Schedule for Completion of BSECE Program
Note: The Teacher Education Program at Covenant College is governed by the Georgia Professional Standards
Commission. Students participating in the Teacher
Education Program at Covenant College must submit
passing scores on the GACE Basic Skills Tests for entry into the program. Upon exiting from the program, students must submit scores for the GACE Content Assessment in their particular field of study. Passing scores on both GACE Basic Skills Tests and Content Assessments are required for recommendation for certification for the GaPSC. These required assessments are incorporated into the Gates below.
Gate 1: BSECE Requirements for Admission to Covenant College and the Teacher Education Program (TEP)
- Be at least 23 years of age.
- Be currently employed full-time in an instructional role in grades P-5.
- Have at least one year’s previous experience working inan instructional role in a school setting.
- Submit passing scores on the GACE Basic Skills
Assessment, or acceptable SAT or ACT scores.
Acceptable SAT scores: 1000 composite of Critical
Reading and Math scores; acceptable ACT scores: 43 composite of English plus Math scores. - Have completed a minimum of 58 semester hours of undergraduate college credit with a minimum GPA of 2.5. No credit will be awarded for courses with grades below “C-”, for duplicate or remedial courses. The 58 semester hours should include the following courses for at least the amount of credit specified.
Developmental Psychology................................3
English Composition ........................................3
Fine Arts Distribution Requirement ** .............. 3
Mathematics Core Requirement........................ 3
Natural Science Distribution Requirement **..... 3
Social Science Distribution Requirement ** ....... 6
United States History ...................................... 3
Total Designated Credits ................................ 24
Plus additional elective credits....................... 34
Total credits required to enter program.......... 58 - Submit an application form with accompanying $25 fee.
- Submit official transcripts from each college or
university attended. - Submit a statement of faith.
- Have a personal interview with a faculty member of the Education Department and achieve at least the requiredminimum score (70%) on the Faculty RecommendationForm.
- Submit two recommendation forms (one completed by acurrent administrator, the other by any former employer or colleague).
- Submit the Verification of Experience and Employment
form. - Submit a Letter of Cooperation signed by yourself, by your principal (or director) and by your school district superintendent, if the school falls under the jurisdiction of a public school district. Submit the essay requested in the application materials, according to the instructions given.
- PROVISIONAL ADMISSION: If all entrance requirements arenot met, a candidate may be provisionally approved to the BSECE Teacher Education Program under these
stipulations:
1. An applicant who has not taken the GACE Basic Skills test, but has met all other admission requirements, may be considered for provisional TEP admission. Prior to admission, the applicant must show proof of registration for the next available GACE test.
2. An applicant who has taken the GACE Basic Skills test but has not passed all sections, while meeting all other admission requirements, may be considered for provisional TEP admission. If admitted provisionally, the applicant will work with the Director of the BSECE to develop an Individual Plan for Success (IPS). The IPS may include work in the Writing Center (at the
student’s expense), and/or other appropriate steps. Dates for retaking the GACE will be specified in the IPS. The student will meet regularly with the Director to review
and refine the IPS. 3. An applicant who does not meet the 2.5 GPA
requirement, but has met all other requirements, may be considered for provisional admission.
4. An applicant who is lacking up to six credit hours of the required transfer credits, but who has met all other admission requirements, may be considered for provisional admission.
5. Passing scores on all sections of the GACE Basic Skills test, completion of all required transfer credits, and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher must be achieved before beginning the third semester of coursework.
6. The subcommittee of the Teacher Application
Committee (TAC) will make decisions regarding any exceptions to these stipulations.
BSECE TRANSFER OF CREDIT
General Guidelines:
Acceptable credits for transfer include the following:
• Coursework from regionally accredited colleges
• CLEP credit (See page 17 in this catalog for information
on credit that Covenant College awards based on CLEP
tests.)
• American Association of Bible Colleges credit
• Advanced Placement credit
Specific Guidelines about transferring in Teaching Field
or Professional Education courses:
• The following courses may not be transferred, due to
their perspectival nature:
EDU 120. Foundations of Education
EDU 222. Educational Psychology
EDU 370. History and Philosophy of American
Education
• Up to six other credits may be transferred providing
they are 300 or 400 level courses from a four year
college taken within the last five years.
Please note:
• A student must always check with the BSECE Director
before registering for any course that he/she intends to
transfer to Covenant College.
• If a student’s credit hours drop below 12 for any given
semester, that student will not be eligible for financial
aid.
Gate 2: Initial Approval for Student
Teaching
Persons desiring to student teach must formally apply and be approved by the Teacher Application Committee prior to enrolling in EDU 492. Teaching Practicum Elementary Grades.
- Submit a completed Student Teaching Application. Applications will be distributed at the mid-point of the second semester of the program. Complete and submit to the Administrative Assistant of Education Department at that time.
- Ask a full-time Covenant College faculty member who has taught one of your BSECE courses to complete and submit the Professor Evaluation of Student Teacher Candidate form on your behalf.
- Ask a teacher or principal who supervises your work in your school to complete and submit the
Teacher/Principal Evaluation of Student Teacher
Candidate form on your behalf. - Maintain a minimum total institutional GPA of 2.50.
(Note: This GPA must be maintained throughout the program.) - Have full TEP approval. (No student who has
provisional approval to the TEP will be permitted to begin student teaching.) - Receive official notice of initial approval to student teach from the Teacher Application Committee.
Gate 3: Final Approval for Student
Teaching
- Complete all education courses in the first three
semesters with a grade of C- or better by noon, one
week prior to student teaching. - Maintain a minimum total institutional GPA of 2.50.
- Receive official notice of final approval to student
teach.
Gate 4: Student Teaching and Exit
from Program
Take the GACE Early Childhood Education tests at the beginning of the fourth and final semester.- Submit a completed Georgia Certification Application to the Administrative Assistant of the Education Office.
- Submit a complete ACSI certification application if ACSI certification is also desired.
- Submit a self-evaluation of each of your student
teaching practicums. - Confirm that all Placement File materials have been submitted to the Education Office.
- One month prior to the end of the fourth and final
semester, submit your completed Developmental Portfolio to the College Supervisor of your second student teaching practicum. - Complete a Survey of Graduating Seniors during the final class of EDU 489. Student Teaching Seminar.
- Complete the 62 credits for BSECE courses with a
grade of at least “C-” in each. - Have an additional 64 credits AND meet core
requirements, one of which is 6 credits of Bible.
