TEP Admissions Policy
for Transfer, Non-Degree Initial Certification and Alternative M.Ed. Students

Approved: May 1, 2000

Transfer students (or native students who are transitioning into a new Area F/Pre-Professional Block):

• All students, including transfer students, are required to meet all Georgia Southern TEP Admission requirements.
  
  • Any remaining Area F courses (including Pre-Professional Block courses) may be taken during the first semester at Georgia Southern. The student will not be admitted into the Teacher Education Program and cannot enroll in additional courses beyond the first semester of the program until all Area F course work is completed satisfactorily and all other TEP admission requirements are met.
  • Students will be encouraged to take the Praxis I examination prior to transferring. The student will not be admitted into the Teacher Education Program and cannot enroll in courses that require TEP admission until the Praxis I exam is passed and all other TEP admission requirements are met.
  • An alternative TEP Admissions folio review process is available for transfer students who qualify.

Expectations Regarding Pre-Professional Block and TEP Admissions Folio Review Process:

• Any student who has not taken the Foundations course (GSU or equivalent transfer course) will be required to take the PPB course (EDUF 2120) with field experience (COED 2110) and go through the prescribed TEP admissions folio review process.
• If Area F has not been completed upon transfer or the student has changed majors, the student must complete any remaining PPB courses (Special Education, Human Growth and Development, Foundations of Education, Technology, and/or the PPB Field Experience) and go through the prescribed TEP admissions folio review process.
• Students will not be required to repeat any PPB course that they have already taken unless they earned a grade lower than C.
• Any student who has met the course requirements of foundations of education, human growth and development, special education, and technology, but has not been admitted to TEP, will be required to meet the current TEP admission requirements. All students must successfully complete an Area F field experience and TEP admissions folio review process. The folio will be reviewed through the advisement process (COE Advisement Center).

Non-degree Initial Certification (Post-baccalaureate) and Alternative M.Ed. Students Who Need Admission into the Teacher Education Program:

• Non-degree (post-baccalaureate and graduate) students and Alternative M.Ed. students seeking initial certification are required to meet all TEP admission requirements. They should enroll in Pre-Professional Block and participate in the TEP admissions folio review process. The alternative folio review process may be allowed under special circumstances; permission must be obtained in advance from the Program Coordinator and Coordinator of the Education Advisement Center.
• Any student in this category who completed a bachelor's degree at least 5 years preceding the term of admission to GSU for certification work and who does not have the required grades in Area A, and/or the required 2.75 GPA in Areas A & F combined or a cumulative 2.50 GPA on all college course work attempted, but who has passed all sections of the Praxis I exam, may appeal for admission through the regular review process. Information on the appeals process can be obtained in the COE Advisement Center; students must submit an appeals letter with a copy of their transcript, Praxis I scores, and supporting evidence. Successful appeals decisions will be based on the students' ability to demonstrate that they have the competencies stated in the TEP admissions criteria, as well as the required Praxis I scores. The review process requires recommendations by the student's advisor, department/program, TEP Admissions Committee, and the COE Exceptions Committee.