USC Upstate Academics

WHAT WE OFFER

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The Early Childhood Education program provides preparation for teaching in PK-3 classrooms. A substantial portion of the curriculum consists of coursework in the liberal arts to establish a broad educational background before the professional sequence of courses. 

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

The Elementary Education program is designed to prepare students to teach in grades 2-6. The program consists of a general liberal arts background, professional educational training, and preparation in a variety of public school settings.

MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION

The program in Middle Level Education prepares candidates to teach in grades 5-8. The program emphasizes the physical, emotional, attitudinal and intellectual characteristics of adolescents. The program also emphasizes the organizational, curricular, and pedagogical signature practices of middle schools through a core of liberal arts coursework and professional education coursework. This includes field-based practicum experiences in middle schools, student teaching in middle schools, and intensive coursework in two areas of academic content concentration.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

The program in Secondary Education prepares students to teach in grades 9-12 through a core of general liberal arts experiences, a student teaching experience and intensive coursework 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. The Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and in social studies education require two semesters of foreign language study. Areas of subject specialization in secondary education at USC Upstate include biology, chemistry, English, foreign language (French or Spanish), mathematics and social studies.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

This program prepares students to be specialists in the creation and implementation of strategies to accommodate the needs of special education students identified with specific learning disabilities in PK-12 classrooms. Preparation emphasizes appropriate services, curricula, assessment, and instruction required by students with special needs to support their participation in the general education curriculum. Applications of assistive and instructional technology permeate the program and collaborative skills, assessment procedures, applications of research and parent consultation skills are specific topics threaded throughout

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) concentration prepares students to teach physical education in grades K-12. In addition to a core program in the liberal arts, students undertake studies in the professional education area as well as in-depth study in physical education. Directed teaching for PETE majors is arranged at both the elementary and secondary levels.

ART EDUCATION

A Bachelor of Arts in Art Education leads to initial certification to teach art in K-12 schools.
This practical preparation of qualified individuals is designed to provide graduates with experiences in studio art, art history, educational theories, and dispositions that will prepare them to teach effectively.