EDUCATION MAJORS AT ABAC -- Frequently Asked Questions

1. What courses should I take at ABAC?  You will take Core Curriculum courses your first two years.  The ABAC catalog lists those courses for your major, and you also need to go to your advisor, who will fill out an Academic Progress Sheet for your major with you.   Early Childhood Education majors need to enroll in the recommended sequence of courses on the back of this page in order to graduate in four semesters.
   • Take ENGL 1101 and MATH 1111 or 1101 as soon as possible
   •  Mix subjects you find difficult with those you enjoy
   • ABAC 1000 includes an assignment  to help map out your four semesters.
   • Watch for pre-requisites -  PSYC 1101 are required for other PSYC courses and for EDUC 2130; a “C” in ENGL 1101, plus 15 semester hours is required for education courses.  MATH 1101 or MATH 1111 is  required prior to taking Physical Science and Foundations of Numbers & Operations (MATH 2008).   ENGL 1102 is required for literature and humanities courses.

2. How many hours should I take each semester?  You need 60 credit hours to graduate from ABAC, so plan to take at least 15 hours per semester to graduate in two years.  Students who want to teach at the high school level need to see their advisor for major-specific information. 

3. Will I be able to take Education courses at ABAC?  Yes.  Three education courses are included in Area F of the core curriculum, each with 10 hours of required field experience.  It is best to take no more than two education courses per semester.  Students who want to teach at the high school level  can take education courses at ABAC to  apply to a secondary education degree at a 4-year school.  However, those courses are separate from the core curriculum for each subject matter area.  Area F  includes content-specific electives only.

4. Does my Grade Point Average matter?  YES!!  You need at least a 2.5 Graduation GPA, not Institutional GPA, for acceptance in most Teacher Education programs at Georgia colleges. 

5. What are the requirements for acceptance as a Teacher Education major at a four-year school in Georgia?

o        GPA of 2.5 or higher for most colleges – no forgiveness policy, so low grades are included

o        English 1101 and 1102 with a “C” or better

o        Successful completion of Regents’ Essay and Reading Exams

o        Education courses with a “C” or better

o        Successful completion or exemption of  the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Basic Skills Test. This test replaced the Praxis I Exam as of  Sept. 1, 2006.   (See  www.gace.nesinc.com for details)

o        No criminal record or questionable discharge from armed services

o        Proof of professional liability insurance

6. What if I want to teach special education, art, music, foreign language or physical education?  Those areas are covered under the P-12 Education major, because you could be certified to teach at all grade levels, prekindergarten  through grade 12.

7.  Will I get to be in schools, observing or working with teachers and children?

Yes, 30 hours of field experiences are included in the education courses at two-year colleges.  You will need 900 hours of field experiences to qualify for a Georgia Teaching Certificate by the time you graduate with a four-year degree.

8.  What if I want to stay at ABAC for my Early Childhood Education degree?   Georgia Southwestern offers a B.S. in Early Childhood degree fully on the ABAC campus.