Welcome to Mercer University's Tift College of Education Web site.

Whether you're looking to begin a career in teaching or to earn an advanced degree, Tift College of Education can help you meet your educational and professional goals. Tift College of Education, the largest private preparer of educators in Georgia, is dedicated to the preparation of teachers and school leaders who will know the foundations of the education profession, the content bases for curricula, and the characteristics of diverse learners.

Our graduates will do the work of professional educators in planning and implementing well-integrated curricula using developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive instructional strategies, materials, and technology. At Tift College of Education, we prepare educators to be reflective, collaborative, responsive decision makers, facilitators, and role models in the classroom, the school, the community, and the global environment. We are committed to offering innovative programming and equipping our students to meet the diverse needs of today's classrooms.

Professional education programs and coursework are offered on the University's Macon and Atlanta campuses as well as at its Academic Centers in Douglas County, Henry County, Eastman and an evening program in Macon. Our programs are designed with both traditional and non-traditional students in mind. The Macon campus offers students the traditional college experience while Center programs are designed for individuals seeking career changes as well as working adults who want to take courses in the evening and on weekends. The Atlanta campus offers evening graduate level programs leading to the M.Ed., Ed.S. and a new MAT program that leads to initial teacher certification.  Students are able to obtain initial teacher certification at the undergraduate and graduate levels and school administrator certification at the graduate level at Mercer.

An exciting, innovative program offered at Mercer is the Holistic Child program. Offered on Mercer's Macon campus, this undergraduate program allows education students to obtain dual certification in early childhood education and special education: general curriculum.  In addition, our early childhood education program at our Academic Centers has been modified to a dual certification program consistent with the Holistic Child Program offered in Macon.  A new program focusing on education professionals preparing to work with children ages Birth-5 is also available at our Henry County Academic Center.

The College is pleased to offer a masters-level program in Educational Leadership on Mercer's Macon campus, at the Henry County Academic Center, and in Atlanta.  This program is designed to focus upon the knowledge and leadership qualities and skills necessary for those individuals planning to take leadership positions, especially the principalship.  Furthering its commitment to the production of quality leaders for today?s schools, the Tift College of Education is pleased to announce the implementation of a new Ph.D. Program in Educational Leadership in the Fall Semester of 2006.  A similar program in Higher Education will be initiated in the Fall Semester, 2007.

Tift College of Education also offers bachelor of science degrees in middle grades education. Secondary education certification programs are offered in cooperation with the College of Liberal Arts.  The College's graduate programs include master of education and specialist in education degrees.

All of our programs at the Tift College of Education center on the philosophy that students learn best when engaged in hands-on learning experiences. From the beginning, Tift education students learn to effectively use instructional technology skills required of all Georgia teachers and are involved in supervised diverse field experiences that complement and enhance what they learn in the classroom.

Tift College of Education graduates are routinely sought after in every discipline and on every grade level.  As you further explore our Web site, you'll see why. Don't hesitate to call us to learn more about the exciting opportunities that await you at Mercer. I also encourage you to plan a visit to any of our locations so you can see the Mercer advantage first-hand!

Sincerely,

Carl R. Martray, Ph.D.
Dean, Tift College of Education