Tift College of Education

Graduate Initial Teacher Certification

A graduate non-degree, initial certification candidate who holds a master's degree in an approved content area from a regionally-accredited institution may apply as a non-degree student for a graduate certification program. Successful completion of the graduate certification program and passing scores on the appropriate assessments lead to eligibility for Level 5 certification. 

Candidates will meet the same progression criteria as M.A.T. students and will be required to complete the same initial certification requirements, but their program plans will be modified to omit requirements beyond certification. Graduate non-degree, initial certification programs are offered in the following areas:

Early Childhood Education

The program is designed to offer a comprehensive study of the specialized skills and knowledge needed to teach and support young children in grades Pre-K through 5. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to: 

•Understand the social, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical characteristics and needs of young children 

•Understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and how the learning environment can be adapted to meet the diverse needs of young children 

•Design and implement an integrated, developmentally appropriate curriculum for all areas of a child's development 

•Develop and implement a wide variety of formative and summative assessment strategies 

•Integrate research based strategies and instructional technology effectively into all components of the early childhood curriculum

Middle Grades Education

The program is designed to offer a comprehensive study of the specialized skills needed to teach and support students in grades 4-8. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to: 

•Understand the social, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical characteristics and needs of the preadolescent student

•Understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and how the learning environment can be adapted to meet the diverse needs of middle grades

•Design and implement an integrated, developmentally appropriate curriculum for at least two content concentration areas that considers the social, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical nature and needs of middle grades students

•Develop and implement a wide variety of formative and summative assessment strategies 

•Integrate research based strategies and instructional technology effectively into all components of the middle school curriculum.

Secondary Education (English, Math, Science, Social Studies)

The program is designed to offer a comprehensive study of the specialized skills needed to teach and support students in grades 6-12. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to: 

•Understand the social, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical characteristics and needs of the adolescent 

•Understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and how the learning environment can be adapted to meet the diverse needs of secondary education 

•Design and implement an integrated, developmentally appropriate curriculum that considers the social, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical nature and needs of secondary students

•Develop and implement a wide variety of formative and summative assessment strategies

•Integrate research based strategies and instructional technology effectively into all components of the secondary school curriculum.

 

DAY FIELD EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

Field experience is an integral part of the Teacher Preparation Program. Each candidate is expected to complete a sequentially planned series of field experiences in diverse settings, and meet cluster requirements of their individual program plan. Field experiences are coordinated through the Office of Field Placement. 

PROGRAM DELIVERY MODEL

The graduate non-degree, initial certification programs are offered at Mercer's Atlanta campus. Classes are presented one evening a week on a sixteen-week semester schedule. The program is offered in an in-class format, and allows students the flexibility to attend class either full- or part-time. Students are also required to participate in field experiences, which are during the day.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • $25 application fee
  • Completed application form 
  • Official transcript(s) from each college previously attended
  • Certificate of GACE Assessment
  • Official GRE/MAT score report
  • GACE Educators Ethics Program Entry Assessment
  • Requires undergraduate major in appropriate content area or closely related field

Note: In addition to the above materials, candidates must submit a completed application to Teacher Candidacy. A non-degree certification applicant who already holds a master’s degree in an approved content area from an accredited institution will not be required to submit GRE or MAT scores unless he/she plans to earn the M.A.T. degree.

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