Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Teacher Education

Students who seek teacher certification in early childhood, elementary, or middle level education pursue an undergraduate degree in the College of Education in the area of their choice. Certification levels for students becoming certified after September 2005 are early childhood (preK-grade 3), elementary (grades 2-6), and middle level (grades 5-8). (Note: Students wishing to pursue a bachelor's degree outside of the College of Education and a fifth year master's degree in either early childhood or elementary education should contact the College of Education's Office of Student Affairs. This option is not available to anyone entering the University after September 1, 2003.)

Undergraduate Programs in Art, Music, Physical Education, and Secondary Business and Technology Education

Undergraduate programs in the areas of art, music, and physical education prepare students for K-12 certification. An undergraduate program in business and technology education prepares students for 9-12 certification. Students who wish to become art teachers pursue an undergraduate degree in art education (College of Arts and Sciences); those who wish to become music teachers pursue an undergraduate degree in music with options in music education-choral and music education-instrumental (School of Music); those wishing to become physical education teachers pursue an undergraduate degree in physical education (College of Education); and those wishing to become business and technology teachers in secondary schools pursue a degree in business and technology education (thorugh the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management). These programs are designed to offer prospective teachers intensive academic study in the subject area in combination with professional training for teaching. To receive a recommendation for professional certification, students must be admitted to the professional program in education (in the College of Education) and complete the baccalaureate degree and the professional program in education (College of Education).

Undergraduate/Graduate Programs in Secondary Education

Five-year undergraduate/graduate teacher preparation programs are offered in the following areas of secondary education: English, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students are only eligible for minors in French, Latin, and Spanish if they were admitted to USC prior to summer 2005. Students who seek teacher certification in secondary education must pursue undergraduate degree programs in the subject area they wish to teach. Students should consult an advisor in the appropriate college for information on course work required for teacher certification, which will include both subject-area and education courses. Students then complete a fifth-year Master of Teaching degree, which typically begins the summer after completion of the undergraduate degree. Students are not admitted to the master's degree program solely by reason of their completion of the undergraduate degree. Students must apply for and be admitted to the graduate program. To receive a recommendation for teacher certification, students must complete both the baccalaureate degree and the master's degree and meet other requirements (see "Certification," below).

Education Cognate and Minor

Fifth-Year Core Courses. Students who wish to pursue initial teacher preparation through a fifth-year program will complete the following undergraduate core courses (12 credit hours) in education. Some community placements may require FBI and SLED checks and fees for same.

EDFN 300, EDTE 400, EDPY 401, EDPY 401P, EDTE 402, and EDTE 402P

Secondary Business and Technology Education--Core Courses. Students enrolled in the secondary business and technology education initial teacher preparation program will complete the 12-credit-hour core courses listed above and the following:

EDEX 491, EDRM 423, EDTE 470, and EDTE 521

K-12 Programs--Core Courses. Students enrolled in K-12 undergraduate initial teacher preparation programs will complete core courses as follows:

Art and Music: EDFN 300, EDPY 401, and EDTE 402
Physical Education: EDFN 300 and EDPY 401

Specialized Education Minors. In addition to the 12-hour core, students who wish to complete a minor in the following areas must complete 6 hours of specialized course work. A minor is required to be eligible for the fifth-year certification programs in secondary French, Latin, and Spanish. Students who wish to obtain a minor must contact their undergraduate dean's office for prior approval.

Early Childhood: Select two from EDEC 250, 340/340P, 540, and 610
French: FREN 515 and FORL 510 or 511
Latin: LATN 575 and FORL 510 or 511
Spanish: SPAN 409 and FORL 510 or 511

General Education Minor. Students who wish to include an education minor other than those previously listed may complete the 12 hours of core courses listed above and select 6 hours from the following: ANTH 557; ARTE 520, 530; CLIS 523, 525, 527, 529; CRJU 552; EDCE 510, 600, 601; EDEX 523, 531; EDPY 335; MUED 454, 465, 466; PEDU 575; PSYC 510, 520, 521, 528; SOCY 524; THEA 526; EDEC 250 or 610; EDEL 505/505P.

