The Bachelor of Science in Special Education/Learning Disabilities prepares future teachers to serve the needs of special education students with learning disabilities in both regular and special education classrooms. Preparation for teaching students with learning disabilities emphasizes appropriate services, curricula, assessment, and instruction required by students with special needs to facilitate their participation in the K-12 general education curriculum. Technology, collaborative and consultation skills, applications of research, and parent consultation skills are stressed throughout the program. Practicum experiences begin the first semester of the professional program and continue throughout the program in K-12 school settings.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Hours |
| |
ENGL U101 | Composition I | 3 |
ENGL U102 | Composition II | 3 |
| |
SPCH U201 | Foundations in Oral Communication | 3 |
| |
MATH U121 | College Algebra | 3 |
MATH U231 | Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics I | 3 |
| |
| 4 |
| Descriptive Astronomy and Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory | |
| General Biology and General Biology Lab | |
| Botany and Society and Botany and Society Laboratory | |
| Chemistry and Society and Chemistry and Society Lab | |
| Chemistry of Living Things and Chemistry of Living Things Lab | |
| General Chemistry and General Chemistry Lab | |
| Historical Geology and Historical Geology Lab | |
| Environmental Geology and Environmental Geology Lab | |
| Introduction to Physical Science and Introduction to Physical Science Laboratory | |
| |
| 3 |
| Foundations of Human Physiology | |
| Genetics and Society | |
| Human Biology and Society | |
| Emerging Infectious Diseases | |
| Environmental Science | |
| Natural Disasters | |
| Geology of the Southeast | |
| Psychological Statistics | |
| |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Computer Technology | |
| Introduction to Computer Science | |
| Intro to Digital Studies | |
| Survey of Information Technology | |
| Introduction to Digital Safety | |
| Strategies for Information Discovery | |
| 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 | |
| Introduction to Creative Writing | |
| Interpreting Popular Culture | |
| Business Writing | |
| Understanding English Grammar | |
| Masterpieces of World Literature | |
| Survey of American Literature I | |
| Survey of American Literature II | |
| Survey of British Literature I | |
| Survey of British Literature II | |
| African American Literature | |
| Introduction to Film | |
| Introduction to Philosophy | |
| Political Philosophy | |
| Contemporary Moral Issues | |
| Comparative Religion | |
| Introduction to Southern Studies | |
| |
1 | 3 |
| American Sign Language I | |
| Introductory French I | |
| Introductory German I | |
| Introductory Spanish I | |
| |
POLI U101 | American National Government | 3 |
PSYC U101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| 0 |
EDFO U200 | Teacher Education Colloquium | 0 |
EDFO U210 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
EDFO U341 | Introduction to Exceptional Learners/ Special Education | 3 |
EDLD U410 | Methods of Teaching Students with LD | 3 |
EDLD U412 | Characteristics of Students with LD | 3 |
EDLD U411 | Field Experience in Learning Disabilities I | 1 |
EDCI U300 | Resources and Technology in Teaching | 3 |
EDLD U414 | Individualized Curriculum for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
EDLD U415 | Reading Disorders and Reading Methods | 3 |
EDRE U442 | Literacy I: Learning to Read and Write | 3 |
EDRE U443 | Literacy II: Reading and Writing to Learn | 3 |
EDLD U440 | Field Experience in Learning Disabilities II | 2 |
EDLD U445 | Language Disorders and Language Arts Methods | 2 |
EDLD U425 | Field Experience in Reading and Language | 1 |
EDLD U446 | Math Disabilities and Math Methods | 3 |
EDLD U449 | Issues and Trends in Exceptionalities | 3 |
EDLD U483 | Assessment of Students with Disabilities | 3 |
EDLD U485 | Behavior Management in Special Education | 3 |
EDLD U470 | Student Teaching of Students with Learning Disabilities | 12 |
PSYC U302 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| 6 |
| Psychology of Learning and Memory | |
| Cognitive Psychology | |
| Sensation and Perception | |
| Social Psychology | |
| Psychological Disorders | |
| Psychology of the Exceptional Individual | |
| Introduction to Child Maltreatment | |
| Teaching Science in the Elementary School 2 | |
| Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School 2 | |
EDRE U384 | Children's Literature | 3 |
or ENGL U485 | Adolescent Literature |
MATH U232 | Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics II | 3 |
MATH U233 | Geometry and Measurement | 3 |
| 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 | |
Total Hours | 121 |
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."
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.
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
- 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 special education: learning disabilities 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.