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Bachelor of Science in Education - Columbus State University

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Academics

Bachelor of Science in Education

Program Description

The Middle Grades Education program at Columbus State University prepares individuals to become proficient middle level educators who are responsible to the unique developmental nature and needs of young adolescents. The program provides content preparation in two teaching fields as well as a specialized knowledge base that emphasizes the philosophy, theories, research, exemplary practices and interdisciplinary focus of successful middle level programs. Pre-service teachers also participate in a variety of field experiences to develop the dispositions and performances needed to be effective teachers for young adolescents.

Educator Preparation at Columbus State University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

All educator preparation programs are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Career Opportunities

The B.S. Ed. program in Middle Grades leads to entry-level Georgia certification and qualifies students to teach in grades 4-8.

Admission Requirements

During the sophomore year, students intending to complete a teacher education program make formal application to the teacher education program. Normally, this occurs after the student has completed three semesters of full-time course work. Application is made to the COEHP Office of Student Advising and Field Experiences. For additional information, go to http://safe.columbusstate.edu/teacher_ed.php

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to: 

  • Demonstrate proficiency in planning instruction based on standards and knowledge of students
  • Demonstrate proficiency in using a wide range of instructional strategies and differentiating instruction to help all students learn
  • Demonstrate proficiency in assessing student learning and using assessment data to improve teaching and learning
  • Display values, commitments, dispositions, and habits associated with effective and professional teaching

Additional Program Requirements

A review of student records is conducted each semester to determine whether a student is eligible to continue in the Teacher Education Program. Retention is based on the following:

  • Maintain a CSU and Overall 2.50 GPA. If the grade point average falls below the requirement, the student has one semester to raise his/her GPA. Students who do not meet the GPA requirements after that semester must take additional courses other than the ones required for admission to teacher education.
  • Students must earn not less than a C in field and professional courses. Only 10 percent of the professional and field courses may be repeated at CSU or another accredited college. Correspondence courses will not be accepted in field or professional courses.
  • Students who fail to complete a degree program after three years from date of admission to Teacher Education will be excluded from the program and required to re-apply under current admission policies.


To be eligible for CSU's recommendation for a Georgia professional teaching certificate, students must complete a rigorous program of coursework. They also must meet certain other criteria required by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Please contact the COEHP Student Advising & Field Experiences office at 706-568-2191 or 706-568-2194 for further information.

Program of Study

Area A Essential Skills Required Hours: 9
ENGL 1101 (with a grade of "C" or better)
ENGL 1102 (with a grade of "C" or better)
Select one of the following courses:

MATH 1001
MATH 1101
MATH 1111
MATH 1113
MATH 1125
MATH 1131

Note:MATH 1113 is required for Math and Science Concentration (1hour applied to Area H)

Area B Institutional Options Required Hours: 4-5
COMM 1110
Select two of the following courses:

ITDS 1125
ITDS 1779
ITDS 2726
ITDS 2727
ITDS 2735
ITDS 2746
ITDS 2748
ITDS 2749
ITDS 2755

OR
Select one of the following courses:

EURO 2105
INTS 2105
LEAD 1705
LIBR 1105
POLS 2401
HIST 1111
HIST 1112

Foreign Language 1001, 1002, 2001, or 2002
Any Area C-E course with a study abroad component.

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges: Area B, 4-5 hours; Area D1, 7-8 hours; Area D2, 3-4 hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics Required Hours: 6
Select one of the following humanities courses:

ENGL 2111
ENGL 2112
ITDS 1145*
ITDS 1155
ITDS 2125
PHIL 2010

Select one of the following fine arts courses:

ARTH 1100
ITDS 1145*
MUSC 1100
THEA 1100
ARTH 2125
ARTH 2126

*ITDS 1145, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Area D Science/Math/Technology Required Hours: 10-11
D1: Select two science courses from the list below, one of which must include a lab.

ANTH 1145 (no lab)
ASTR 1105/1305 (lab optional)
ASTR 1106/1305
ATSC 1112/1112L
BIOL 1215K (lab included)
BIOL 1125 (no lab)
BIOL 1225K (lab included)
CHEM 1151/1151L
CHEM 1152/1152L
CHEM 1211/1211L
CHEM 1212/1212L
ENVS 1105/1105L (lab optional)
ENVS 1205K
GEOL 1110 (no lab)
GEOL 1121/1121L
GEOL 1122/1322
GEOL 2225 (lab included)
PHYS 1111/1311
PHYS 1112/1312
PHYS 1125/1325 (lab optional)
PHYS 2211/2311
PHYS 2212/2312

D2: Select one of the following courses or a science course from above:

