The program in secondary education prepares students to teach in grades 9-12 and does so through a core of general liberal arts course work, professional education course work, including field-based clinical experiences, a student teaching experience, and intensive course work in a specific area of subject specialization. The secondary education curriculum may lead to either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, depending upon the chosen area of subject specialization.  Areas of subject specialization in secondary education at USC Upstate include biology, chemistry, English, social studies/history, mathematics and Spanish. 

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 U127	Precalculus II	3
Natural Science (w/ lab):
Select four of the following:		16
BIOL U101 & U101L	Introductory Biology I and Introductory Biology I Lab
CHEM U111 & U111L	General Chemistry and General Chemistry Lab
GEOL U101 & U101L	Physical Geology and Physical Geology Lab
GEOL U102 & U102L	Historical Geology and Historical Geology Lab
PHYS U201 & U201L	General Physics I and General Physics I Lab
III. Information Technology
Information Technology:
Select one of the following:		3
CSCI U138	Introduction to Computer Technology
CSCI U150	Introduction to Computer Science
DGST U101	Intro to Digital Studies
INFO U101	Survey of Information Technology
INFO U102	Introduction to Digital Safety
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
SOST U201	Introduction to Southern Studies
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
V. Foreign Language & Culture
Foreign Language:
Select one of the following:		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 one of the following:		3
AFAM U201	Introduction to African American Studies
ANTH U102	Understanding Other Cultures
CRJU U101	Introduction to Criminal Justice
ECON U221	Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON U222	Principles of Microeconomics
GEOG U103	Introduction to Geography
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		0
Professional Education
EDFO U200	Teacher Education Colloquium	0
EDFO U210	Foundations of Education	3
EDFO U341	Introduction to Exceptional Learners/ Special Education	3
EDRE U315	Foundations of Reading	3
EDSC U333	Middle Level/Secondary Education Adolescent Development	3
EDSC U344	Managing the Middle Level/Secondary Classroom Environment	3
EDSC U440	Field Experience I in Middle Level/Secondary Education	2
EDSC U442	Secondary School Curriculum and Methodology	3
EDSC U443	Middle Level/Secondary Educational Assessment	2
EDRE U418	Literacy in the Middle and Secondary School	3
EDSC U448	Teaching Middle and Secondary Science	3
EDSC U450	Field Experience II in Middle Level/Secondary Education	2
EDSC U481	Student Teaching in Secondary School Natural Science	12
EDSC U485	Middle/Secondary Education: Senior Seminar	3
Content Concentration
BIOL U102 & U102L	Introductory Biology II and Introductory Biology II Lab	4
BIOL U301 & U301L	Introduction to Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Introduction to Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Lab.	4
BIOL U302 & U302L	Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology and Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Lab	4
BIOL U310 & U310L	Invertebrate Zoology and Invertebrate Zoology Lab	4
BIOL U315 & U315L	Human and Comparative Anatomy and Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Lab	4
BIOL U320 & U320L	General Botany and General Botany Lab	4
or BIOL U525 & U525L	Plant Taxonomy and Plant Taxonomy Lab
BIOL U330 & U330L	Microbiology and Microbiology Lab	4
BIOL U350 & U350L	Genetics and Genetics Lab	4
Supporting Courses
PHYS U202 & U202L	General Physics II and General Physics II Lab	4
CHEM U112 & U112L	General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis and General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis Lab.	4
Total Hours		128

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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 Secondary Education must also fulfill the following requirements:

• completion of EDSC U333 Middle Level/Secondary Education Adolescent Development and EDFO U341 Introduction to Exceptional Learners/ Special Education with grades C or better.

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.

Students who plan to meet the requirements for a teaching certificate in Secondary Education while enrolled in another academic unit of the University should consult with the chair of the appropriate department. The student will be assigned an advisor in the appropriate department to guide them through the professional sequence of courses. Such consultation should be held as early as possible in the student’s undergraduate career to ensure adequate familiarity with teacher education requirements. Students enrolled in another academic unit of the University should take particular care to inquire about the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health and state certification requirements.

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.

Second Baccalaureate Work Toward Teacher of Education Certification

Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from USC Upstate or any other accredited institution of higher education are advised to pursue their teacher certification through the pursuit of a second baccalaureate degree in the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health. Information regarding the second baccalaureate degree can be found in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog. Students pursuing a second baccalaureate degree toward certification must meet all the requirements for admission to the professional program and all requirements for their chosen program of study.

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
• 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.