College of Education


What is TEP?
What is "PPB?"
Can I go to school part time?  
What is the GACE test?
Who is my advisor?
When do I sign up for student teaching?
Where can I student teach?
Is my program accredited?
How do I find out about Financial Aid?
Long Range Course Schedules

FAQ for Graduate students

Frequently Asked Questions for Undergraduate Students

Can I complete the Bachelor of Science in Education Degree (B.S. Ed.) through part-time, evening, or distance learning/internet coursework?
Virtually every undergraduate education program is available only through on-campus, day course work, and there are currently no internet or distance learning programs in place for undergraduate education degrees. Many programs also require certain combinations of courses to be taken concurrently, so progression in these programs will require full-time enrollment during certain terms.

What is TEP?
TEP is the abbreviation for the Teacher Education Program.   Admission into TEP is dependent on the satisfaction of specific requirements.  Declaring Education as a major does NOT automatically admit you into the Teacher Education Program. Until all requirements are met, students are classified as Pre-Education majors and may not enroll in Junior and Senior level Education course work.

What is the Pre-Professional Block (PPB)?
The Pre-professional Block, or PPB, is a set of three courses with a field experience component:

The PPB courses, totalling nine hours, are taken concurrently preferably during the fourth semester at Georgia Southern. During the PPB experience, students will begin the construction of a Folio, which will be a part of the admission process to the Teacher Education Program. Students will also have a common field experience with the three courses which will provide them with exposure to actual classrooms and school settings. During the PPB, students will be evaluated by committees on a set of established criteria including intrapersonal behaviors, interpersonal behaviors, oral communication, written communication, and professional behaviors. Prior to enrolling in the PPB, students should have all other requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program satisfied in order to progress in the program after the PPB is completed. Successful completion of the PPB, including the field experience and Folio review, is required for admission to the Teacher Education Program.

What is the GACE Test?
The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators®(GACE™) is a series of exams developed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) with the assistance of the National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES®). The purpose of GACE is to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective Georgia public school educators. The series of exams includes the GACE Basic Skills Assessment and GACE Content Assessment exams. The GACE Basic Skills Assessment is a requirement for entry into the Teacher Education Program at Georgia Southern. The appropriate GACE Content Assessment must be taken for admission to Student Teaching.
For more GACE information, including test dates, locations, study hints, and on-line registration, use these links:

  • GACE website
  • PSC's Educator Testing web page
  • Exempting the GACE Basic Skills Assessment

    • If I'm an undergraduate education major, how do I find out who my advisor is?
    All undergraduate majors are advised by staff in the Student Success Center.

    How early do I need to sign up for student teaching?
    Check the Student Teaching Experience web page for guidelines on when and how to apply for student teaching.

    Where can I student teach? May I student teach in my home town?
    Check the Student Teaching Experience web page for information on student teaching locations, or contact the Office of Undergraduate Teacher Education at (912) 478-5247, Room 1103 of the Education Building.

    Are the Teacher Education Programs at Georgia Southern accredited, and if so by what agencies?
    Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award Associate, Bachelor, Master, Specialist, and Doctorate degrees. In addition, the College of Education's programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC) which oversees teacher preparation and certification in Georgia.

    What type of financial aid is available for undergraduate students?
    Check with the Office of Financial Aid at (912) 478-5413 for complete financial aid information including loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs. You may also wish to explore Georgia's highly successful HOPE Scholarship Program. Certain undergraduate students pursuing degrees in education may be eligible for the PROMISE Teacher Scholarship Program.

    To send comments or suggestions please contact:
    Chris Thompson, Director
    College of Education Student Success Center
    Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8029
    Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8029
    TEL (912) 478-0698, FAX (912) 478-5514

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