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Program Overview

Andrew College is proud to offer a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, leading to initial certification as a Georgia educator. The B.S. in Elementary Education is designed to prepare candidates with the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions necessary to meet the needs of all students in diverse settings. Completion of this degree provides the opportunity to become certified to teach pre-kindergarten to grade five (P-5) in Georgia. Integrated into the program is the P-12 Reading Endorsement, which will not only aid you in supporting students with their literacy development but will also make you more marketable as a professional educator.

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The Vision

In keeping with our Christian heritage and mission, the Andrew College Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with P-12 Reading Endorsement will equip you to teach in the modern elementary classroom, helping you develop students’ literacy skills while giving them the opportunity to understand their role and responsibility as a part of a global community.

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The Andrew College Difference

Through participation in the BSEE program, you will develop proficiency in the many areas related to becoming a successful, elementary school teacher:

  • Learning and practicing effective elementary teaching approaches and strategies
  • Assessing and documenting students’ academic growth and needs
  • Participating, early and often, in field experiences
  • Building family and community relationships
  • Working towards the P-12 Reading Endorsement embedded into the coursework
  • Using and integrating technology into classroom instruction
  • Developing skills and knowledge on how to support rural student populations
  • Becoming a competent and qualified professional educator.
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Admission

Students must meet the following admissions standards:

  • Freshman Admission:

    Beginning freshman must first gain acceptance into Andrew College as a student in the Associates in Education degree program. Students will work on their general education requirements during the first two-years of the program.

  • Transfer Students Admissions:

    Transfer students who want to be accepted into the Elementary Education program must be accepted to the college, meet the transfer-entry requirements for the program and be formally accepted into the program before registering for classes.

  • GPA Requirements for Transfer Students:

    Transfer Students must have an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher on a minimum of 30 credit hours. These credit hours may be from Andrew College or transferred from another regionally accredited institution.   Andrew College will accept up to 45 hours of transfer credit provided it is compatible to our courses.

    Testing Requirements:

    For admission into teacher education, candidates must either pass or exempt the GACE Program Admission Assessment. Students can exempt with the following minimum scores: SAT – 1080 (Evidence-Based Reading/Writing, and Math); ACT – 43 (English + Math).

 

Admission to the BSEE Program

Admission to the BSEE program is separate from admission to the Andrew College and students typically apply for admission to the program as a sophomore after having completed most of their general education requirements.

Students will need to complete or obtain the following criteria for admittance into the BSEE program.

  • Submit Application to the BSEE Program
  • Successfully complete a criminal record check.
  • Have an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher.
  • After the application form has been completed for the BSEE program, and returned, applicants must interview with program faculty to assess attributes and dispositions beyond academic ability.
  • Students must submit at least two letters of recommendation from former employers/teachers/mentors attesting to the personal character of the applicant
  • Students must complete and submit a written essay on a topic provided by the program faculty.

Programs of Study

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education Degree will require 120 credit hours.  The courses listed below are specific to the coursework that students will complete during their junior and senior years. To view the coursework that will be required for the Associates of Science Degree in Education (the first two-years of the BSEE program) please click here.

Elementary Education Coursework

EDU371 Education Contexts: Community and Cultural Impact on Learning

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program.)

This course will examine social and economic forces that affect learning for students in rural and urban contexts and how to work successfully with those impacts. Teacher candidates will explore their own and students’ cultural backgrounds and investigate methods that encourage home/school partnerships and collaborative implementation of classroom discipline and management strategies. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

EDU400 Teaching Portfolio

(Every semester)

Teacher candidates will keep a mandatory Professional Teaching E-portfolio current with their personal artifacts which record evidence of their professional growth starting upon acceptance to the Elementary Education Program. Professors will give grade credit for additions to the portfolio and will check the candidate’s progress each semester. Candidates not making satisfactory progress on their Teaching Portfolio may be dismissed from the program.

(0 credits, but integrated into each class every semester)

EDU453 Educational Probability and Statistics

(Pre-requisite ELE310)

This course covers concepts of statistics and probability appropriate for elementary teachers. Topics include statistical techniques for organizing, summarizing, presenting, and interpreting data sampling techniques; simulation methods; counting techniques; and analytic methods in probability. Computers are used to reinforce major course ideas.

Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

EDU490 Opening School Experience

The K-5 Teacher candidate must attend the pre-service days and the first two days of the beginning of the school year at a local school partner.  Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

0 credit hours

EDU499 Clinical Practice

The K-5 teacher candidate must teach in the field under the guidance of an experienced K-5 Supervisor for a full semester prior to graduation. Field hours will vary based upon scheduling need but must be equal to at least nine semester lab hours. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

9-12 clinical hours

ELE300 Elementary Teaching Methodology and Curriculum

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program.)

In this course, candidates design and implement a developmentally appropriate, standards-based curriculum and lessons for elementary children. Candidates will find the curriculum and standards on the State website. A 30-hour field experience is required; candidates must pass a criminal background check prior to field experience. Verification of professional liability insurance is required prior to field placement. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE310 Assessment in Elementary Education

(Pre-requisite Admission to the Teacher Education Program. Co-requisite ELE300)

This course examines the purposes, principles, and uses of assessment to promote student learning in the elementary classroom. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE315 Technology and Media in Elementary Education

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program. Co-requisite: ELE321, ELE322, or ELE323)

Teacher candidates learn to use technology and media to promote student learning and create lessons in content areas. Candidates learn to use technology in promoting literacy, assessing student learning, differentiating instruction, and promoting English language learning. Candidates learn to manage their own digital devices for use as professional educators and to teach K-12 students to use technology safely and ethically. Candidates must pass the Technology Assessment before program completion. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the Eportfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE320 The Elementary Classroom

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program.)

