"Through the cultivation of my mind, body, and spirit at PC, I learned that it is serving that really makes me live." "When I came to PC, they told me I could be anything -- and they gave me the skills to use, the confidence to proceed, and people to emulate to be a productive servant in my community, my church, and my family. Faculty, staff, and other students instilled in me that desire and that necessity to live while I serve. Through that cultivation of my mind, body, and spirit at PC, I learned that it is serving that really makes me live." Lasting memory of PC - "Sitting on the steps of Neville Hall with several friends the week of graduation saying, 'They really are going to make us leave.'" Kathleen (Kathy) Reid Bangle - Class of 1987 Director of Development College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia Athens, Ga.

You may be planning to teach in early childhood (grades PK-3), or middle school (grades 5-8) or the high school level and pursue biology, English, mathematics, and social studies certification. Or you may opt for the certification (grades k-12) in Spanish or music.  The choices are yours. 

Educators must have a solid base of knowledge, so education majors first complete two years of PC's core of liberal arts requirements, including courses in psychology, fine arts, health, and mathematics. Students declare their majors during their sophomore year; they formally apply for admission to the teacher education program during the fall semester of their junior year and begin taking courses in a specific field of study.

Beginning in their junior year, education majors enroll for three semesters of practicum experience, which provides for actual in-school visits and classroom participation. Students have an opportunity to observe teachers, interact with students, and engage in classroom instruction.

All of these experiences prepare students for the culmination of the program, a semester of student teaching. Student teachers from PC work in local public schools under the direction of master teachers and college supervisors, assuming full teaching responsibilities. Once students complete the teacher education program, they are more knowledgeable about their subjects of expertise and have more professional experience than most teacher education programs require. Student teaching generally occurs during the last semester of the senior year. Teacher candidates have opportunities to pursue research and engage in professional interactions throughout their academic program.

PC maintains high standards for preparing teachers to enter the classroom. Title II reports submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, reflecting Presbyterian College department of education program completers, document a 100 percent institutional pass rate on aggregate basic skills, a 100 percent pass rate in academic content areas, and a summary pass rate of 100 percent.

Future teachers at PC also learn and develop their skills in the finest academic environment. An education curriculum lab is located in Thomason Library, which houses nearly 8,000 volumes of up-to-date books and periodicals available to education  majors. The extensive collection also includes texts, maps, globes, manipulatives, and other supplementary teaching material.  Also located there are 6,000 additional volumes of education-related texts for use by the major. Adjoining the curriculum lab is the Media Center, which offers assistance in video, audio, photographic, and computer resources.

Students enjoy many other opportunities and activities that prepare them for a career in education -- or anything else. Along the way, students may choose to study abroad; choose from a myriad of volunteer activities (tutor, mentor, classroom aid); or serve as Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Education students are also engaged in research with professors. Students are encouraged to join and attend as many professional organizations as possible.

The Education Department at Presbyterian College is a dynamic, active place with engaged professors and students. The teacher education program at Presbyterian College is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; phone (202) 466-7496.  This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs. NCATE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel.