Educational Studies, B.A.
Students enrolled in undergraduate programs in Art Education, Drama Education, Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, Music Education, and Secondary Education who do not wish to pursue teacher certification or complete the professional requirements for internship may apply instead to complete requirements for a B.A. Degree in Educational Studies. Individuals who select this option are not eligible for state certification. A minimum of 120 credits, of which 30 must be in Education courses, is required for completion of the degree. The professional semester, which typically includes the Internship II experience, must be replaced by course work. All Educational Studies candidates are required to complete the following requirements in the final semester of the program.
- EDUC 4788 Capstone
- A completed program portfolio
A request to change to the Educational Studies major must be filed with the Dean’s office on the appropriate form.
Individuals who have been accepted to the University (and/or who may have been admitted as “undecided” majors) may choose to pursue the bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies, with the goal of pursuing other education-related careers, including human services, educational publishing, museums, galleries, or teaching in private schools. Students complete the University's general education requirements and a 30-credit major comprised of education courses planned with their advisor. A final capstone course is required. The educational studies degree does not lead to recommendation for teacher certification.
Candidates who receive the B.A. degree in Educational Studies may apply to return to the University within five years as a certification-only student. A prerequisite for admission as a certification-only student is successful completion of the appropriate GACE content tests and a pre-service certificate.
Educational Studies Curriculum Outline
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Educational Studies
Mission: The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Educational Studies is designed for individuals who may have originally entered a bachelor's degree program in education and whose career goals have changed and who are no longer seeking teacher certification. Additionally, the mission of the BA degree in Educational Studies provides individuals who are not seeking teacher certification with course work and experiences to pursue careers in education-related fields such as human services, educational publishing, museums, galleries, or private schools.
To be eligible for the B.A. degree in Educational Studies, candidates must, with the assistance of their advisor, complete a program of studies that includes a minimum of 30 credits in Education course work (of which 3 credits must include the Capstone exhibition course) and a minimum of 120 credits.
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Educational Studies requires a minimum of 120 credit hours as follows:
General Education
Piedmont University Requirement
| PDMT 1101 | Intro to University Life and Liberal Arts Tradition | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 1 |
Students who have not completed a minimum of 24 semester credit hours of college-level coursework upon admission to Piedmont University must meet this college requirement.
Major courses
Candidates will complete a program of study that includes a minimum of 30 credits in Education course work (of which 3 credits must include the Capstone exhibition course)
Required courses:
| EDUC 4788 | Capstone/Exhibition | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
Elective courses
(approved by advisor)
Total Credit Hours: 120