Financial Literacy Endorsement and Certificate

As an endorsement, this program is recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). As of Fall 2024, it is also a UGA certificate program. Therefore, completion of the program will be noted on the GaPSC certificate and on the UGA transcript.

The Financial Literacy Endorsement is an add-on credential that allows certified teachers in Georgia the ability to provide direct instruction to students in their areas of initial certification. Teachers with the Financial Literacy Endorsement can support students in courses that center on financial literacy in grades 6-12.

The Financial Literacy Endorsement program is open to UGA graduate students who are certified to teach or will be certified to teach in the state of Georgia. Non-degree seeking students may complete the program by applying to UGA’s Graduate School as a non-degree seeking student.

The courses in the Financial Literacy Endorsement series emphasize scholarly work and best practices to teach middle and high school students the fundamentals of economic decision making, personal finance, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international trade. The courses are aligned with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s educator preparation rules. This program is also formally approved through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Highlights

1. Approved by the state Board of Education
2. Can be completed on campus or online
3. Requires 15 credit hours (five courses)

Curriculum

Financial Literacy Endorsement courses are offered during the Fall and Summer semesters both on campus and online. For 2024-25, course offerings include:

Add Endorsement to Georgia Teaching Certificate

To add Financial Literacy Endorsement to your teaching certificate, you must be recommended as a program completer of the endorsement program. This includes action items outside of coursework that you will need to complete.

• During the first course in the endorsement series, students will be contacted by Shayla Lee in the Office of Academic Programs to indicate their intent to seek the Financial Literacy Endorsement. By indicating intent, students will be set up with access to the Xitracs Financial Literacy Endorsement non-Athena eLC course. This is the place where students will archive all materials for their Financial Literacy Endorsement review.
• By indicating intent, you are not “admitted” to a program, but rather are indicating to seek the endorsement.
• During each of the five courses, students will need to submit the required key assessments into their Xitracs Financial Literacy Endorsement folder. The rubric for evaluation and the key assessment will need to be submitted.
• Please keep each of your key assessments and evaluation information from your course instructor to submit in the Xitracs Financial Literacy Endorsement eLC site. Once your course ends, you will not have access to that information when the course closes. It is suggested that you submit those as you complete them in each course.
• In addition to the key assessments and rubrics, students will complete a grade form that asks them to submit the numerical grade for the key assessments, as well as the final grade for the course. These are also pieces of information that need to be saved or entered while you have access to your eLC courses.

When Are Portfolios Reviewed?

The Office of Academic Programs sets a date each term when all portfolios have to be submitted, and so the financial literacy faculty reviews portfolios about a week ahead of that due date.

If you have all of your key assessments, rubrics/evaluation information and grade forms in the Xitracs Financial Literacy Endorsement site by Reading Day, your portfolio will be reviewed in the 2-3 weeks following the term. If you have not submitted your portfolio by the end of the term, it will be reviewed during the next cycle (at the end of the next term).

How to Apply

All applicants must complete the College’s internal endorsement application form in addition to any other applications required by the endorsement program or UGA Graduate School.

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Admissions

Applications for the endorsement program are accepted for Summer semester matriculation only. All materials should be received by March 1.

• Submit a Graduate School application
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• A brief statement of purpose on why you would like to pursue the endorsement

Deadline to Apply