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 |
| |
| ENGL U101 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL U102 | Composition II | 3 |
| |
| SPCH U201 | Foundations in Oral Communication | 3 |
| |
| MATH U127 | Precalculus II | 3 |
| MATH U174 | Elements of Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| |
| 4 |
| Descriptive Astronomy
and Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory | |
| Introductory Biology I
and Introductory Biology I Lab | |
| Introductory Biology II
and Introductory Biology II Lab | |
| General Biology
and General Biology Lab | |
| Botany and Society
and Botany and Society Laboratory | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | |
| Chemistry and Society
and Chemistry and Society Lab | |
| Chemistry of Living Things
and Chemistry of Living Things Lab | |
| General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Lab | |
| General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis
and General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis Lab | |
| Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Lab | |
| Historical Geology
and Historical Geology Lab | |
| Environmental Geology
and Environmental Geology Lab | |
| Introduction to Physical Science
and Introduction to Physical Science Laboratory | |
| General Physics I
and General Physics I Lab | |
| General Physics II
and General Physics II Lab | |
| |
| 3 |
| Foundations of Human Physiology | |
| Genetics and Society | |
| Human Biology and Society | |
| Emerging Infectious Diseases | |
| Environmental Science | |
| Natural Disasters | |
| Geology of the Southeast | |
| |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Computer Technology | |
| Introduction to Computer Science | |
| Intro to Digital Studies | |
| Survey of Information Technology | |
| Introduction to Digital Safety | |
| Intro to Music Technology | |
| |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Art | |
| History of Western Art: Prehistory - Middle Ages | |
| History of Western Art: Renaissance - Modern | |
| Introduction to Music | |
| History of American Popular Music | |
| Introduction to Theatre Art | |
| Fundamentals in Acting | |
| |
| 3 |
| Introduction to World History I | |
| Introduction to World History II | |
| History of the United States to 1877 | |
| History of the United States from 1865 | |
| |
| 3 |
| African American Culture | |
| American Studies, 17th - 19th Century | |
| American Studies, 20th Century | |
| Understanding English Grammar | |
| Masterpieces of World Literature | |
| Survey of British Literature I | |
| African American Literature | |
| Introduction to Philosophy | |
| Political Philosophy | |
| Contemporary Moral Issues | |
| Comparative Religion | |
| Introduction to Southern Studies | |
| |
| 1 | 3 |
| American Sign Language I | |
| American Sign Language II | |
| Introductory French I | |
| Introductory French II | |
| Introductory German I | |
| Introductory Spanish I | |
| Intermediate Spanish | |
| |
| 6 |
| Introduction to African American Studies | |
| Understanding Other Cultures | |
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | |
| Introduction to Geography | |
| American National Government | |
| Introduction to Psychology | |
| Introduction to Sociology | |
| Leadership Development I | |
| Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies | |
| 0 |
| 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 U446 | Teaching Middle and Secondary Mathematics | 3 |
| EDSC U450 | Field Experience II in Middle Level/Secondary Education | 2 |
| EDSC U478 | Student Teaching in Secondary Mathematics | 12 |
| EDSC U485 | Middle/Secondary Education: Senior Seminar | 3 |
| MATH U141 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH U142 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH U241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH U315 | Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| MATH U340 | Mathematical Structures and Proof | 3 |
| MATH U531 | Foundations of Geometry | 3 |
| MATH U344 | Linear Algebra I | 3 |
| MATH U346 | Modern Algebra I | 3 |
| MATH U501 | History of Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH U599 | Seminar in Mathematics | 3 |
| 3 |
| Total Hours | 124 |
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.