This course focuses on the concepts, principles, and theories of best practice in classroom management. Candidates examine traditional approaches to behavior management and their limitations. Candidates will examine how to create positive, productive school atmospheres and ways to structure classrooms for success. A 30-hour field experience is required; candidates must pass a criminal background check prior to field experience. Verification of professional liability insurance is required prior to field placement. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE321 Teaching Elementary Childhood Social Studies

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program.)

The focus of this course is on the curriculum goals and content for social studies in the early grades. Emphasis will be placed on developing an integrated approach to social studies and on developing inquiry processes appropriate to the age and developmental levels of students in preschool through fifth grade. Includes the use of educational technology. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E- portfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE322 Teaching Elementary Childhood Science

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program, Area F courses, ELE310)

This course is the study of integrating science processes, principles, and concepts into the teaching of science in preschool through fifth grade. Emphasis will be placed on the process-oriented inquiry method of teaching science, curriculum goals, design, and planning, and implementing and evaluating instruction in science. Includes the use of educational technology. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE323 Teaching Elementary Childhood Mathematics

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program, Area F courses, ELE310.)

The focus of this course is the integration of mathematics concepts, principles, and processes in teaching mathematics in preschool through fifth grade. Emphasis will be placed upon developing appropriate practices in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the curriculum. Includes the use of educational technology. A 30-hour field experience is required; candidates must pass a criminal background check prior to field experience. Verification of professional liability insurance is required prior to field placement. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE330 Teaching Exceptional Elementary Students

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program.)

This course prepares candidates to work collaboratively with families and school personnel to positively impact the social, educational, and behavioral development of all students, including those with disabilities. The course focuses on knowledge of legislative mandates for serving exceptional students, the characteristics of exceptionality, best practices to facilitate learning and accommodations, and accountability through assessment outcomes. This course requires a 10-hour observational experience in a school placement; proof of professional liability insurance is required prior to field placement. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE350 Fostering Creative Expression in Children

(Prerequisite- Admission to the Teacher Education Program.)

This is a course designed to teach candidates to integrate meaningful creative artistic experiences in the K-5 classroom. Techniques include visual art, theatre, music, and dance. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

ELE477 Elementary Childhood Writing and Language Arts

Teacher candidates examine the application of teaching listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and visually representing in early childhood education. Includes teaching students to compose paragraphs on a computer. Includes the use of educational technology. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

MAT433 Algebra for Teachers

This is a continuation of the Area F mathematics course. Topics include the conceptual development of rational numbers and extension to real numbers, operations and problem solving with real numbers, patterns and relationships, and proportional reasoning. Exploration with physical models will be an integral part of the study of these ideas. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

MAT443 Geometry for Teachers

(Pre-requisite MAT433)

This course is a continuation of MAT433 designed for the K-5 teacher. Topics will include the critical content and development of measurement, transformational geometry, symmetry in the plane, and constructions.

Geometric concepts will be explored using models. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

RED367 Teaching Reading

This course provides candidates with a fundamental framework in teaching reading -topics include terminology, theories, emergent literacy, technology, phonemic awareness, word recognition, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies and skills. A 30-hour field experience is required; candidates must pass a criminal background check prior to field experience. Verification of professional liability insurance is required prior to field placement. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

RED387 Diagnostic Reading Instruction

(Pre-requisite RED367)

This course instructs K-5 teacher candidates on how to analyze and remediate diagnosed reading strengths and weaknesses using informal assessment instruments and techniques. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

RED497 Reading Environment

(Pre-requisite RED387)

This course instructs the K-5 teacher candidates to use a variety of assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading and writing instruction. Includes creating a literate environment that fosters reading and writing by integrating foundational knowledge, instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessments. Teacher candidates will demonstrate this by constructing a reading environment project. Observations and artifacts will be recorded in the E-portfolio.

3 credit hours

FAQ's

What education degrees do you offer?
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Andrew College offers an Associate of Science Degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (P-5) degree program and a Reading Endorsement.

Are these programs day or evening programs?

They are traditional day programs with some online coursework.

When I complete the BSEE program, what grades can I teach?

Upon completion of the coursework and other program criteria you will be able to teach at the P-5 level in the state of Georgia.

Besides coursework, what else must I do to become a P-5 certified teacher?

To be certified to teach you must graduate from an approved program (Andrew College), pass the state certification examinations (E-portfolio, Ethics Exit Exam, and GACE) and be recommended for a certification.

When I complete this program, will I be certified to teach in another state?

Some states have a reciprocal agreement with Georgia, so you can receive a certificate in another state based on your Georgia certificate.  Some states have additional requirements for certification.

Will I spend time in schools?

Yes.  There will be a significant number of field experience hours required.

What is an internship?

Internship refers to the student teaching clinical practice.  It is a full-experience that students usually complete in their last semester at Andrew College.

What are field placement experiences?

Candidates spend a significant amount of time completing observations and assignments within area elementary schools.  Known as field placement experiences, these occur as a part of various classes students will take.

Do you offer education courses in the summer?

Some core requirement education courses may be offered in the summer.

BSEE Bachelor of Science in Education Brochure

Click here to download the BSEE Bachelor of Science in Education Brochure

BSEE FACULTY

FACULTY

Director of Elementary Education
Assistant Professor of Education

229-732-5929

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