The University will try to meet the needs of science education students taking advanced courses at the Gwinnett Campus, the Curriculum Committee of the University Council decided Friday.

The committee approved a proposal, pending Regents approval to offer a master’s degree in science education in Gwinnett.

“This is just taking an existing program – approved and functioning [in Athens] – and offering it in Gwinnett to meet a strong need,” said David Shipley, chair of the committee.

Though the Gwinnett Campus already offers teacher certification courses, the students must drive to Athens to work on a master’s degree, said Denise Mewborn, department head in math and science education. Teachers with a master’s degree receive a higher salary than those without the distinction.

About two-thirds of the science education majors in Gwinnett drive to Athens for their master’s coursework, she said. The new program would provide those courses more conveniently.

“We are a land grant university, so our job is to serve the people of the state,” Mewborn said Friday.

“Sometimes that means taking those classes to them, rather than expecting them to drive to Athens.”

The committee also supported the College of Education’s efforts to bring its science curriculum to another external location. Pending Regents approval, the University will offer the courses required to obtain an educational specialist degree – a degree level between a master’s and a doctorate – to one group of about 25 teachers in Jackson County.

“There certainly is, at the Board Level, a very high desire to increase teacher education within this state,” said Arnett Mace, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

The Jackson County curriculum will be identical to the coursework of the already existing Athens-based program. Tenured and tenure-track faculty from Athens would go to Jackson County to teach in the program, Mewborn said.

The University needs to offer these courses if it hopes to stay competitive with other universities and online programs, she said.

“We are losing a lot of our teachers seeking advanced degrees to competitor institutions,” she said.

She said the University couldn’t expect the teachers to come to Athens and would have to bring the classes to them.

Shipley offered a similar opinion.

“If we don’t take it to them, they’re not coming to us here,” he said.

The committee also decided to eliminate the minor in Textile Sciences and the certificate in Eastern Central European Studies due to lack of interest in the programs. A new major in athletic training is pending Regents approval.