The early childhood education program provides preparation for teaching in four- and five-year kindergartens and in the primary grades (PK-3). A substantial portion of the curriculum consists of course work in the liberal arts to establish a broad educational background prior to the professional sequence of courses. The professional sequence provides content and direct opportunities for field clinical experience. The final experience is a semester-long student teaching assignment. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Courses
I. Communication
English:
ENGL U101	Composition I	3
ENGL U102	Composition II	3
Speech:
SPCH U201	Foundations in Oral Communication	3
II. Mathematics, Logic & Natural Sciences
Mathematics:
MATH U121	College Algebra	3
MATH U231	Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics I	3
Natural Science (w/ lab):
Select one of the following:		4
ASTR U111 & U111L	Descriptive Astronomy and Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory
BIOL U101 & U101L	Introductory Biology I and Introductory Biology I Lab
BIOL U110 & U110L	General Biology and General Biology Lab
CHEM U106 & U106L	Chemistry and Society and Chemistry and Society Lab.
CHEM U109 & U109L	Chemistry of Living Things and Chemistry of Living Things Lab.
GEOL U101 & U101L	Physical Geology and Physical Geology Lab
GEOL U102 & U102L	Historical Geology and Historical Geology Lab
GEOL U103 & U103L	Environmental Geology and Environmental Geology Lab
PHYS U101 & U101L	Introduction to Physical Science and Introduction to Physical Science Laboratory
Natural Science:
Select any Natural Science course listed above or:		3-4
BIOL U206	Genetics and Society
BIOL U240	Human Biology and Society
BIOL U270	Environmental Science
GEOL U120	Geology of the Southeast
III. Information Technology
Info. Tech.:
Select one of the following:		3
CSCI U138	Introduction to Computer Technology
INFO U101	Survey of Information Technology
DGST U101	Intro to Digital Studies
MUSC U162	Intro to Music Technology
IV. Fine Arts, Humanities & History
Fine Arts:
Select two of the following:		6
ARTH U101	Introduction to Art
ARTH U105	History of Western Art: Prehistory - Middle Ages
ARTH U106	History of Western Art: Renaissance - Modern
MUSC U110	Introduction to Music
MUSC U140	History of American Popular Music
THEA U161	Introduction to Theatre Art
THEA U170	Fundamentals in Acting
SOST U201	Introduction to Southern Studies
History:
Select one of the following:		3
HIST U101	Introduction to World History I
HIST U102	Introduction to World History II
HIST U105	History of the United States to 1877
HIST U106	History of the United States from 1865
V. Foreign Language & Culture
Foreign Language:
Select one of the following: 1		3
ASLG U101	American Sign Language I
ASLG U102	American Sign Language II
FREN U101	Introductory French I
FREN U102	Introductory French II
GERM U101	Introductory German I
SPAN U101	Introductory Spanish I
VI. Social & Behavioral Sciences
Social & Behavioral Science:
Select two of the following:		6
AFAM U201	Introduction to African American Studies
ANTH U102	Understanding Other Cultures
ECON U221	Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON U222	Principles of Microeconomics
POLI U101	American National Government
PSYC U101	Introduction to Psychology
SOCY U101	Introduction to Sociology
WGST U101	Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies
VII. General Education Electives
Select any approved general education course or courses		3
Professional Education
EDFO U200	Teacher Education Colloquium	0
EDFO U210	Foundations of Education	3
EDFO U333	Educational Development of the Lifelong Learner	3
EDFO U341	Introduction to Exceptional Learners/ Special Education	3
EDCI U300	Resources and Technology in Teaching	3
EDEC U349	Creativity and Play	3
EDEC U410	Field Experience I in Early Childhood Education	2
EDEC U420	The Young Child: Behavior and Development in Early Childhood	3
EDEC U422	Survey of Early Childhood Education	3
EDEC U424	Parent and Family Involvement in Early Childhood Education	3
EDEC U440	Field Experience II in Early Childhood Education	2
EDEC U445	Language Acquisition and Communicative Skill	3
EDEC U446	Math for the Young Child	3
EDEC U447	Social Studies for the Young Child	3
EDEC U448	Science for the Young Child	3
EDRE U414	Emergent & Early Literacy I	3
EDRE U416	Emergent and Early Literacy II	3
EDEC U468	Early Childhood Education: Senior Seminar	3
EDEC U469	Student Teaching In Early Childhood Education	12
EDEC U485	Assessment in Diverse Classrooms	3
Supporting Courses
MATH U232	Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics II	3
or MATH U233	Geometry and Measurement
EDRE U384	Children's Literature	3
EDHL U221	Lifelong Health & Wellness	3
PSYC U101	Introduction to Psychology	3
Total Hours		122

¹

The minimum acceptable level of competency is completion of the 101 level of a language. Students who place into the 102 or higher level of a language satisfy the language requirement but will have additional hours in general education electives, if hours are required by their degree program.

Final responsibility for satisfying degree requirements as outlined in the USC Upstate Academic Catalog rests with the student.

Admission to the Professional Program

Students must apply to the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health for admission to the Professional Program, which is completed during the junior and senior years. The Professional Program application form may be obtained online from the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health webpage and must be filed in that office in accordance with posted deadlines.

