Schedule for Completion of BSECE Program
Note: The Teacher Education Program at Covenant College is governed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. All students who participate in the Teacher Education Program are required to pass the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators™ (GACE™) at both entry to and exit from the program. These 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 in an 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.
English Composition 3
Mathematics 3
US History 3
Social/Behavioral Science 6
Fine Arts 3
Natural Science 3
Developmental Psychology 3
Total 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 two recommendation forms (one is to be completed by a current 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 your school falls under the jurisdiction of a public school district.
- Submit the essay requested in the application materials, according to the instructions given.
BSECE Transfer of Credit
General Guidelines:
Acceptable credits for transfer include the following:
- Coursework from regionally accredited colleges
- CLEP credit (See page 16 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 220 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 his/her academic advisor 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 receive both initial and final approval to student teach by the Teacher Application Committee prior to enrolling in EDU 492 Teaching Practicum Elementary Grades.
- Have full TEP approval. (No student who has provisional approval to the TEP will be permitted to begin student teaching.)
- Complete EDU 215 Technology for Educators with a grade of C- or better.
- Complete EDU 222 Educational Psychology with a grade of C- or better.
- Student Teaching Applications will be distributed at the mid-point of the second semester of the program. Complete and submit to 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 cumulative institutional GPA of 2.50 or better. (Note: This GPA must be maintained throughout the program.)
- Receive official notice of initial approval to student teach from the Teacher Application Committee.
Gate 3: Final Approval for Student Teaching
- Near the beginning of the third BSECE semester, submit your Professional Portfolio for a progress check to the BSECE Advisor.
- Near the end of the third BSECE semester, register to take the GACE Early Childhood Education tests at the beginning of the fourth and final BSECE semester.
- Complete all education courses in the first three semesters with a grade of C- or better.
- Maintain a cumulative institutional GPA of 2.5 or better.
- 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 photocopy of your GACE Examinee Score Report to Administrative Assistant of the Education Department.
- Submit a completed Georgia Certification Application to the Administrative Assistant of the Education Department.
- Submit a completed 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.
- One month prior to the end of the fourth and final semester, submit your completed Professional 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.
View an in-depth breakdown of our Program Structure (PDF)
