Creating Teaching Opportunities:
A Collaborative Effort of Colleges of Education of the
University System of Georgia

The University of West Georgia
MIDDLE GRADES EDUCATION
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FAQs

Is Georgia Responds for me?

The program is designed for those persons with bachelor's degrees in fields other than teaching, who wish to move into the public school middle grades classroom. Classes are scheduled on weekend or evening formats to allow full employment while taking courses.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to become qualified for a provisional teaching certificate while completing the Georgia Responds program, and transition into a middle level teaching position before taking the one-year supervised internship. The program is fast-moving, but flexible.

What do I need to do to be admitted?

If you have a bachelor's degree or higher, have an overall GPA in the last 60 hours taken of 2.7, and have passed PRAXIS I, you are eligible to apply. PRAXIS I may be exempted by posting a total score of 1030 quantitative on the GRE, a total score of 1000 on the SAT, or a total score of 43 (verbal plus quantitative) on the ACT.
If you have a 2.5, you may take education courses at the 2000 level or courses in Arts and Sciences, but a 2.7 is required for education courses at the 3000 level or higher.
Admission Guidelines

When does the program begin?

Courses will begin in the summer of 2004.

How long will the program take to earn my middle grades certificate?

The program is designed to complete all coursework for certification in one year, summer to summer, with the one-year supervised internship to follow. If the pace is too heavy a load, the program may be completed at a slower rate. If you are employed in a school on a provisional teaching certificate, you must complete the total initial certification program within three years of issuance of the certificate by the state Professional Standards Commission.

Should I seek provisional certification and employment?

Yes, that is the best way to transition into a teaching position. In our program, you must spend a year in a supervised internship. It is far more convenient, and much cheaper, to do so as a provisionally employed teacher. Contact the GA Professional Standards Commission at http://www.gapsc.com/ or at 800-869-9000.

Will this program lead into a Masters Degree?

The program provides an option of taking three courses at the graduate level. These courses may then be used as part of the requirements for the M.Ed. in Middle Grades Education.

Where may I learn more?

For questions not addressed here or on the website, contact Dr. John Myers at jmyers@westga.edu

What is the Difference between Provisional Certification and Initial Certification?

The three-year "provisional" certificate is no longer issued by the PSC, although many teachers are still employed on those previously issued. The new certificate is the Five-Year Non-Renewable. For the PSC to issue the certificate at the request of the employing school system, the applicant must have passed (or exempted) Praxis I and the appropriate Praxis II (content field test). The certificate is good for five years, during which time the applicant must affiliate with and complete a state approved initial certification program, such as Georgia Responds, to qualify for the Clear Renewable Certificate. For more information on types of certification, see the Georgia Professional standards Commission website at www.gapsc.com.

Will this program meet the state technology competencies required for all teachers by 2006?

No, Georgia Responds will introduce you to technology applications for the classroom, but will not satisfy state certification requirements. During the program, you should plan to meet these competencies in one of three ways: 1) complete state approved InTech training through your employing school system; 2) complete the state approved Computer Exemption Option (CEO) offered in coordination with the state Educational Technology Training Centers (ETTCs); or 3) complete MEDT 6401, Educational Technology at the University of West Georgia.

GA Responds Guidelines for Application and Contact Information

Deadlines | Contact Information | Registration Information | Praxis I Information | Course Calendar

Proof of the following should be submitted to the Graduate School:

• Completed application for admission.
  
• Non-refundable $20.00 application fee (one time only)
  
• Meet minimum 2.7 GPA (2.7 overall GPA or 2.7 GPA on last 60 hours of all course work attempted) required for admission to teacher certification programs in Middle Grades Education and Special Education. If you have less than a 2.7 GPA, you make take courses to increase your GPA to qualify for the program. You should seek advising prior to scheduling any courses to increase your GPA.
  
• One official transcript from each college or university attended. If you hold a graduate degree, please submit transcripts from the institution(s) where this coursework was completed.
  
• Proof of exemption or satisfactory score on PRAXIS I.
  
• Photocopy of your highest teaching/educator certificate (if you hold one).
  
• Satisfactory Certificate of Immunization - (New Students Only).

Please send all documents directly to the Graduate School, State University of West Georgia, Carrollton, Georgia 30118-4160. Inquiries related to your application status should be directed to the Graduate School by calling (678) 839--6419, or via email at gradsch@westga.edu. The fax number is (678) 839--2301.
Your application status may also be viewed at http://www.westga.edu/~gradsch/.

Graduate School Application Deadlines

Summer Semester 2004 Deadline Application - May 17, 2004
Summer Semester begins May 19, 2004

Fall Semester 2004 Tuesday, August 3, 2004

Important Phone Numbers

Department of Curriculum and Instruction - Middle Grades Education
(678) 839--6559
Contact persons: June Barry or Barbara Lewis
Staff Assistants Email: jbarry@westga.edu or blewis@westga.edu

Dean's office College of Education (678) 839--6570

Financial Aid (678) 839--6421

Registrar's Office (678) 839--6438

The Graduate School's website has links to all graduate programs.

Registration Information

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION DAY - SUMMER and FALL 2004

• New Student Registration - Friday, June 4
  
  
• New graduate students can register on Banweb on June 4 or can come to the Registrar's Office on June 4 between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.
  
  
• Please note that continuing and former graduate students at the State Payment of Tuition Fees for Spring 2004 Friday, January 9, 2004 by 5:00 PM

University of West Georgia who have not been admitted to a new degree program must register during ADVANCE REGISTRATION or during LATE REGISTRATION. Students registering during Late Registration will be charged a $75.00 late registration fee.

After late registering or adjusting your schedule, you are responsible for printing a copy of your schedule and bill, and checking the accuracy of both. If you have adjusted your schedule and your new bill shows a balance due, please pay your fees by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, June 9, 2004. Fees (including the $75.00 late fee for late registrants) can be paid in the Office of the Comptroller in Aycock Hall, in Student Financial Services, or at the cashier's window. If your fees are not paid by this deadline, your classes will be dropped.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION (SUMMER/FALL 2004)

• Advance registration for Summer and Fall Semesters 2004 is Monday, April 5- Friday, April 23, 2004. Beginning with this advance registration period, registrations will be accepted on BANWEB, in person, or for graduate students, by mail. Phone-in registration will no longer be an option for registering.
  
  
• In person registration is only done on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9AM - 4:45 PM.
  
  
• Mail-in registration requests must be received by Friday, April 23. They are processed as time permits so there is no guarantee courses will be open when the request is processed.
  
  
• Summer advance registration fees are due Thursday, May 13, 2004.
  
  
• Information on Fall Semester 2004 advance registration will be available later during Summer Semester 2004.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Beginning with Summer 2004, courses will not be listed in the registration bulletin. Course listings are available on BANWEB under the Public Access section (no Login is required). Summer course listings should be on BANWEB around Monday, February 16, 2004. Course bulletins are posted on: http://banweb.westga.edu/

Course Calendar

The course calendar is available for download as an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf) here. If you do not already have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer you may download it for free here.