Gaining Admission to Science Education Courses

(ESCI 3450, 4450/6450 and 4460/6460)
in Secondary Science Teacher Education and Related Certification Issues

Step 1 - Gaining admission to a degree program at UGA for certification

Undergraduate -- You must contact the Department of Science Education to be advised.

Step 2 - Advisement

Call the Science Education office (706-542-1763) and schedule an initial meeting with the undergraduate coordinator, or your advisor (if you have received notification that one has been assigned) to design a program of study to include courses leading to certification in science.

Step 3 - Admission to Teacher Education

Also at this time the student should contact Student Services Office (122 Aderhold - 706-542-1717) and request an application for Admission to Teacher Education. Admission to teacher education is required for securing the Permission of Department (POD) required for admission to the Science Education courses. Also see page 2 regarding the Praxis I and II exams.

Step 4 - Completion of Pre-Professional Experience

By the end of the 4th week of the semester prior to the semester in which the student is to take the Science Education courses (described later) the student will submit the form labeled Statement of Completion of Pre-Professional Experience with Children and the activities described therein. This form and the required essay will be turned into Science Education staff person at GUC.

Step 5 - List for Science Education Courses

Upon turning in the materials in Step 3 above, the student should also request that their name be added to the list of students wishing to enter the Science Education courses of the following semester.

Step 6 - Registration for courses in Science Educaion Courses

By the date of the beginning of pre-registration, the student will be notified of her/his ability to enroll in the Science Education courses. If permission to enroll is not granted at that time, but all other conditions have been satisfied, the student's name will be placed on a waiting list. Students who are entered onto the waiting list, should register at their scheduled time, being mindful of the schedule of the Science Education courses. In this way, later permission to add the Science Education courses can be conducted with a minimum of disruption to the schedule of classes already planned.

Praxis I and II requirements for Certification

1. All students who are recommended for certification will be required to have taken and passed the Praxis I exam or a substitute and Praxis II before admission to the Science Education courses. Praxis I is a basic skills exam (which can either be taken in computer based format or in a paper and pencil version called the PPST), while Praxis II is a science content test. Information about Praxis I and II can be obtained from 122 Aderhold Hall
   
   
2. Students may exempt the Praxis I by using the SAT, ACT, or GRE if those scores fall above the following criteria.

   SAT exemption: 1000 total with a minimum of 480 verbal and 520 mathematics
   ACT exemption: 22 composite with a minimum of 21 verbal and 22 mathematics
   GRE exemption: 1030 total with a minimum of 490 verbal and 540 quantitative

   
   

1. Concurrent enrollment in ESCI 4460/6460 and ESCI 5460/7460 during fall semester ESCI 4450/6450 and ESCI 5460/7460 during spring semester is required.