The program is designed for you to earn two degrees in five years of school. Some students can accelerate their program and complete both degrees in just four years, depending on AP/IB/Dual enrollment courses taken. You will earn a Bachelor of Arts or Science and a Master of Teaching degree, and be prepared to teach high school in your chosen subject.
Your undergraduate advisor will help you choose any additional courses so you will be able to join the graduate portion of the program in the summer after you complete your bachelor’s degree. Your undergraduate courses will include a mix of education and subject-specific courses, based on your subject.
What do I need to do as an undergraduate?
In addition to completing an undergraduate degree in your content teaching area, you will need to maintain a minimum overall minimum GPA of 2.75, and an average GPA of 2.75 in all undergraduate courses related to your chosen subject.
You will select your undergraduate major based on the subject you want to teach:
English - major in English
Social studies - major in African-American studies, geography, history, political science, sociology,
or psychology
Mathematics - major in mathematics or statistics
Science - major in biology, chemistry, or physics
Finally, there are additional undergraduate courses depending on your content teaching area:
Complete a 12-hour education component within your undergraduate program with no grade below a C:
- EDFI 300 (3 credit hours) – Schools in Communities
- EDPY 401 (3 credit hours) – Learners and the Diversity of Learning
- EDSE 500 (3 credit hours) – Equity and Community Engagement
- EDSE 547 (3 credit hours) – Teaching Middle and High School English
Complete the full Education Minor by also taking the two courses listed below (optional)
- EDLP 317 (3 credit hours) formerly 517 – Law and Policy Studies in Education
- EDFI 361 (3 credit hours) – Comparative and International Education
As part of your undergraduate degree, you will need to complete the following English courses with a grade of C or better:
- One course in literature before 1800 selected from ENGL 380, 381, 382, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 410, 420
- One course in literature from 1800 selected from ENGL 340*, 341*, 383, 384, 385, 386, 393, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 419*, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425A, 425B, 423, 427, 428A, 428B, 429*, 430*, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438A*, 438B*, 438C*, 438D*, 438E*, 439*, 441, 565, 566 (*depending on content)
- One course in English language: ENGL 389 or ENGL 453
- One course in theory and criticism: ENGL 388, 440 or 449
- One course in African American literature: ENGL 428a or 428b, or 430
- ENGL 432 – Young Adult Literature
- ENGL 437 – Women Writers
- ENGL 450 – English Grammar
- ENGL 460 – Advanced Writing
- One course in Writing or Rhetoric selected from ENGL 360, 387, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 485, 486
- One additional ENGL course numbered 300 or above
Complete a 12-hour education core/cognate within your undergraduate program with no grade below a C:
- EDFI 300 (3 credit hours) – Schools in Communities
- EDPY 401 (3 credit hours) – Learners and the Diversity of Learning
- EDSE 502 (3 credit hours) – Teachers and Teaching
- EDSE 500 (3 credit hours) – Equity and Community Engagement
Complete the full Education Minor by also taking the two courses listed below (optional)
- EDLP 317 (3 credit hours) formerly 517 – Law and Policy Studies in Education
- EDFI 361 (3 credit hours) – Comparative and International Education
Statistics majors must complete MATH 300, MATH 546/701I, MATH 531, and MATH 574 either within the bachelor’s degree or the M.T. degree.
Complete a 12-hour education core/cognate within your undergraduate program with no grade below a C:
- EDFI 300 (3 credit hours) – Schools in Communities
- EDPY 401 (3 credit hours) – Learners and the Diversity of Learning
- EDSE 502 (3 credit hours) – Teachers and Teaching
- EDSE 500 (3 credit hours) – Equity and Community Engagement
Complete the full Education Minor by also taking the two courses listed below (optional)
- EDLP 317 (3 credit hours) formerly 517 – Law and Policy Studies in Education
- EDFI 361 (3 credit hours) – Comparative and International Education
As part of your undergraduate degree in a science that includes at least 30 hours in the content area you plan to teach, complete at least one 3-4 credit hour course from each of the following science areas with a grade of C or better for a total of 12-16 credit hours:
- Biology (BIOL)
- Chemistry (CHEM)
- Physics (PHYS)
- Geology (GEOL) or Marine Science (MSCI)
Complete a 12-hour education core/cognate within your undergraduate program with no grade below a C:
- EDFI 300 (3 credit hours) – Schools in Communities
- EDPY 401 (3 credit hours) – Learners and the Diversity of Learning
- EDSE 502 (3 credit hours) – Teachers and Teaching
- EDSE 500 (3 credit hours) – Equity and Community Engagement
Complete the full Education Minor by also taking the two courses listed below (optional)
- EDLP 317 (3 credit hours) formerly 517 – Law and Policy Studies in Education
- EDFI 361 (3 credit hours) – Comparative and International Education
As part of your undergraduate degree, you will need to complete the following Social Studies courses with a grade of C or better for M.T. admission:
- HIST 111 and HIST 112
- Four (4) 300 level or above history courses
- POLI 201
- ECON 224 or (ECON 221 and 222)
- One course from GEOG 103 or GEOG 210 or GEOG 221
- One course from PSYC, SOCY, or ANTH
For more information about curriculum or program requirements, please visit the academic bulletin.
Graduate Experience
The graduate program requires a minimum of 33 graduate hours over the course of one year. Once you are accepted into the program, your Secondary Education M.T. advisor will help you choose your classes.
You will take 15 hours of internship courses that allow you to learn through authentic classroom placements. You will work alongside experienced coaching teachers in local schools to learn to best teach high school students and improve student learning.
Application Process
You will start the application process to the M.T. degree during the senior year of your undergraduate program:
- The program is designed to start in the summer following your bachelor’s degree. Submit your graduate school application by February 1 of your senior year. If you are graduating in December, you may be able to start in the Spring semester if you apply by October 15.
- Apply online for the Secondary Education Master of Teaching program at the Graduate School.
- Submit scores for program-approved admissions tests.
- Successfully interview with faculty, which includes a review of transcripts, practicum experiences, and letters of recommendation from faculty members of your home college (the one where you are completing your undergraduate degree).
Current USC-Columbia students can attend a Become A Teacher session to learn more about this program.