Academic Programs

The computer science endorsement program is 100% online and designed for teachers who are interested in adding computer science to a current, renewable teaching certificate held in another content area. Candidates who successfully complete the program are prepared to effectively teach computer science courses at the pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade level.

The program has four courses:

•  Digital literacy, information literacy and cybersecurity
• Computational thinking and human-computer interaction
• Programming concepts for teachers
• Computer science teaching methods

The programming and methods courses are offered over the seven-week summer semester in partially synchronous courses. These courses typically meet online once a week with other coursework completed between meetings.
The other two courses can be completed during the fall and spring semesters in traditional courses or they can be completed by earning badges through self-paced courses hosted by Georgia Virtual School.

The self-paced courses do not include instructor or peer support, but they require only a nominal fee to evaluate assessments and can be traded for course credit for free. We recommend these self-paced courses to teachers who

1. 1) need to complete the program quicker,
2. 2) need a lower-cost alternative to the traditional program, or
3. 3) have prior knowledge of computing.

Applicants’ certificate level must be level 4 or higher and at any grade level pre-kindergarten through 12th grade or another eligible field.

Review the Pathways to Computer Science Endorsement at Georgia State document for more information.

In response to the growing number of Georgia schools with Dual Language Immersion programs, the College of Education & Human Development’s Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education offers two programs in Dual Language Immersion Education.

These programs engage students in comprehensive exploration, research and practice in elementary Dual Language Immersion education.

These programs develop highly prepared teachers who understand Dual Language Immersion education and are teacher-leaders in establishing learner-centered classrooms consistent with the standards of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium.

The two programs are:

Master of Education in Elementary Education with a concentration in Dual Language Education
Dual Immersion Early Childhood Education Endorsement

The online Tier I Educational Leadership Certificate program is for those with an education-related master’s degree who are passionate about leading and ready to take the next step towards becoming an entry-level leader in a school or school district such as an assistant principal. The courses introduce students to educational leadership theory and practice. Students participate in 300 hours of varied leadership experiences supported by a school or district mentor in addition to completing advanced coursework. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a program certificate from the Board of Regents and will be eligible to apply to the Professional Standards Commission for a Tier I Educational Leadership add-on certificate.

Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Faculty

• Graduate highlight on Amanda Lynch
• Five questions with Kareem Dunlap
• Recent graduate’s children’s book
• The Educational Leadership Unit is composed of eight faculty members with practitioner and academic expertise.

Graduate courses in bilingual/English as a second language give teachers additional training to work with non-English speaking or limited English speaking students at the early childhood, middle childhood and secondary school levels.

ESOL endorsement

Successful completion of the coursework and portfolio demonstrating competencies established for English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers by Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) results in candidates being endorsed to teach ESOL in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Students must be admitted as graduate students to the College of Education & Human Development. Students who do not hold an initial certification in a teaching field may apply to the M.A.T. degree in reading, language and literacy education to receive initial certification in ESOL and a reading endorsement.

Online ESOL endorsement

Successful completion of the non-degree online ESOL endorsement coursework and a portfolio qualifies a person a person to teach ESOL in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Students seeking only the non-degree online ESOL endorsement must be admitted to the College of Education & Human Development as a non-degree student. All courses in the non-degree online ESOL endorsement must be completed online. No other courses may apply.

The online graduate certificate in instructional design and technology prepares you for jobs focusing on the creation of training and education materials. The four courses in the program (12 credit hours) are from the master of science curriculum of the same name. You can complete the graduate certificate to reach your career goals or move on to the full M.S. program.

Technology training needs have never been greater. Jobs for experts in managing e-Learning programs and performance support in the workplace are in high demand.

You will gain the skills necessary to design, develop, facilitate and manage learning and technology training programs, including HR training and human performance support systems.

Our literacy coach certificate addresses the growing need to support classroom teachers serving diverse populations. There is an increased demand for embedded professional development, as well as coaching and mentoring in school settings. The demand for school-based literacy coaches has increased over the past few years.

The certificate program focuses on specialized coursework to prepare teachers to serve as highly qualified teacher/coaches equipped to collaborate across classrooms, with school administrators, parents and community representatives to improve student achievement.

The Literacy Coach/Instructional Facilitator certificate program is an 18-hour program of study for students who already have a master’s degree or a minimum of nine hours of appropriate reading coursework. This training is restricted to those already employed as a literacy coach in a school setting.