Students must contact their undergraduate dean's office for prior approval.

Certification

In the teacher preparation programs (early childhood, elementary, or middle level education), the degree requirements and certification requirements are linked. Inasmuch as certification requirements are the responsibility of the State Board of Education, if state regulations change, degree requirements are also subject to change. All students seeking a recommendation for certification must:

1. successfully complete the requirements of the degree program;
2. achieve test scores at or above the level established by the state on the program-appropriate exams (Praxis II series);
3. submit scores earned on the Praxis (Praxis II Series) to the Office of Student Affairs, College of Education, Wardlaw 113, and to the S.C. Deparment of Education;
4. submit to an FBI check for prior felony convictions prior to full-time clinical experience;
5. pay all certification fees as required;
6. successfully complete ADEPT requirements with a positive recommendation for certification.

Admission, Progression, and Exit Requirements: Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education

Entrance 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. Students who wish to enter the College of Education from another college on the Columbia campus or another USC campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher if they have completed less than 30 semester hours of credit or a GPA of 2.25 if they have 30 semester hours or more.

Student who wish to enter the College of Education from a regionally accredited college or university outside the USC system must meet applicable admission standards of the University. Students may not transfer credit for any course that carries a grade lower than C.

Progression Requirements

To remain in the early childhood, elementary, or middle level degree programs offered by the College of Education, a student 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. In addition, all students in the college are subject to the regulations on probation, suspension, and readmission in the section of this bulletin titled "Academic Regulations" under the heading "Academic Standing."

Professional Program

Admission to the professional program in early childhood, elementary, or middle level education is granted by the dean of the College of Education and constitutes the first "midpoint" review in each respective assessment system. Professional program and internship admission requirements can be found in the description of each program area.

Exit Requirements

1. Successfully complete all degree requirements.
2. Complete and submit an application for graduation to the College of Education's Office of Student Affairs early in the last semester of the senior year. Students should consult the official University calendar for the specific date that the application is due.

Early Childhood Education

The Department of Instruction and Teacher Education offers a program leading to a B.A. degree in early childhood education. Students successfully completing all certification requirements are eligible to apply for a professional credential to teach preschool through grade 3.

The Early Childhood Education Professional Program

Upon completion of 60 semester hours of course work, including courses specified by the program area, the candidate may apply for admission to the Professional Program in Early Childhood Education.

For admission to the professional program, the candidate must:

1. successfuly complete the Praxis I examination;
2. achieve an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher;
3. achieve a GPA of 3.00 or higher and no grade lower than C on education courses and field experiences;
4. earn a grade of C or better in specific course work as required by the program area;
5. successfully complete the criminal background check that is required by the College of Education;
6. provide a written endorsement for admission from an instructor in education;
7. provide a written endorsement from an educator outside the University of South Carolina who has worked with the candidate in a practicum setting attesting to the candidate's character and dispositions;
8. submit satisfactory work samples as required by the program area.

The Early Childhood Internship Admission Requirements

For admission to the internship semesters, the candidate must:

1. be admitted to the professional program;
2. achieve an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher;
3. achieve a GPA of 3.00 or higher in all education course work with no grade lower than C;
4. achieve a grade of C or better in specified course work as required by the program area and completed since entry into the professional program;
5. comply with the criminal background check and health screening requirements.

Curriculum

B.A. in Early Childhood Education
Total semester hours: 127-128

1. General Education (43-44)

A. Liberal Arts (21):
ENGL 101 and 102 (or higher level) (6)
HIST 111, 112, 409, or 410 (3)
Non-Western Civilization: a course in culture other than Western European (3)
GEOG 121 or 210
Fine Arts: THEA 522 or 526 and MUSC 140 or other approved course (6)
Foreign Languages: Students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. This ability can be demonstrated by achieving a score of 2 or better on a USC foreign language test. Those failing to do so must satisfactorily complete equivalent study of a foreign language at USC. Spanish recommended.

