Academic Catalog

Secondary Education (BSED)

Gordon State College’s BSED in Secondary Education Program has been approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC). Currently, the program includes a concentration in English/Language Arts and a concentration in history. 
  
Courses in English/Language Arts and history are developed in conjunction with the content coordinators. 

General Requirements and Procedures for Admission to THE Secondary Education Program 

Admission to the BSED in Secondary Education program is granted as space is available. Not all individuals who meet the admission requirements may be admitted. Disciplinary action at Gordon State College and any other institution that the student has attended, including the military, may prevent admission. 

Applications to Gordon State College and to the BSED in Secondary Education program are available on the Gordon State College website and must be submitted to the School of Education, Arts and Humanities. Applications must be submitted with qualifying GPA and GACE Program Ethics Assessment to be considered. Application materials must be complete for full acceptance.

Admission Requirements

  1. Admission to the secondary education program is only open to students who are actively pursuing a baccalaureate degree. 
  2. Applicants are projected to complete all lower-level courses required as preparation for the BSED in Secondary Education by the end of the summer semester prior to beginning upper-level education program courses in the fall semester. The overall institutional GPA for lower-level courses completed must be 2.5 or better. 
  3. Applicants must have a grade of “C” or higher in   ENGL 1101 English Comp I, ENGL 1102 English Comp II, and in the math course used to satisfy the core curriculum requirement. In addition, applicants must have earned at least a C in all lower-level courses related to the program of study. Applicants from non-USG institutions must have a grade of “C” or better in comparable courses used to satisfy these requirements.  Non-Gordon students must provide an official transcript. 
  4. Applicants must complete all portions of the complete all portions of the Application for Admission to the BSED in Secondary Education Program.
  5. Students must pass the GACE Ethics Assessment
  6. Students must register with the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) and create a MyPSC account.
  7. Students must complete the Verification of Lawful  Presence Form with the PSC.
  8. Students must complete all paperwork for the Pre-Service Certification with the PSC which will include a criminal background check and fingerprinting.

Students transferring to Gordon State College must meet all criteria for admission to the BSED in Secondary Education as outlined above. 

Students accepted for admission will be part of a cohort of students enrolled in the program of study throughout the Secondary Education courses, field experiences, and internship. Prior to beginning field experience, students are required to submit proof of professional liability insurance coverage. Currently, candidates are admitted only for full-time study. 

Academic Progress and Policies

Teacher candidates must meet the following requirements to progress in the Education Program:

  • Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5.
  • Complete all upper division professional education courses with at least a grade of “C” in each course. Upper division professional education courses below the grade of “C” may be retaken only once, and no more than 2 upper division professional education courses in total may be retaken. Upper division professional education courses also include all fieldwork and student teaching courses.
  • Teacher candidates are required to earn a minimum grade of B in all SPED courses.
  • Complete one year of upper division coursework and student teaching internships in full-time residence at Gordon State College.  
  • Have professional liability insurance throughout the duration of the program. 
  • Adhere to the School of Education Honor Code and all other policies of Gordon State College, the School of Education and associated Local Boards of Education. 
  • Adhere to Georgia Professional Standards Commission Policies on Ethics for Educators. 

Re-entry

A teacher candidate who voluntarily withdraws from the BSED in Secondary Education program must submit a request in writing for readmission to the education program along with a completed application form at least one semester prior to the semester in which the teacher candidate wishes to attend. A candidate must meet all the admission/acceptance requirements, including an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher to be considered. Re-entry occurs on a space-available basis.

Dismissal

Failure to meet either academic or ethical progression requirement(s) may result in dismissal from Teacher Education. Unprofessional conduct, breaches in the Honor Code, unsafe educational practices, or unethical professional practices may result in the student being referred to the School of Education (SOE) Discipline Committee. This committee will hear the evidence against the student and may decide to retain the student with an Action Plan, suspend the student with an Action Plan, or dismiss the student from the program. The Gordon State College catalog,  School of Education Honor Code, and the Program Handbook contain detailed descriptions of student actions liable to require intervention by the SOE Discipline Committee. Candidates who are dismissed from the program for any reason must wait at least one year before making reapplication. Admissions requirements in place at the time of this re-application must be met. Additional disciplinary actions may also be taken at the College level by the Academic Judicial Committee or the Dean of Students. The Gordon State College Academic Catalog contains a full description of these rights and responsibilities and the disciplinary procedures that will guide the action of faculty and administration should a candidate commit prohibited behaviors. 

Field Experience and Internship 

Teacher candidates are required to complete a minimum of 750 hours of field experience in a variety of school settings/ placements in order to meet program requirements for graduation and certification. School districts in this region serve as collaborative partners in providing access to programs, students, and mentor teachers. Gordon State College Teacher candidates must comply with the same policies and procedures of local boards of education that apply to their own full-time teaching faculty. This includes a current criminal background check and fingerprinting. Additionally, candidates shall comply with codes of dress, conduct, punctuality, and professionalism when they are present on school campuses. Field experiences are planned to enable candidates to participate in a wide variety of activities in different educational settings with diverse students and staff.

In the semester prior to graduation, candidates complete full-time student teaching in their area of expertise. Placement in requested counties, districts, or schools cannot be guaranteed.