CPSC 1105
CPSC 1301K
GEOG 2215
MATH 1113
MATH 1125
MATH 1131
MATH 1132
MATH 1165
MATH 2125
PHIL 2500
STAT 1401

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges: Area B, 4-5 hours; Area D1, 7-8 hours; Area D2, 3-4 hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

Note:MATH 1125 is Recommended for Math Concentration

Area E Social Sciences Required Hours: 12
Select one course from the following two courses:
HIST 2111
HIST 2112
Take the following course:
POLS 1101
Select one behavioral science course from the following courses:

ECON 2105
ECON 2106
PHIL 2030
PSYC 1101
SOCI 1101

Select one world cultures course from the following courses:

ANTH 1105
ANTH 1107
ANTH 2105
ANTH 2136
ENGL 2136
GEOG 1101
HIST 1111
HIST 1112
INTS 2105
ITDS 1156

Wellness Requirement Required Hours: 3

PHED 1205
Select any one PEDS course.

Area F Courses Related to Major Required Hours: 18
EDUC 2110 Critical Issues in Education
EDUC 2120 Diversity in Educational Contexts
EDUC 2130 Exploring Learning and Teaching

Area F Guided Electives by Specialization:
Select 6 hours from one area and 3 hours from a second content specialization
*Based upon area of specialization. Advisor must approve these electives to insure prerequisites are met for Area H Coursework.

Mathematics Specialization Required Hours: 3-6
MATH 1125 if not taken in Area D.
OR
MATH1131
MATH1132,
MATH 1165,
MATH 2125,
STAT 1401.

Science Specialization Required Hours: 6
CHEM 1211/1211L or CHEM 1151/1151L
GEOL 1121/1121L Intro to Geo-Sciences: Physical Geology

If the courses above are taken in Area D, students may select up to two of the following courses as guided electives or reduce total program hours to 12 4 with one elective.

ASTR 1105/1305 Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System
BIOL 1225 Contemporary Issues in Biology w/Lab
BIOL 2221 Human Anatomy and Physiology
ENVS 1105 Environmental Studies
GEOL 2225 The Fossil Record
PHYS 1125 Physics of Color and Sound

*Note: Any extra hours are applied to Area H.

Language Art Specialization Required Hours: (3-6)
ENGL 2111
ENGL 2112
ENGL 2135

Social Studies Specialization Required Hours: (3-6)
HIST 1111 or HIST 1112 World History

Area G Program Requirements Required Hours: 28

EDMG 2257 Instructional Strategies in Middle Grades
EDMG 3115 Teaching Literacy Across the Content Areas
EDMG 3225 Adolescent Development for Educators
EDUF 4205 Technology for the 21st Century Classroom
SPED 2256 Intro to Except. Lrnr in General Ed.
THEA 3107 Creative Dramatics in the Classroom

Student Teaching Experience
EDCI 4485 Student Teaching
EDUF 4115 Classroom Management

Area H Program Electives Required Hours: 32-35
Select same two certification specialization as in Area F
MATH 1113 Pre-Calculus (1 hour from Area A or D for math or science concentration)

Mathematics Specialization: 16

EDMG 4121 Teaching Math in the MG 1
EDMG 4222 Teaching Math in the MG 2
MAED 3137 Investigating Geometry and Measurement
MAED 3138 Exploring Statistics
MAED 5131U Algebra & Proportional Reasoning

Science Specialization: 15-18
EDMG 4235 Teaching Science in the MG
Extra Hours from Area F Science Lab courses (2 credits possible)
BIOL 1215K Principles of Biology (includes lab)
PHYS 1111/1311 Introductory Physics I w/Lab

Selected one of the following:
ATSC 5116 Meteorology: Intro to Weather and Climate
GEOL 3266 Mineralogy
GEOL 5135 Oceanography
GEOL 5175 Physical Anthropology and Archeology
GEOL 5255 Environmental Geology

Language Arts: 16

EDCI 3455 Practicum 1 for MG/Secondary Ed
EDMG 3555 Selected Topics in MG
EDSE 3117 Literature for Adolescents
ENGL 2157 Writing for the English Major
ENGL 5167 Structure of English Grammar

Select one of the following:
ENGL 2155 /3145 /3148 /3149

Social Studies: 16

EDMG 4245 Social Studies in the MG
GEOG 3556 Selected Topics in Human Geography
or GEOG 5128 Selected Topics in Geography
HIST 3105 History of Georgia
EDMG 3235 Project-Based Curriculum for History Educators

Select one of the following courses:
Any 3000 level non-US history approved by the History Department

Total Hours Required: 123-126

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