B. Science and Numerical Analysis/Reasoning (13-14):
Natural Sciences: (7-8)
a course in life sciences, BIOL 110 or BIOL 120 recommended (3-4)
a course in either physical science (PHYS 101/101L recommended) or earth science (GEOL 101, 103, 201, MSCI 101, ENVR 101/101L, or ENVR 200/200L recommended) (3-4)
At least one science course must include a lab.

Numerical Analysis and Reasoning: (6)
MATH 122 and STAT 110 or 201 or two courses in statistics (6)

C. Electives (9)
Liberal Arts or Science (9)
Recommended selections:
6 credit hours in Spanish at the 200 level or above
Physical or earth science (whichever not already taken)
POLI 201/202

2. Specialized Content Preparation (18)
SLIS 325 or ENGL 431 (3)
MATH 221 and 222 (6)
PEDU 575 (3)
ARTE 520 or 530 (3)
ARTE 360 (3)

3. Education (66)

A. Education Core (18)
UNIV 101 The Student and the University (3)
EDEC 201 Inquiry into Early Childhood Education (3)
EDFN 300 Schools in Communities (3)
EDPY 401 Learners and the Diversity of Learning (3)
EDPY 401P Learners and the Diversity of Learning Practicum (1)
EDRM 423 Introduction to Classroom Assessment (2)
EDEX 523 Introduction to Exceptional Children (3)

B. Early Childhood Core (28)
EDEC 250 Play and Early Learning (3)
EDEC 340 The Young Child: Development, Care, and Education (Birth to 3 Years) (3)
EDEC 342 The Young Child: Development, Care, and Education (3-8 Years) (3)
EDEC 442 Studies in Integrated Curriculum: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Fine Arts (4)
EDEC 447 Community of Learners in the Early Childhood Classroom (2)
EDEC 591 Seminar on Teaching in Early Childhood (3)
EDEC 610 Parent/Family Dynamics in Education (3)
EDRD 345 Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education I (3)
EDRD 445 Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education II (4)

C. Practicum and Internship Experiences (20)
EDEC 340P The Young Child: Development, Care, and Education (Birth to 3 Years) Practicum (1)
EDEC 342P The Young Child: Development, Care, and Education (3-8 Years) Practicum (3)
EDEC 443 Internship in Integrated Curriculum: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Fine Arts (2)
EDRD 446 Internship in Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education (2)
EDTE 570 Internship in Environments for Teaching and Learning (3)
EDTE 590A Internship in Curriculum and Assessment (3)
EDTE 590B Internship in Teaching (3)
EDTE 590C Internship in Professional Roles (3)

Elementary Education

The Department of Instruction and Teacher Education offers a program leading to a B.A. degree in elementary education. Students successfully completing all degree and certification requirements are eligible to apply for a professional credential to teach grades 2 through 6.

The Elementary Education Professional Program

Upon completion of 60 semester hours of course work including courses specified by the program area, the candidate may apply for admission to the Professional Program in Elementary Education.

For admission to the professional program, the candidate must:

1. successfully complete the Praxis I examination;
2. achieve an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher;
3. achieve a GPA of 3.00 or higher and no grade lower than C in education courses and field experiences;
4. earn a grade of C or better in specific course work as required by the program area;
5. comply with criminal background check and health screening requirements;
6. provide a written endorsement for admission from an instructor in education;
7. provide a written endorsement from an educator outside the University of South Carolina who has worked with the candidate in a practicum setting attesting to the candidate's professionalism and character;
8. submit an essay addressing the dispositions (stewardship, intellectual spirit, integrity, and justice) of the College of Education Conceptual Framework;
9. submit two work samples with a narrative reflection providing evidence of the student's knowledge and skills in the following dimensions of the College of Education Conceptual Framework: human growth and development, standards, cultural influences, self-knowledge, technology, relationship building, and communication (to be completed while enrolled in EDEL 505).

