The elementary education program prepares students to teach in grades 2-6. The program consists of a general liberal arts background, professional educational coursework and clinical field experiences. During the semester in which students are enrolled in directed teaching (EDEL U468 Student Teaching in the Elementary School), they spend all of each school day for a period of fourteen weeks in the elementary school to which they are assigned. 

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
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
BIOL U206	Genetics and Society
BIOL U240	Human Biology and Society
BIOL U270	Environmental Science
GEOL U120	Geology of the Southeast
III. Information Technology
Information Technology:
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 one of the following:		3
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
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
Humanities:
Select one of the following:		3
AFAM U204	African American Culture
AMST U101	American Studies, 17th - 19th Century
AMST U102	American Studies, 20th Century
ENGL U252	Understanding English Grammar
ENGL U275	Masterpieces of World Literature
ENGL U291	African American Literature
PHIL U102	Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL U211	Contemporary Moral Issues
RELG U103	Comparative Religion
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
POLI U101	American National Government
and either
AFAM U201	Introduction to African American Studies
ANTH U102	Understanding Other Cultures
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
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
EDHL U331	Health and Physical Education for the Elementary School Child	3
EDEL U441	Curriculum and Teaching in the Elementary School	3
EDCI U300	Resources and Technology in Teaching	3
EDEL U447	Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School	3
EDEL U450	Fine Arts in the Elementary School Curriculum	3
EDEL U455	Field Experience I in Elementary Education	2
EDEL U446	Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School	3
EDEL U448	Teaching Science in the Elementary School	3
EDEL U460	Field Experience II in Elementary Education	2
EDEL U468	Student Teaching in the Elementary School	12
EDEL U469	Elementary Education: Senior Seminar	3
EDEL U483	Organization and Management of the Diverse Classroom	3
EDEL U487	Student, Teacher, and School Assessment	3
EDRE U442	Literacy I: Learning to Read and Write	3
EDRE U443	Literacy II: Reading and Writing to Learn	3
EDRE U444	Literacy III: Addressing Reading and Writing Problems	3
Support Courses
MATH U232	Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics II	3
MATH U233	Geometry and Measurement	3
EDRE U384	Children's Literature	3
Select one additional arts and humanities course not repeating the discipline selected from the general education requirement:		3
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
EDEL U348	Science and Social Studies in Elementary School	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 Elementary 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, EDRE U384 Children's Literature, and EDHL U331 Health and Physical Education for the Elementary School Child 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;
• 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.