Teaching Education Degrees in Georgia

To work as a licensed teacher in Georgia, you have to have a bachelor's degree either in education or a non-education degree and must complete an education preparation program from an approved college or university.

In addition, you need to the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators test and get a recommendation for a university upon completion of the academic program. Below are a few of the top universities in Georgia and some of the programs they offer.

• 44 teaching programs in Georgia accredited by CAEP
• 21 CAEP-accredited Bachelor's degrees
• 18 CAEP-accredited Master's degrees in Georgia

Aspiring Georgia teachers can follow several routes to earn teacher certification. The first step is to complete a Georgia Professional Standards Commission-approved teacher preparation program.

There is an option for candidates who have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, but have not completed the preparation program, particularly if they want to teach subject areas considered ‘high need.’

Requirements to Teach in Georgia

The certification process has four tiers. A Pre-Service certification is required to complete a mandatory teaching assignment. Successful completion of a Bachelor’s degree, the teacher preparation program, and the requirements of the Pre-Service tier make beginning teachers eligible for an Induction certificate. After three teaching years, candidates are eligible to apply for the Professional teaching certificate. Highly qualified teachers have several ways to qualify for Georgia’s highest level Advanced/Lead Professional certification.

• Earn National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate
• An advanced degree
• High classroom performance ratings

The Commission may evaluate and accept teacher preparation programs from out-of-state provided the program is accredited in the state it is located.

Scholarships/Financial Aid Available

Residing in or attending college in Georgia may make a person eligible for scholarships. Below are samples of what is available.

• Greenhouse Scholars provides a renewable, four-year, need-based scholarship for as much as $5000 each year. An unweighted 3.5 or higher GPA is required. A financial need has to be demonstrated. The individual must be a citizen of the U.S. or a permanent resident and a Georgia high school senior planning to attend an accredited four-year institution.
• NIADA Foundation Regional Scholarships – Each year, the NIADA Foundation sponsors four young women or men who displayed outstanding education abilities. The $3500 scholarships can be used at the university or college of their choice. An essay is a required part of the application.
• Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship Program – The Foundation annually awards grants to deserving female students having financial need to attend an accredited institution in Georgia. Grantee institutions use the grants to provide need-based scholarships to Christian women living in Georgia.

Requirements to Qualify for In-State Tuition

Except for a couple of small colleges, obtaining in-state Georgia tuition generally requires lots of work and an alternative year of not attending school. One bright side is, 100% financial independence is typically not needed. Some schools in the system are more accessible and others harder. In-state status for different universities is wildly different. It behooves a student to figure out how a school of interest interprets the state rules.

Georgia presumes those who move to the state are there mainly to attend college. That assumption must be overcome. There are exceptions for those prepared to work for a year or take a gap year before or after the freshman year.

Georgia is an Academic Common Market member that has a limited agreement of reciprocity among select Southern States. Many restrictions apply. Special agreements between some Southern Georgia and Northern Florida counties and colleges exist.

Online Teaching Degrees in Georgia

There are several Georgia based universities offering an online Master of Education degree program for teachers who want to enhance their resume and advance their education.

Several colleges also have various associate degree and transfer programs designed for aspiring teachers interested in becoming teachers as soon as possible. This includes degrees in secondary teacher education, middle school education, special education, history, English and general studies. Also available at Georgia colleges are multiple options for an online bachelor's degree in special education and online Master of Education programs with several areas of specialization.

List of the Best CAEP Accredited Teaching Degrees in Georgia

Brenau University

Gainesville

CAEP

• Bachelors in Middle Grades AMLE
• Masters in MIddle Grades MAT AMLE

Columbus State University

Columbus

CAEP

• Bachelors in Special Education CEC
• Masters in Special Education CEC
• Post Bachelors in Special Education CEC

Georgia College and State University

Milledgeville

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Masters in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Masters in Library Media Specialist ALA
• Bachelors in Middle School Education AMLE
• Masters in Middle School Education AMLE
• Bachelors in Special Education - General Curriculum CEC
• Masters in Special Education - General Curriculum CEC
• Masters in Special Education - MAT General Curriculum CEC