The Elementary Education Internship Admission Requirements

For admission to the internship semesters, the candidate must:

1. be admitted to the professional program;
2. achieve an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher;
3. achieve a GPA of 3.00 or higher in all education course work;
4. complete EDEL 440, 441P, 505, and 505P and EDRD 430 with grades of B or better;
5. achieve a grade of C or better in specific course work as required by the program area;
6. successfully complete the health screening and the criminal background check that are required for S.C. Teacher Certification.

In addition to the above, for admission to EDTE 590 A, B, and C, a GPA of 3.00 or higher is required in EDTE 570 and EDEL 450, 460, 506, and 571.

Curriculum

B.A. in Elementary Education
Total Semester Hours: 127-129

1. General Education (46)

A. Liberal Arts (30)
ENGL 101 and 102 (or higher level) and ENGL 282, 283, 284, or 285 or SPCH 140 (9)
HIST 111, 112, 409, or 410 (3)
ARTE 101 or 360, MUSC 110 or 140, or THEA 522 or 526 (3)
POLI 101 or 201 or other approved course (3)
ECON 221, 222, or 224 (3)
GEOG 121 or 210 (3)
Foreign Languages: Students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. This ability can be demonstrated by achieving a score of 2 or better on a USC foreign language test. Those failing to do so must satisfactorily complete equivalent study of a foreign language at USC.
Electives: Recommended areas include anthropology, African American studies, art, English, geography, sociology, psychology, music, media arts, or theatre and speech. (6)

B. Science and Mathematics (16)
Natural Sciences (one course required from each area, minimum of 10 hours, including at least one course with a lab)
Life Science: BIOL 110 (4) or BIOL 120 (3)
Physical Science: PHYS 101/101L or ASTR 111/111A or CHEM 101 (4) or CHEM 105 (3)
Earth Science: GEOL 101, 103, or 201 (3) or MSCI 101 or ENVR 101/101L (4) or ENVR 200/200L (4)
MATH 122 (3)
STAT 110 or 201 (3)

2. Specialized Content Preparation (18)

SLIS 220 or equivalent course approved by the advisor (3)
MATH 221 and 222 (6)
ENGL 431 or SLIS 325 (3)
PEDU 575 (3)
ARTE 520 or 530 or MUED 454 (3)

3. Education (63)

A. Education Core (19)
UNIV 101 The Student and the University (3)
EDTE 201 Classroom Inquiry with Technology (3)
EDFN 300 Schools in Communities (3)
EDPY 401 Learners and the Diversity of Learning (3)
EDPY 401P Learners and the Diversity of Learning Practicum (1)
EDRM 423 Introduction to Classroom Assessment (2)
EDEX 523 Introduction to Exceptional Children (3)

B. Elementary Core and Clinical Experience (25)
EDRD 430 Elementary Literacy Instruction I (5)
EDRD 431 Reading Assessment (2)
EDEL 440 Elementary Mathematics Instruction (3)
EDEL 450 Teaching Science (3)
EDEL 460 Teaching Social Studies (3)
EDEL 505 Nature and Management of the Elementary Classroom (3)
EDEL 506 Integrating Curriculum in Elementary Schools (3)
EDEL 591 Internship Seminar (3)

C. Practicum and Internship Experiences (19)
EDEL 505P Inquiry Practicum: The Elementary School (1)
EDEL 441 Introductory Elementary Internship (3)
EDTE 570 Internship in Environments for Teaching and Learning (3)
EDEL 571 Internship in Planning and Motivation (3)
EDTE 590A Internship in Curriculum and Assessment (3)
EDTE 590B Internship in Teaching (3)
EDTE 590C Internship in Professional Roles (3)

Middle Level Education

The Department of Teaching and Instruction offers a program leading to a B.A. or B.S. degree in middle level education. Students successfully completing certification requirements are eligible to apply for a professional credential to teach grades 5 through 8.

