Business & Social Science

Education

What is it? A study by the Professional Standards Commission Status Report 2004, estimates that Georgia’s schools will need an additional 10,034 teachers by 2009. What is Darton College doing to help with this shortage?

Darton College offers the two-year Associate of Science degree in Education, preparing prospective teachers to transfer to four-year institutions. A Bachelor of Science (four-year) degree is required before an individual is granted certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Darton College offers these specific two-year transfer degrees:

• Secondary Education (9-12)
  • Art
  • Mathematics
  • English
  • Music
  • Foreign Language
  • Science
  • Speech
  • Theatre
  • History
• Middle Grades (5-8)
• Early Childhood (P-4)
• Special Education
• Trade & Industrial Education

Teacher Education Programs

• Early Childhood (0088)
• Middle Grade (0089)
• Special Education (0090)
• Secondary Education

What can I do with it? The current starting base salary for Georgia’s teachers is $30, 441 for ten months (190 days) employment. However, many teachers receive annual supplements from the school districts that employ them. For example, the Dougherty County School System’s annual supplement for first-year teachers is approximately $1,800.

Teachers, many at the high school and middle school levels, earn additional money through activities such as coaching and sponsoring clubs. Teachers who earn degrees beyond the Bachelor’s (four-year) degree earn automatic pay raises from the state. For example, a teacher that completes a Master’s degree receives an additional $4,566 annually.

What courses do I take?

• Early Childhood classes to take
• Middle Grade classes to take
• Special Education classse to take
• Secondary Education classes to take
• Trade & Industrial Education classes to take
• Please refer to the Darton College Catalog for descriptions of individual courses.

Student Organization:

Darton College teacher education majors are encouraged to join the Darton College chapter of SPAGE (Student Professional Association of Georgia Educators). SPAGE provides opportunities for education majors to experience workshops, activities, and association with leaders in Georgia education. For more information about SPAGE see the following website:
http://www.pagefoundation.org/spage/index.html