier One
- M.Ed. Leadership (Teacher Leadership)
Endorsements:
- Gifted Endorsement
- Mathematics Endorsement (K-5)
- Reading Endorsement
- Teacher Support and Coaching Endorsement
Certificate Programs (These programs do not lead to any certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission):
- Sports Coaching
- Active Aging
Undergraduate and graduate degree programs leading to certification are offered by the College of Education in collaboration with the Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the College of Science and Mathematics.
Faculty
Dean: Dr. Zach Kelehear
Associate Dean: Dr. Edward Lord; Dr. Judi Wilson
Department of Advanced Studies and Innovation
Chair: Dr. Michelle Bryan
Professor: Harris, P.; Jackson, C.; Kelehear, Z.
Associate Professor: Deaner, R. G.; Lord, E.W.; Wilson, J.; Kemp, D.; Quinn, M.; Christodoulou, N.; Bryan, M.
Assistant Professor: Buning, M.; Linville, D.; Brown, M.; Henderson, K.; Lenares-Solomon, D.; Harper, R.; Rausch, M.; Rychly, L.
Department of Kinesiology
Chair: Dr. Steven Page
Professor: Dohoney, P.J.
Associate Professor: Connolly, G.J.; Darracott, C.R.; Darracott, S.H.; Page, S.
Assistant Professor: Hardy, L.A.; Wish, K.W.; Holland, M.; Bennett, H.; Stone, B.
Lecturer: Cooper, C.
Department of Teaching and Leading
Chair: Dr. Susan Edwards
Professor: Eisenman, G.
Associate Professor: Pendergraft, E.C.; Agunloye, O.; Berg, M.
Assistant Professor: Pettit, S.; Walker, J.; Yamaguchi, M.; Kuo, N.; Simpson, J.; Gess, A.
Accreditations
The educator preparation programs offered by the College of Education at Augusta University are accredited by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) of the state of Georgia and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This accreditation includes the basic and advanced levels of the professional education programs offered at Augusta University through the College of Education and the collaborative programs with the Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the College of Science and Mathematics.
Alternative Certification Programs
Individuals who hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and wish to become certified in one of the teacher preparation fields offered in the College of Education may apply to the Master of Arts in Teaching program. The phone number for the Graduate Admissions office in the College of Education is 706-729-2980. http://www.augusta.edu/education/graduate_admissions.php
Educator Certification
The College of Education is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to offer certification and endorsement in a variety of areas. These include initial teaching fields (at the undergraduate and graduate levels) and advanced degrees in areas such as leadership, curriculum and instruction, and school counseling. For certification information contact Ms. Fran Sunderland in the College of Education Dean’s Office (706-737-1873).
No active programs available.
Department of Kinesiology
Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology with a Major in Kinesiology (B.S.K.)
Kinesiology is the scientific study of the anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of body movement, especially in humans. The field of kinesiology is quite varied but generally consists of biomechanical, physiological, psychological, and sociocultural approaches to the study of movement. A degree in Kinesiology leads to careers in exercise; fitness, wellness, and health promotion; sport; and rehabilitation. The B.S.K is an appropriate undergraduate degree in preparation for professional graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, public health, exercise physiology and other related areas. Coursework includes classes in motor learning, exercise physiology, sport and exercise psychology, structural kinesiology, nutrition, fitness testing, and exercise prescription. Students majoring in Kinesiology select one of four concentrations (focus area) for their degree: exercise and sport science, pre-physical therapy, health science, or nutrition.
Exercise and Sport Science
The Exercise and Sport Science concentration is designed to provide a strong science-based academic preparation for students who wish to pursue study in physical fitness and training. This track is also appropriate for students desiring to enter a graduate program in exercise science, exercise physiology, or who plan to work in fitness and cardiac rehabilitation professions.
Pre-Physical Therapy
The Pre-Physical Therapy concentration is an excellent preparatory program for graduate study in physical therapy as well as post-baccalaureate study in exercise physiology and cardiac rehabilitation. Students learn the principles of measurement/evaluation as they relate to injury assessment and rehabilitation, principles of exercise physiology to prescribe safe and effective rehabilitation programs, and identify preventative techniques.
Health Science
This is a comprehensive training program for students interested in pursuing a graduate degree related to public health, wellness, health education or health promotion. It also prepares students to work as general health educators in health promotion/wellness programs at fitness/wellness facilities and/or corporations.