The Middle Level Education Professional Program

Upon completion of 60 hours of course work, including the completion of the 14-semester-hour education core (UNIV 101, EDTE 201, EDFN 300, EDTE 400, and EDPY 401 and 401P), the candidate may apply for admission to the Professional Education Program in Middle Level Education. For admission to the professional program the candidate must have:

1. successful completion of Praxis I;
2. an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher;
3. a GPA of 3.00 or higher in the education core;
4. successful completion of the criminal background check required by the College of Education;
5. a letter of recommendation from an instructor in the education core attesting to the candidate's ability to make a positive contribution to the teaching profession;
6. a letter of recommendation from an educator outside the University of South Carolina who has worked with the candidate in a practicum setting attesting to the candidate's character and disposition;
7. an essay addressing the dispositions (stewardship, intellectual spirit, integrity, and justice) of the College of Education Conceptual Framework critical to future teachers;
8. two work samples with a narrative reflection providing evidence of the student's knowledge and skills in the following dimensions of the College of Education Conceptual Framework: human growth and development, standards, cultural influences, self-knowledge, technology, relationship building, and communication.

The Middle Level Internship Admission Requirements

For admission to the internship, a candidate must:

1. be admitted to the professional program;
2. complete EDTE 521 and EDTE 522;
3. complete four of the six courses in each of the two content areas;
4. achieve a GPA of 3.00 or higher in all education course work;
5. have a satisfactory personal interview with a committee of faculty from the middle level program;
6. comply with criminal background check and health screening requirements.

Curriculum

B.A. or B.S. in Middle Level Education
Total Semester Hours: 129-135

1. General Education (40-43)

Students pursuing a B.A. degree will complete 27 hours in liberal arts and 14 hours in science and mathematics and complete concentrations in English and social studies. Students pursuing a B.S. degree will complete 24 hours in liberal arts and 19 hours in science and mathematics and complete concentrations in science and mathematics. Students completing English/mathematics, English/science, social studies/mathematics, or social studies/science concentrations can choose between pursuing a B.A. or B.S. degree.

A. Liberal Arts (24-27)
Humanities: ENGL 101, 102, HIST 111 or 112, ARTE 360, and SPCH 140 (15)
Social Science: POLI 201; ECON 221, 222, or 224; and GEOG 121 (9)
For B.A. students: any one of ENGL 283, 285, 287, 288, or 289 or an additional history elective (3)
Foreign Languages: Students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. This ability can be demonstrated by achieving a score of 2 or better on a USC foreign language test. Those failing to do so must satisfactorily complete equivalent study of a foreign language at USC.

B. Science and Mathematics (13-19 hours)
Natural Sciences: one of BIOL 101 and 101L, BIOL 110, or BIOL 120 and 120L (4), and

For B.A. students: either one course in physical science (chosen from the following: PHYS 101 and 101L [4], PHYS 200 [3], ASTR 111 and 111A [4], CHEM 102 [4], CHEM 105 [3], CHEM 111 [4]) or one course in earth science (chosen from the following: GEOL 101 [4], GEOL 103 [4], GEOL 201 [4], MSCI [4], or ENVR 101 and 101L [4]) (3-4)

For B.S. students: both a course in physical science and a course in earth science (chosen from the lists above) (7-8)

Numerical and Analytical Reasoning: 6-7 hours, to be earned in one of the following ways:

For B.A. students: either MATH 122 or 141 plus an additional course from PHIL 110, 111, mathematics (at the next higher level excluding MATH 221 and 222), or statistics, OR STAT 110 and STAT 201 (6-7)

For B.S. students: STAT 201 or higher and MATH 122 or 141 (6-7)

