University of North Georgia’s College of Education has become the first university in Georgia to feature the International Baccalaureate Educator Certificate in Teaching and Learning as part of its teacher education program.
The IB Educator certificate offers teachers the opportunity to supplement their existing experience and education with rigorous, systematic investigative work and professional development to further their knowledge. Once completed, graduates will be prepared to teach in any IB school in the world and have access to a global network of other educators.
UNG will offer its sequence of IB certified courses as a stand-alone program or credits that can be applied toward its new two-year Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction program. All IB certified courses can be completed in one year.
"UNG’s Teacher Education programs are designed for introducing and cultivating the best research-based educational practices for certified teachers and prospective teachers who wish to increase their pedagogical knowledge within and beyond their own grade level and academic content," said Dr. Susan Brandenburg-Ayres, dean of UNG's College of Education.
The M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction program has three strands: research, curriculum and instruction, and a focus area chosen by each student. The focus areas include options such as English to speakers of other languages, gifted education, international teaching, and reading.
UNG’s programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
"This means that graduates can expect that the state will recognize their graduate degree and will compensate them for having achieved that step in the process at a time when degrees in common, out-of-field areas like leadership will not meet the GaPSC criteria for a T-5 certificate," said Dr. Charles Burrage, assistant dean and coordinator for graduate programs in UNG's College of Education.
Candidates may choose an approved Focus Area of Study not previously completed or transferred into the program. These areas include:
English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Gifted Education
International Teaching – leading to IB Credential
Reading
