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Spring 2005 Volume 8 Number 2 |
Home » MSC Today Magazine » Spring 2005 » Frequently Asked Questions
About Macon State's Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education Coming in 2005 Q. What specific education degree is Macon State offering? A. The bachelor of science in education degree, with a major in early childhood education, which will prepare teachers for grades pre-kindergarten through five. Q. When will the degree program be available? A. Macon State expects to launch the degree in Fall 2005, with classes available on both the Macon and Warner Robins campuses. Q. Will this program be similar to early childhood degrees at other colleges or universities? A. This program will be innovative because it will enable students to earn dual certification in early childhood education and special education. The program will emphasize methods of diagnosing the learning needs of individual students and tailoring instruction toward those needs. Macon State's program will position new teachers to reach the diverse learners in Georgia's elementary schools. Graduates may apply for both early childhood certification and special education certification, but they do not have to apply for both.
Q. What is the job market like for teachers? A. With projected public-school enrollment increases and no change in the teacher attrition rate, the University System of Georgia estimates that the state will need approximately 14,500 new teachers by 2010. Job opportunities in Georgia should remain strong for some years to come. Macon State College is playing a key role in the University System's commitment to significantly increase the number and diversity of teachers for Georgia's classrooms over the next five years. (Continued on next page) Q. How much do public school teachers in Georgia make? A. Statewide, average pay for teachers is $45,050 a year, according to the Georgia Career Information Center. As of 2004, the base pay for starting teachers with bachelor's degrees in Georgia was $29,650. Many individual school systems add local supplements to the base pay funded by the state. In Bibb County, as of 2004, starting pay for teachers with bachelor's degrees was $31,359 with the local supplement added. In Houston County, starting pay for teachers with bachelor's degrees was $32,708 with the local supplement added. Q. What general qualifications are required of applicants to Macon State's program? A. Admission to this program is expected to be competitive. Students will be admitted to the program at the beginning of their junior year. To be considered for admission, an applicant must at minimum: 1. Have completed all freshman and sophomore coursework required of education majors. 2. Have a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average. 3. Earn a passing score on PRAXIS I, the test of basic skills that all aspiring teachers in Georgia must take. (A score of 1000 on the SAT, 43 on the ACT or 1030 on the GRE may be accepted in lieu of taking Praxis I. Official scores must be mailed to the Macon State Office of Academic Affairs prior to admission.) 4. Undergo a criminal background check, which is required of anyone who wants to teach in a Georgia public school. Q. Is there a minimum grade point average I must maintain to stay in the program and graduate? A. Graduates must have at least a 2.5 GPA. Q. Do I have to pass a state or national exam to be certified to teach? A. Yes, students in the degree program must pass the PRAXIS II, the state of Georgia's teacher certification test. Q. At what point do I take the exam? Do I complete the degree and then take the certification exam? What if I don't pass? A. Students take the PRAXIS II after completing all coursework and usually while fulfilling the student teaching requirement, which generally takes place during the last semester of the degree program. The PRAXIS II may be re-taken, if necessary. (Learn more about the teacher certification process at the website of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission: .) Q. How many credit hours does Macon State's early childhood program consist of? A. The program is in the developmental stages but, like other degree programs, will require between 120 and 129 semester hours of coursework. Q. What is the program's curriculum? A. Macon State is in the process of developing the curriculum. More information will be available soon. Q. Can students pursue the degree part-time? A.Students who are beginning or continuing work on the core curriculum may attend part-time. Students who are admitted into the education program for upper-division work must attend full-time due to the field experiences (pre-kindergarten through fifth grade actual classroom experiences) that are a critical component of the program. Field experiences are required throughout the coursework of the program and must be done during the regular public school day. Also, student teaching requires the student to be full-time during that term, which is usually the last semester before graduation. It is the goal of the Division of Education to eventually make part-time study available when possible to students taking upper-division coursework. Q. What if I want to teach middle grades or high school? A. Macon State intends to develop middle grades and secondary teaching degree programs in the future; for now, the College is focused on developing a high-quality early childhood teaching degree. Q. What if I already have a bachelor's degree in another major? Can I just take enough courses in the education program to become eligible for certification or do I have to complete all the education degree requirements? A. Macon State College would be happy to have qualified students enroll in our program and work toward the completion of a second degree. Q. I have an associate's degree from Macon State, but it's not in education. How long would it take me to complete the education degree if I go full-time? A. We will be able to answer that question after evaluation of the transcript. At that time we can advise students how long it will take to complete the degree in education. Q. I am currently majoring in early childhood education at another college or university and would like to transfer to Macon State. Will all of my credits transfer? A. Transfer students can submit their transcripts to Macon State for evaluation along with their application to the College and to the early childhood program. After the transcript is reviewed, a determination can be made about which credits will transfer. Q. I currently work in a public school as a paraprofessional. Can I “test out” some of these courses? A. Upon admission to the College and to the program it's possible that students will be able to “test out” of some of the required courses. Q. While I'm waiting for Macon State to also develop degrees in middle grades and secondary education, can I get started by taking some courses in the early childhood program? Won't some of those courses also apply to middle grades or secondary education? A. Possibly. However, it's recommended that students first complete any remaining courses needed in the secondary education track or in the middle grades track of the associate's degree program at Macon State College. As Macon State continues to develop the early childhood major and builds a Division of Education, faculty advisors will be available to talk to students in more detail. Q. How much does it cost to attend Macon State College? A. For students living in Central Georgia and aspiring to teach, Macon State is by far the most convenient and affordable option to get an early childhood education degree. As of the 2004-2005 academic year, tuition and mandatory fees for a full-time student taking junior- and senior-level classes total $1,240 per semester. (The University System of Georgia's Board of Regents may adjust tuition and fee rates for the 2005-2006 academic year.) Q. Is financial aid available for this degree program? A. Macon State's financial aid office can explain possible financial aid options. Call (478) 471-2717 or (800) 272-7619 or email Students admitted into the education degree program may also wish to explore the , a component of Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program, which provides forgivable loans to students who aspire to be teachers in Georgia public schools. (Learn more at .) Macon State College is seeking approval to be a part of this program. Q. I'm sold. How do I get started? A. Fill out the postage paid information card in this issue of MSC Today and send it to us. Or join our mailing list online at www.maconstate.edu/education. If you have other questions, here are some additional ways of contacting Macon State College: Call: (478) 471-2800 or (800) 272-7619 |