2. Education (50)

A. Education Core (14)
UNIV 101 The Student and the University (3)
EDTE 201 Classroom Inquiry with Technology (3)
EDFN 300 Schools in Communities (3)
EDTE 400 Learning through Community Service (1)
EDPY 401 Learners and the Diversity of Learning (3)
EDPY 401P Learners and the Diversity of Learning Practicum (1)

B. Middle Level Core (18)
EDTE 521 Middle Level Teaching and Management (3)
EDTE 522 Integrated Curriculum at the Middle Level (3)
EDTE 470 Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum (2)
EDEX 491 Inclusion: Co-Teaching Students with Mild Disabilities (2)
EDRM 423 Classroom Assessment (2)
Two middle grades content-specific methods courses (500 level) selected from the following 4 courses:

EDML 553 Methods and Materials for Teaching Science in the Middle Grades (3)
EDML 563 Methods and Materials for Teaching Social Studies in the Middle School (3)
EDML 573 Methods and Materials for Teaching English/Language Arts in the Middle Grades (3)
EDML 583 Methods and Materials for Teaching Mathematics in the Middle Grades (3)

C. Clinical Experience (18)
EDML 598 Internship A in the Middle School (3)
EDML 599 Internship B in the Middle School (12)
EDSE 584 Middle and High School Internship Seminar (3)

3. Elective (3)

4. Content Area Specialization (36-41)

Specialization in two different content areas chosen from English, mathematics, science, or social studies is required.

A. Specialization A (18-23) to be completed with courses listed below and approved by College of Education advisor in English, mathematics, science, or social studies

B. Specialization B (18-23) to be completed with courses listed below and approved by College of Education advisor in English, mathematics, science, or social studies and different from Specialization A.

Courses for Specializations A and B

English Specialization (18)
ENGL 432 Adolescent Literature (3)
ENGL 428 African-American Literature (3)
ENGL 360 Creative Writing, ENGL 460 Advenced Writing, or ENGL 461 The Teaching of Writing (3)
ENGL 450 English Grammar or ENGL 389 The English Language (3)
Two literature courses chosen from ENGL 380-386, 400-427, 429, 431, 435-439 (6)

Social Studies Specialization (18)
HIST 111 or 112 (whichever not taken as part of the General Education requirement) (3)
GEOG 561 Geographic Concepts for Teachers (3)
ANTH 201 Panorama of Prehistory or ANTH 341 Ancient Civilizations (3)
HIST 409 The History of South Carolina 1670-1865 or HIST 410 The History of South Carolina since 1865 (3)
GEOG 200 Introduction to Physical Geography or GEOG 211 Cultural Geography (3)
One elective approved by middle level social studies advisor (3)

Mathematics Specialization (18-20)
MATH 172 Mathematical Modeling or MATH 142 Calculus II (3-4)
MATH 222 Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics II or MATH 531 Foundations of Geometry (3)
STAT 201 Elementary Statistics (if not used for General Education requirement) (3)
MATH 401 Conceptual History of mathematics or MATH 241 Vector Calculus (3)
Two chosen from among the following (three courses if STAT 201 was used for meeting the General Education requirement) (6-9):

MATH 141 Calculus I (if not used for General Education requirement) (4)

MATH 142 Calculus II (4) (if not used above)
MATH 241 Vector Calculus (3) (if not used above)

MATH 170 Finite Mathematics (3) or MATH 174 Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science (3), but not both

MATH 511 Probability (3)

MATH 544 Linear Algebra (3)

MATH 546 Algebraic Structures I (3)

MATH 574 Discrete Mathematics (3)

MATH 580 Elementary Number Theory (3)

STAT 506 Introduction to Experimental Design (3)

STAT 515 Statistical Methods (3)

Science Specialization (18-23)
Life Science: two courses from the following (6-8):

BIOL 200 Plant Science (3) and 200L Plant Science Laboratory (1)

BIOL 206 Genetics and Society (3)

BIOL 232 Anatomy (3)

BIOL 270 Introduction to Environmental Biology (3) and 270L Introduction to Environmental Biology Laboratory (1)*
SMED 587 Interdependence of Living Systems (3)

