Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I get the Reading Endorsement first and then go
on and get my master’s?
A: Yes. You may take three graduate courses as a nondegree
student before entering the M.Ed. program. These three courses could
be those required for the Endorsement. OR, if you are already M.Ed.
program, you may apply for the Endorsement as soon as you finish the
three courses.
Q: Do I need to take any tests to get the Reading Endorsement?
A: No, but should you choose to go on and work toward
a degree, you will have to submit test scores.
Q: Do I need to submit the Immunization Form to get the
Reading Endorsement?
A: Yes. Keep in mind, however, that the state permits
you claim a religious exemption if you choose. You must still submit
the form, however.
Q: After I complete the three required courses, how do
I apply for the Reading Endorsement?
A: Go to www.gapsc.com
and download the application for certification
packet. Complete the forms and mail them to the Education Advisement
Center,
Georgia Southern University, P O Box 8029, Statesboro, GA 30460 along
with a
note requesting that the completed forms be returned to your school
system
office. Or to have a set of forms mailed to you, call the Advisement
Center
at 912-681-0698.
Q: Do I have to take the GACE State Exam to obtain the Reading
Endorsement?
A: No.
Q: Do I have to take the GACE to obtain the M.Ed.?
A: No.
Q: Do I have to take the GACE to obtain my P-12
Certificate as a Reading Specialist?
A: Yes, but you may wait until after you complete the
M.Ed.
Q: What is the difference between the Endorsement and
the Certificate?
A: The Endorsement matches the grade levels of your initial
certification. The Certificate allows you to teach reading from preschool
through grade 12.
Q: What if I find I cannot abide Dr. Moore. Can Dr. Edwards or Dr. Avila
be my advisor?
A: No, Dr. Moore is an acquired taste and will grow on
you despite his eccentricities. Kidding! You will be assigned an advisor from one of the three of us.
Q: What is an Add-On?
A: The Add-On P-12 Certificate as a Reading Specialist
is intended for individuals who have already earned an M.Ed. in another
field but who wish to obtain the P-12 certificate. It requires all four
Reading courses required for the M.Ed. in Reading (that is, the three
Endorsement classes plus READ 7230 Issues and Trends in Reading). The
Add-On also requires passing the Praxis II.
Q: Can I mix classes from Southern and another university
to qualify for the Endorsement?
A: You must take two of the three Endorsement classes
from Georgia Southern, and the third course must be from an institution
with a PSC-approved Reading Endorsement program.
Q: Can I transfer courses as part of my M.Ed.?
A: Yes, the Board of Regents allows two graduate courses
from an accredited university to be used as part of your master’s.
They must be approved by your advisor. Be aware that transfer credits
may not be earned during the semester you intend to graduate because
your grades cannot be confirmed in time to clear you for graduation.
Q: What do I need to do to prepare for graduation.
A: There are three requirements and you will be responsible
for overseeing them. First, you must have a Program of Study on file
with the Graduate School. You can download this one-page form from this
site and complete it as you progress. When you have decided on the last
of your electives, fax it to your advisor. He will double-check it and
submit it for you. Second, near the beginning of the term you plan to
graduate, you must apply for graduation. There is a one-page form for
this purpose, and it requires a $50 fee. Third, during the term you
plan to graduate, you must participate in the Exit Experience. (This
is in lieu of the old Exit Exam.) The Exit Experience is entirely online.
To participate, notify your advisor of your intent to graduate near
the beginning of the term. (You will need to tell him, because he will
not be keeping up with your specific plans.) He will then add you to
the online course. There is no fee for this course, and it is not really
a course at all, in the regular sense. It simply brings new graduates
together, virtually speaking, to respond to some overarching questions
and to share each other’s responses. There are no chats, so scheduling
is very flexible. It will not interfere with the regular courses you
will be taking. Once you have completed the Exit Experience, your advisor
will notify the Graduate School.
|
Graduate
Programs
in Reading