Academic Programs - Middle School Education
PreProfessional Experience
The entrance requirement includes completion of 100 hours of documented volunteer, for course credit, or paid service in the community. The following criteria are required:
- At least two different experiences
- Approximately half of the required 100 hours must be experienced in an instructional setting where young adolescents are present
- One experience must be in a diverse setting with learners whose backgrounds differ from one’s own, such as geographic locations; cultures; and/or race, ethnicity, and language
- Submission of a preprofessional experience package
- Self-Reflection Form to document each experience and to help you connect your observations and activities to lessons you will be learning in teacher education classes
- Supervisor Interview Sign-off Sheet for each experience.
Deadline for Submission
The due date for the preprofessional experience package is the third Friday in August. If the package is not turned in by the deadline to the Middle Grades Education program, you will not be allowed to join the fall cohort.
The preprofessional experience package should be hand delivered or mailed to the following address:
Middle Grades Education Program
Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education
The University of Georgia
630 Aderhold Hall
Athens, GA 30602-7122
Eligible Experiences
You may start any time during your senior year of high school up until entering the Middle School Education Program.
If you are a transfer student, late applicant, or other non-traditional student, please contact the middle school education department, as special accommodations (such as an extended timeline) may be offered to you.
We have asked that approximately half of the required 100 hours be experienced in an instructional setting where young adolescents are present. The key word here is approximately. Try your best to have as close to 50 hours as possible in such a setting.
Each experience you complete must be unique; as a result, all forms must be fully completed for each experience. You must interview your supervisor to complete the forms; if your supervisor is not available, you must complete an additional experience.
Examples of Preprofessional Experiences
- Substitute teacher or paraprofessional
- YMCA, YWCO coach
- Boy Scout or Girl Scout aide
- Boys and Girls Club instructor or mentor
- Social service agency translator (e.g., Department of Family and Children’s Services)
- Head Start aide
- Homeless shelter resource coordinator
- Day camp leader
- Swim instructor
- Health service volunteer
- City/County recreation centers/departments (e.g., tennis or softball coach)
- Summer school tutor
- Technology center instructor
- Mentor program volunteer
- School club instructor
- Alternative school tutor
- Environmental volunteer
- After school program helper
- Service learning classes in high school and college
- Early Community Experiences Opportunities in Northeast Georgia
