The Red and Black

By KATIE HOWELL Staff Writer

Students in the school of education may find it more difficult to get into their majors after the semester switch.

This fall, the spaces allotted for several education majors will be restricted. Of the majors affected, the one hardest hit will be early childhood education, with a projected 50 applicants for 13 spots. Also severely impacted will be special education, with a projected 100 interested students vying for 60 slots.

Cliff Smith, faculty administrator for curriculum for the college of education, said the limited number of area schools for student teaching led to the restrictions.

"We are limited geographically," Smith said. "And with the semester system we'll only be able to put out student teachers twice a year, rather than three times."

Though students may not get into their first choice, advisers in the school of education will try to find majors that are not filled.

"We try to match up students with abilities in their majors," Smith said. "You do not want to let students into a program when you cannot deliver the goods."

Students who want to get into their first choice of a major need more than good grades, Smith said. They must write essays and do practicum work to be admitted into the school of education major of their choice.

"We pick the best students with the most opportunity to succeed," Smith said.

Because the University's college of education is one of the largest in the nation, it tries to choose the best potential teachers, Smith said.

Susannah Wheeler, a freshman from Clemson, S. C., said she's not worried about the closings.

"Mine's a really high-need area," said Wheeler, who intends to major in secondary biology education. "If mine closes, I'll pick up another high school science like physics."

Alicia Vest, a freshman from Woodstock, said she may transfer to Kennesaw State University if she cannot get into early childhood education here.

"I guess I'll have to plan on getting good enough grades to get in," Vest said.

Students should talk to their advisers to find options for changing their majors, Smith said.

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