Teacher Certification

Students who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university, but do not have teacher certification, may be admitted to Columbus State University (CSU) as undergraduate post-baccalaureate students. Students completing a prescribed post-baccalaureate program in their desired area of certification will earn an institutional recommendation for certification at the initial level (Georgia T4). Approved teacher certification programs in which students may enroll are listed in the table below.

If you are interested in enrolling in a teacher certification program, you should first have your transcripts evaluated to determine the courses needed for certification. To initiate this process, submit a copy of all your transcripts to the College of Education and Health Professions Student Advising and Field Experiences Office (SAFE) in Jordan 107 (706-568-2191), and request a transcript evaluation in your intended area of certication. The first transcript evaluation is free. There is a $25.00 fee for each additional evaluation. The SAFE Office will send your transcripts to the appropriate program coordinator who will review your previous coursework to determine if any of those courses can count toward certification. When the evaluation is complete, you will be notified and can set up an appointment with the program coordinator to plan a program of study. You will also need to apply for admission to the university. For information about admission to CSU, go to the Admissions web site at http://admissions.columbusstate.edu/ or contact the Admissions Office in University Hall (formerly Fine Arts Hall) at 706-568-2035 or toll-free 1-866-264-2035.

For those interested in teaching math or science, visit UTeach Columbus for information on a new and innovative math and science education program at CSU.

Students desiring to enroll in graduate courses for post-baccalaureate or certification purposes must be admitted to the College of Education and Health Professions (COEHP) graduate program with regular or provisional admission status. Students who would like to obtain a master's degree with related teacher certification should explore the possibility of entering the COEHP Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program in lieu of the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program. The Master of Arts in Teaching degree program is available only in selected fields.

The teacher education programs in the Department of Teacher Education are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

For more information on certification, please review the Georgia Professional Standards web site at: http://www.gapsc.com/.

You may also contact the Department of Teacher Education at 706-568-2255 for additional information on teacher education programs.