Print this page. About the Program
The College of Education at the University of South Carolina has more than 100 years experience in preparing teachers and offers the most comprehensive teacher preparation in South Carolina. The college offers undergraduate degrees in the areas of early childhood, elementary, and middle level teacher education as well as a five-year undergraduate/graduate teacher preparation program in secondary education. Each program supports prospective teachers in developing both in-depth content knowledge and the appropriate knowledge, skills, and dispositions of teaching required in today’s classrooms. Extensive clinical experiences in a variety of PreK–12 classrooms and schools are a central component of each program. A four-year program for students who want to teach K–12 art, music, or physical education is also available. Students in this program receive a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification in one of the three areas.
Career Opportunities
The University’s College of Education can prepare you for almost any aspect of teaching at every level, including:
• early childhood education
• elementary education
• middle level education
• secondary education
• higher education
• special education
• art, music, or physical education
The University Career Center is available to assist you in choosing a career direction and in increasing your marketability upon graduation. For additional information, call the center at 803-777-7280.
Admission/Progression Requirements
New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to early childhood, elementary, or middle level degree programs offered by the College of Education. If you who wish to transfer from another college on the Columbia campus or another USC campus, you must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher if you have completed less than 30 credit hours or a GPA of 2.25 if you have 30 credit hours or more. If you who wish to enter the College of Education from a regionally accredited college or university outside the USC system, you must meet applicable admission standards of the University. Students may not transfer credit for any course that carries a grade lower than C. Details for all applicant categories can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin. To remain in the undergraduate programs offered by the College of Education, you must make satisfactory progress toward the degree. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress may be placed on academic probation or be removed from the college. To receive a recommendation for professional certification, you must complete the appropriate degree(s) and pass the required professional examinations and a performance-based teaching assessment.
Program of Study (124 to 135 hours)
The undergraduate degrees in the areas of early childhood, elementary, and middle level teacher education all require between 43 and 46 hours of general education requirements in such subjects as English, theatre, sciences like biology and physics, mathematics, art, and foreign languages. Each of the three specific areas of study then require you to complete the 127 to 135 hours of study in courses that specifically deal with your major area of study: a comprehensive set of courses such as Schools in Communities, Parent/Family Dynamics in Education, Elementary School Practicum, Methods and Materials for Teaching Science in the Middle Grades, and Middle and High School Internship Seminar.
Of Special Interest
If you already have a bachelor’s degree and want to obtain teacher certification, you may choose to pursue the Master of Arts in Teaching at the graduate level. The Master of Arts, Master of Education, and Interdisciplinary Master of Arts are available for educators who hold a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification. The college also offers the Education Specialist, Doctor of Education, and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs. Special learning environments such as the Children’s Center, the Educational Technology Center, and the Electronic Classroom are available, and through the Professional Development School (PDS) network, faculty members work with 17 area schools to conduct research and provide exemplary practicum experiences for teacher education students.