Nutrition
This is a Nutrition concentration as an area of study for the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. This concentration will enable graduates to apply for accredited masters programs with dietetic internships; it does NOT meet the requirements for application to a dietetic internship to become a registered dietitian.
Special Note: The B.S.K. degree does not lead to initial certification for teaching P - 12 physical education. The undergraduate degree in Health and Physical Education - Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S. Ed.) will lead to initial certification. To obtain the initial certification, students must complete the requirements in the Kinesiology and Health Science department that are specific to health and physical education as well as the required education classes and teacher certification requirements. Refer to the College of Education Teacher Education sections for more information on these requirements.
Bachelor of Science in Education
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
Non-degree
Department of Teaching and Leading
Advisement
Due to the many, and sometimes changing, requirements for certification, advisement of students is a very important process in the College of Education. Because of this, students enrolled in a teacher preparation program may not utilize the self-advisement process. All students in teacher preparation programs should meet with and obtain approval from their advisor in order to register for courses.
Advisement Prior to Admission to Teacher Education
Students who have not been admitted to Teacher Education are advised by the Preadmission Advisor. This individual is available to assist students with a wide range of scheduling and planning issues.
Clinical and Professional Field Experiences
The teacher preparation programs at Augusta University place a strong emphasis on “hands-on” experiences with professional educators in actual classroom settings. Students should expect a field experience as a part of most courses in the preparation process. Clinical and field experiences are monitored for each student to insure that they have had the opportunity to work with diverse populations in a wide variety of educational levels and settings.
Due to the sensitive nature of working with children in the public schools, the Department of Public Safety at Augusta University will conduct a background review of all students at three specific points in the preparation program. The first check will be made as part of enrollment in EDUC 2110 - Investigating Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education. Only students who present a record free of criminal and/or disciplinary activity will be allowed to enter a public school classroom. The second check will be made as part of the admission to Teacher Education process. The third check will be made as a prerequisite to entering the apprenticeship experience. Students who are admitted to the apprenticeship experience must have a record free of criminal and/or disciplinary activity.
Student Teaching Experience
The student teaching experience is the culminating activity in all of the teacher preparation programs. Successful completion of this experience is required of all undergraduate students seeking a degree and certification in a teacher preparation field of study. In this experience, a student spends an entire semester working with a master teacher in a school classroom. At the end of this semester’s experience, students are expected to demonstrate all of the prerequisite skills required of an entry level teacher. Criteria for admission to the Apprenticeship Semester are:
- Completion of all course work in the major area of study.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on all course work.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on all upper division course work in the major (ECED, MGED, SPED). For secondary and P-12 education majors, a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 is required on all content courses utilized as part of the major and a cumulative grade point of at least 3.0 is required on all professional education courses.
- Successful completion of the Comprehensive Portfolio and edTPA.
- A record free of criminal, disciplinary, and psychological problems.
- Verification of physical health appropriate to the requirements of a classroom teacher.
- The written recommendation of the student’s academic advisor.
Due to the intensive nature of the experience, students may not enroll in any additional course work during the Student Teaching Semester.
Recommendation for Certification
Professional teacher certification is granted by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission upon the recommendation of the College of Education. In order to be eligible for a recommendation for certification in the field of study, a student must:
- Complete all of the required course work in field of study.
- Successfully complete the Student Teaching Experience.
- Score successfully on the edTPA assignment.
- Earn a passing score on the Georgia Certification Exam in the appropriate certification field.
- Complete the application process for certification.
Integrating Honors Students into Teacher Preparation
Early Childhood Education
The Honors student will determine, in conjunction with his or her education advisor, where the 3900 courses will fit into the student’s program of study.
HONR 3999, and HONR 4000 (2 hours) will be substituted for the Apprenticeship seminar in ECED 4491.The Honors capstone course will be substituted for 1 hour of the student’s apprenticeship. The Honors thesis will be done in conjunction with field experiences.
Middle Grades Education
The Honors student will determine, in conjunction with his or her education advisor, where the two Honors 3900 courses will be substituted. The 3900 courses will be substituted in the student’s content concentration.
HONR 3999 , and HONR 4000 (2 hours) will be substituted for the Apprenticeship seminar in MGED 4210. The Honors capstone course will be substituted for one hour of the student’s apprenticeship. The Honors thesis will be done in conjunction with field experiences.
Bachelor of Science in Education
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