Education Major Tracks
Elementary Education
The Elementary Education major prepares students to become elementary school teachers and leads to certification for pre-kindergarten to fifth grade in Georgia. The Elementary Education major leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Before graduating, Elementary Education majors must have extensive knowledge in general education, a thorough understanding of the principles of human growth and development, specialized study in a variety of professional education courses, experiences designed to prepare teachers for working with students in grades P-5, and planned field-based experiences with diverse and exceptional children. These experiences provide application and synthesis of theoretical learning. In addition, Elementary Education majors are required to take classes that lead to the ESOL Endorsement and are eligible to take classes that lead to the Autism Endorsement.
Secondary Education
The Secondary Education major prepares students to become middle or high school teachers and leads to certification for 6-12th grades in Georgia. Students interested in teaching in grades 6-12 must complete a dual major in Secondary Education and one of the following approved majors: Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, English, Environmental Science, History, Mathematics and Physics. A student may not earn a major in 6-12/Secondary Education without an accompanying dual major. In addition, Secondary Education majors are required to take classes that lead to the ESOL Endorsement and are eligible to take classes that lead to the Autism Endorsement.
P-12 Education
The P-12 Education major prepares students to become an elementary, middle or high school teacher and leads to certification for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in Georgia. Students interested in teaching in grades P-12 (preschool through twelfth grade) must complete a dual major in P-12 education and one of the following approved majors: Art, Computer Science, Creative Technologies, Music, French, German and Spanish. A student may not earn a major in P-12/Secondary Education without an accompanying dual major. In addition, with the exception of Music Education majors, all P-12 Education majors are required to take classes that lead to the ESOL Endorsement and are eligible to take classes that lead to the Autism Endorsement.
Education Minors
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TEFOL) will give you a competitive edge when seeking top positions in education whether you teach at home or abroad. You’ll take a variety of courses designed to foster the linguistic, cultural and instructional skills needed to work with language learners at any level—inside and outside formal classrooms. You’ll work closely with faculty on a cultural immersion trip abroad or in a diverse area of the U.S., putting your training into action.
This minor is available to all education majors.
Education Endorsements
English to Speakers of Other Languages
Berry College offers an ESOL endorsement to an existing Georgia teaching certificate. This program is designed to provide a knowledge base of research, theory, values and methodology to prepare individuals to teach students whose native language is not English.
Elementary, Secondary and P-12 Education majors, with the exception of Music Education majors, are required to take classes that lead to the ESOL Endorsement.
Autism
This course sequence is designed provide skills for teachers to meet the needs of the growing number of students on the autism spectrum. The endorsement includes courses designed to introduce teachers to the research and best practice in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, including coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis - the primary evidence-based treatment for addressing the needs of children with ASD.
This endorsement is available to all education majors.