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro

CAEP

• Specialist or C.A.S. in EDS School Psychology NASP

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw

CAEP

• Masters in Biology 6-12 (M.A.T.) NSTA
• Bachelors in Biology Education 6-12 (B.S.) NSTA
• Masters in Chemistry Education 6-12 (M.A.T.) NSTA
• Bachelors in Chemistry Education Conc 6-12 (B.S.) NSTA
• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education (Birth - Kindergarten) (B.S.) NAEYC
• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education (P-5) (B.S.) ACEI
• Bachelors in English Education 6-12 (B.S.) NCTE
• Masters in English Education 6-12 (M.A.T.) NCTE
• Masters in ESOL P-12 (M.A.T.) TESOL
• Post Bachelors in Foreign Languages P-12 Alternative Teacher Prep (Cert Only): Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish ACTFL
• Bachelors in Foreign Languages: B.A.Modern Lang and Culture P-12 (Tracks in French, German, Spanish & Chinese) ACTFL
• Bachelors in Health and Physical Education P-12 (B.S.) NASPE
• Bachelors in History Education 6-12 (B.S.) NCSS
• Masters in Inclusive Education: Concentration in Individualized General Curriculum (P-12) (MEd) CEC
• Specialist or C.A.S. in Instructional Technology (Ed.S.) ISTE
• Masters in Instructional Technology (M.Ed.) ISTE
• Bachelors in Mathematics Education 6-12 (B.S.) NCTM
• Masters in Mathematics Education 6-12 (M.A.T.) NCTM
• Bachelors in Middle Grades Education 4-8 (B.S.) AMLE
• Bachelors in Modern Language and Culture with P-12 Certification in Foreign Language Education – French (B.A.) ACTFL
• Bachelors in Modern Language and Culture with P-12 Certification in Foreign Language Education – Spanish (B.A.) ACTFL
• Masters in Physics 6-12 (M.A.T.) NSTA
• Masters in Special Education - General Curriculum P-12 (M.A.T.) CEC

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega

CAEP

• Bachelors in Mathematics Education NCTM

Valdosta State University

Valdosta

CAEP

• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI
• Bachelors in Foreign Language Education ACTFL
• Post Masters in Instructional Technology/School Library Media Specialist ALA
• Bachelors in Middle School Education (B.S.Ed.) AMLE
• Masters in Reading Education ILA
• Masters in Special Education/Deaf and Hard of Hearing (5-Yr.) CEC

Bachelor’s in Education Degrees in GA

Albany State University offers Bachelor of Science programs in middle grades education and special education. Clayton State University offers educational bachelor degree programs with many majors or areas of interest, such as biology, chemistry, English, history, mathematics, political science and music. Biology, English, history and mathematics are also available as programs offering secondary certification.

University of Georgia- Athens offers the Bachelor of Science in Education with specializations in athletic training, health and physical education, sports management, middle school education, special education, mathematics education, English education, social studies and more. UG-Athens also offers dual degree programs such as the BS/BSEd in biology/science education; BS/BSEd in mathematics/mathematics education; AB/BSEd in English/English education and the AB/BSEd in history/social studies education.

Master’s in Education Programs in Georgia

ASU offers various master degree programs including Master of Education with majors in special education, early childhood education, middle grades education, school counseling, and educational administration and supervision. Clayton State University has a Master of Education in Teacher Leadership program as well as Master of Arts programs in liberal studies, English and mathematics. Clark Atlanta University offers the Master of Arts program with majors in teaching science, mathematics education, special education general curriculum, educational leadership, school counseling and community counseling.

UG-Athens offers the Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education and just Master of Arts degrees. The MAT program offers majors in early childhood education, mathematics, science, social studies, TESOL, special education, workforce education and world language education. The MEd program allows students to focus on areas like communication sciences and disorders, educational psychology, adult education, English education, mathematics, middle school education, reading, science and social studies.

GA Teaching Certification & Specializations

Albany State University has a GACE certification program to help students obtain teaching certification. ASU also offers endorsements in the following areas of concentration: gifted, k-5 mathematics, k-5 science, online teaching, reading and teacher leader. An educational leadership specialty program is available at ASU. Clark Atlanta University has an educational specialist program in educational leadership; a certification program in early childhood education and a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

UG-Athens offers several certification programs, including ESOL, reading education, TESOL, instructional technology for teaching. These programs are offered on campus and through UG’s distance learning department. UG-Athens also offers an education specialist degree with many concentrations such as adult education, middle school education, mathematics education, special education and early childhood education and many more.