University of North Georgia (UNG) offers four graduate level endorsement programs for teachers which may be completed for graduate credit or professional learning unit (PLU).
The Teacher Support Specialist Endorsement Program is available on a contracted school-wide or district level basis.
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission has approved these endorsement programs. Upon acceptance in these programs and satisfactory completion of the required series of courses, students will be recommended for endorsements to their teaching certificates permitting them to perform special roles in these areas. In many cases, some or all of the endorsement course work may be used in graduate programs. In other cases, students may seek graduate-level endorsement course work outside of degree programs.
- Students seeking to enter endorsement programs for graduate credit must apply for non-degree admission to Graduate Admissions.
- Students who may not want/need college credit for the endorsement courses should apply to the specific endorsement program through the College of Education for professional learning units.
Details are available on both the Graduate Admissions and the College of Education websites.
Endorsements are added to teaching certificates. They are not certificates in themselves. For additional program information, please visit the College of Education website here.
Graduate Admissions Procedures
Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions at www.ung.edu/Graduate. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, the applicant will be notified and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. Subsequent notification will be mailed from the College of Education Graduate Office to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.
Students who are admitted, but do not enroll within three semesters of acceptance must apply to Graduate Admissions for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also apply to Graduate Admissions for readmission. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned.
Teacher Certificate Endorsement Admission Requirements
The endorsement courses may be completed for graduate credit or for professional learning units (PLU).
Individuals seeking certificate endorsements for professional learning units (PLU) must apply to the specific endorsement program through the College of Education. Students seeking professional learning units (not graduate credit) will not be allowed to convert these units to graduate credit.
Individuals seeking graduate credit for endorsement courses must apply as a non-degree student to Graduate Admissions, www.ung.edu/graduate/apply. The following documents must be received prior to admission.
- Graduate Admissions application.
- Non-refundable application fee.
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures. If an endorsement program applicant holds a master’s degree, only the transcript showing the master’s degree awarded is required for submission to Graduate Admissions. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.50. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) does not recognize evaluations from World Education Services (WES). For more details on agencies accepted by the PSC, review the PSC website at www.gapsc.com.
- Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.
Non-degree students are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Teacher Certificate Endorsement Academic Policies
Incomplete Grades
The College of Education adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog. No student carrying two incompletes (“I”), either of which has been extended over one semester, may enroll in additional course work without the written consent of the College of Education Graduate Office.
Academic Standing Policy
Any teacher certificate endorsement student who receives a grade of C or lower will subject to a program review to determine the student’s eligibility to enroll in coursework for the subsequent semester. If an endorsement student is suspended from an endorsement program, the student may apply, after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed, by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. An endorsement student wishing to apply for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree program must notify the College of Education Graduate Office, submit a new application to Graduate Admissions, and meet all program admission requirements. No more than 12 semester hours of graduate credit earned while holding a non-degree status may subsequently be applied toward meeting the requirements of the MAT or M.Ed. graduate degree. All credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the College of Education Graduate Office.
Academic Integrity
The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.
Professional Integrity
The Teacher Certificate Endorsements program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academics section of the Graduate Catalog.
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