Physical Science: two courses from the following (6-8):

PHYS 201 General Physics I (3) and PHYS 201L General Physics Laboratory I (1)

PHYS 202 General Physics II (3) and PHYS 202L General Physics Laboratory II (1)

PHYS 153 Physics in the Visual Arts (3) and PHYS 153L Physics in the Visual Arts Laboratory (1)

PHYS 155 Musical Acoustics (3)

CHEM 102 Fundamental Chemistry II (4)**

CHEM 105 Chemistry and Modern Man I (3)**

CHEM 111 General Chemistry (4)**
SMED 586 Energy, Motion, and Matter (3)

Earth Science: two courses from the following (6-7):

GEOL 202 Rocks and Minerals (4)

GEOL 205 Earth Resources (3)*

MSCI 210 Oceans and Man (3)

GEOL 215 Coastal Environments of the Southeastern U.S. (=MSCI 215) (3)

GEOL 230 Geology of the National Parks (3)

GEOL 250 Continental Drift and Ice Ages (3)
SMED 588 Origin and Evolution of Libing and Non-Living Systems

*If GEOL 103 was used to meet the General Education requirement, BIOL 270 or GEOL 205 cannot be used.
**Only CHEM courses not used to meet the General Education requirement can be used for the science specialization.

Professional Program in Education

Undergraduate students are required to obtain formal admission to the professional program in education prior to the directed teaching experience. Students admitted to teacher preparation programs are not admitted to the professional program in education by reason of their admission to undergraduate or graduate programs. Additional requirements apply.

Directed Teaching/Internship

Undergraduate and graduate students are also required to obtain formal admission to a directed teaching/internship in order to successfully complete their degree program requirements as approved by accrediting agencies, including NCATE. Undergraduate students in K-12 programs may be required to meet additional specialized requirements in their academic departments and should consult their departmental advisors. Information about the professional program in education, the directed teaching/internship, specific deadlines, and applications are available from the Office of Student Affairs, College of Education.

Certification

In the initial teacher certification degree programs, undergraduate and graduate, the degree and certification are linked. Inasmuch as the certification requirements are the responsibility of the state Board of Education, if state regulations change, degree requirements are also subject to change. All students seeking initial teacher certification must meet the following requirements:

1. Successfully complete the requirements of the degree program.
2. Achieve scores at or above the criterion established by the state on the program-appropriate exams (Praxis II series). Scores earned on the Praxis must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs, College of Education, Wardlaw 113, USC, and to the South Carolina State Department of Education.
3. Submit to an FBI check.
4. Pay all certification fees as required.

Physical Education

The Department of Physical Education offers programs leading to the B.S. degree in physical education. A minor in school athletic coaching is also offered. Two major tracks within the B.S. degree in physical education are offered:

1. teacher certification in physical education, and
2. athletic training.

Admission to Professional Programs

Students applying to the teacher certification and athletic training tracks must be admitted to the University. Students must be formally admitted to the professional programs in teacher certification and athletic training. Specific requirements for each track are listed below.

Teacher Certification:

The teacher certification track is an NCATE-approved program that prepares people to teach physical education and coach in public and private schools from grades K to 12. The requirements for acceptance into the professional program in teacher certification include a 2.50 GPA, a passing score on the Praxis I exam, two positive letters of recommendation, a minimum of 60 credit hours, and a C or better in EDFN 300, EDPY 401, PEDU 570, ENGL 101, and ENGL 102. For a complete listing and description of all program requirements, please refer to the USC Department of Physical Education Student Handbook.

Athletic Training:

The athletic training education track is a CAATE-accredited program that combines formal classroom instruction and clinical experiences in preparation for the BOC Examination. Athletic training program requirements include a 2.50 GPA, 100 hours of clinical experience, completion of PEDU 266L clinical competencies, and program technical standards. For a complete listing and description of all program requirements, please refer to the USC Athletic Training Student Handbook and/or athletic training Web site, www.ed.sc.edu/physed/atmp1.htm.