Admission of applicants is based on individual consideration and Professional Program requirements. Each applicant must fulfill the following requirements:

• completion of ENGL U101 Composition I and ENGL U102 Composition II and SPCH U201 Foundations in Oral Communication or their equivalent with grades C or better;
• successful completion of EDFO U200 Teacher Education Colloquium;
• completion of EDFO U210 Foundations of Education with a grade of C or better;
• overall GPA of at least 2.75 on at least 60 hours earned;
• the achievement of passing scores on the PRAXIS CORE or a South Carolina State Board of Education approved score on the SAT or ACT examination;
• completed the Professional Program application in full;
• Standards for Professional Conduct & Dispositions form signed;
• two satisfactory recommendations with one written by a College of Education, Human Performance, and Health faculty member and the other one written by a general faculty member;
• submitted personal affirmation of non-criminal background;
• provided a "cleared" TB test (within 12 months of application);
• provided a current SLED check; and
• provided a current National Sex Offender Registry check indicating "No records found."

Applicants pursuing a major in Early Childhood Education must also fulfill the following requirements:

• completion of MATH U121 College Algebra (or higher), MATH U231 Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics I, EDFO U333 Educational Development of the Lifelong Learner, EDFO U341 Introduction to Exceptional Learners/ Special Education, EDEC U349 Creativity and Play, EDRE U384 Children's Literature, and EDHL U221 Lifelong Health & Wellness with grades C or better;
• grades of C or better in support courses completed.

Action is taken on a student’s application for admission to the Professional Program as soon as completed application is submitted and the academic records are verified. Students who are accepted enter the Professional Program. Students whose applications are denied are advised of their alternatives.

Education courses at the 400-level and above may be taken only after admission to the professional program. Students who complete the Professional Program, pass the appropriate Praxis content exam and Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam, complete observations using the Assistance, Development, and Evaluation of Professional Teaching (ADEPT) instrument, and receive FBI fingerprint clearance fulfill initial certification requirements of the South Carolina State Board of Education.

Admission to Directed Teaching

Students who wish to enroll in directed teaching (student teaching) must apply a year in advance of the intended semester. The following are requirements for all students admitted to directed teaching:

• prior admission to the professional program;
• completion of all content concentration course work with a grade of C or better in each course completed (exceptions approved by the Dean with faculty advisor's recommendation);
• grade of C or better in support courses completed;
• completion of all coursework prior to the directed student teaching semester;
• 2.5 overall GPA;
• completion of all education methods courses with a grade of C or better in each; and
• completion of MATH U231 Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics I, MATH U232 Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics II and MATH U233 Geometry and Measurement with a grade of C or better for elementary education majors and special education: learning disabilities majors;
• completion of MATH U231 Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics I and MATH U232 Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics II or MATH U233 Geometry and Measurement with a grade of C of better for early childhood education majors.
• successful presentation of portfolio;
• submission of a clear TB test, NSOR check and FBI fingerprint card/clearance prior to student teaching;
• completion of a South Carolina Department of Education application for teacher certification.

In addition to these general requirements, there are specific course prerequisites for each major field. No education course may serve as a prerequisite for a subsequent education course until it has been completed with a grade of C or better. These prerequisites may be changed from time to time at the unit's discretion. Students are responsible for enrolling in the appropriate corequisite coursework with directed teaching. It is the responsibility of students to secure from the school office an updated list of prerequisites for directed teaching in their major and to arrange their courses of study with their education advisor so as to meet those prerequisites.

Transfer Admission

Transfer students with fewer than 60 semester hours of credit may take courses in the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health if they meet all university admission requirements. Transfer students who have earned 60 hours or more must meet the admission criteria for the professional program at the time of their initial application for admission to the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health as a major. Only 64 semester hours of credit may be accepted for transfer from a two-year institution and applied toward the professional degree.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit

Education majors from other colleges and universities wishing to transfer courses into any of the education programs must have all transcripts evaluated by the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health. The dean or associate dean, following the USC Upstate College of Education, Human Performance, and Health Policy Manual guidelines, determines the courses accepted to fulfill requirements of any undergraduate education program. Any professional education courses considered for transfer must have been completed within seven years of matriculating at USC Upstate.  Professional education courses more than seven years old will not be accepted for transfer.

Continuation Standards

After being admitted to the professional program, candidates must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA for retention in the program; this is in excess of the minimum GPA required by the University for continuing enrollment. Students who do not maintain a 2.5 GPA cannot enroll in any education courses above the 400-level.

Academic Requirements

No education course may serve as a prerequisite for a subsequent education course until it has been successfully completed with a grade of C or better. A minimum grade of C is required for any course submitted for fulfillment of professional education, major concentration and support course requirements. Students who fail to achieve a minimum grade of C in any professional education course will be dismissed from the program. Students may reapply to the program by submitting a letter of petition for readmission to the Dean of the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health for consideration by the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health Appeals Committee. Readmitted students who subsequently receive a second grade of below C in any professional education course will be permanently dismissed from the program.

Evaluation

In addition to evaluations described in course syllabi, students’ dispositions and competencies relative to national, state, and College of Education, Human Performance, and Health objectives and criteria are evaluated both in professional education courses and during directed teaching. Every applicant for admission to the professional program undergoes an appraisal by the advisor. This appraisal provides a source of evaluation on non-academic as well as academic factors relative to teaching potential. Portfolio assessment provides further evidence of each student's professional growth and development over time.