Transfer admission into the Department of Physical Education

1. Students from regionally accredited colleges and universities who have earned up to 40 semester hours of credit must have a minimum grade point average of 2.25 (on a 4.00 scale) to enter preprofessional programs in physical education; students who have earned more than 40 semester hours of credit must have a minimum grade point average of 2.50 to enter preprofessional programs in physical education. (Note: A minimum GPA of 2.50 is required to enter the professional program in education [approximately junior-year status].)

2. A grade of C or better must be earned on all courses listed for admission to the professional program in physical education.

3. Students may not transfer credit for any course which carries a grade less than C.

Progression Requirements

A student in physical education must earn a C or better in all major course work, including major and minor emphases, education courses, required sciences, analytical reasoning option, and ENGL 101 and ENGL 102.

Students may attempt to earn a satisfactory grade in a major course no more than two times. Only if a valid case for taking the course a third time is established will such be allowed. Validity of a case will be determined by departmental review of a formal petition. Completion of remedial course work may be required.

Standards for general eligibility to continue in the University are described in the bulletin. The Department of Physical Education has additional standards.

1. If the semester, yearly, or cumulative grade point average of a student is below 2.50, the student will receive notification in writing from the department of the GPA jeopardy.
2. If a student has two consecutive semesters of grade point averages below 2.50 and a cumulative grade point average below 2.50, the student will be suspended from academic programs in the Department of Physical Education.
3. To be reinstated the student must achieve an overall grade point average of 2.50 and have the endorsement of the Department of Physical Education.

Degree Requirements

Teacher Certification (130-136 hours)

Athletic Training (129-135 hours)

1. General Education Requirements (55-61 hours)

Language Arts: ENGL 101 and 102 and either ENGL 283 or 285, and SPCH 140 (12 hours)

Natural Sciences: BIOL 101, 110, or 120; PHYS 101 or 201 or CHEM 102 or 111; EXSC 223 or BIOL 243; and EXSC 224 or BIOL 224 (16 hours)

Liberal Arts: PSYC 101, SOCY 101, history elective plus an additional social science elective (12 hours)

Numerical and Analytical Reasoning: 6 credits, to be earned in one of the following ways: MATH 122 or 141, plus an additional course from PHIL 110, 111, CSCE 101, 102, or STAT 201; or two courses from one of the following fields--PHIL 110 and 111, or CSCE 101 plus a higher level CSCE course, or STAT 201 plus a higher level STAT course (6 hours)

Foreign Languages: Students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. This ability can be demonstrated by achieving a score of 2 or better on a USC foreign language test. Those failing to do so must satisfactorily complete equivalent study of foreign language at USC.

Health: PEDU 300 and HPEB 321 (6 hours)

Aesthetics: ARTE 360 (3 hours)

2. Core Requirements for Physical Education Teacher Certification

PEDU 190, 232, 420, 510, 520, 650 (17 hours)

Teacher Certification Courses

EDFN 300, EDPY 401; EXSC 303 or PEDU 570; PEDU 226, 340, 341, 360, 361, 440, 446, 451, 462, 479, 515, 545 (48 hours)

Psychomotor Skills (10 hours)

3. Core Requirements for Athletic Training Program

PEDU 105, 190, 232, 420, 520, 570; EXSC 530; HPEB 502 or HRTM 340 or EXSC 507 or NURS 220; CLAS 230 (25 hours)

Athletic Training Courses

PEDU 263, 266, 266L, 275, 366, 366L, 348, 349, 365, 392, 393, 464, 466, 466L, 492, 493, 494, 496, 497 (45 hours)

Professional Elective (3 hours)

Minor in Athletic Coaching

18 hours from the following courses: PEDU 105, 266L, 300, 340, 360, 420, 464, and 650

Education Course Descriptions