College of Education

Modern Language Requirement

A number of Clemson University degree programs require the completion of a modern language through a specific course level. Modern languages taught at Clemson University or accepted for transfer credit include American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. While many degree programs accept any of these modern languages for the requirement, certain programs may have specific modern language requirements. Students should consult their program’s curriculum map for details.

Teacher Education Programs

The College of Education offers NCATE accredited teacher education undergraduate programs leading to teaching licensure in early childhood; elementary; secondary English, mathematics, science and social studies; agricultural education (in cooperation with the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences), and special education.

Our excellent preparation in both content and methodology includes many collaborative experiences in local schools. It prepares our graduates to shape the economic future of South Carolina, the United States, and the world by preparing leaders, workers, and citizens for their future roles in society.

The mission of the teacher preparation programs in the College of Education is to prepare critically reflective practitioners who:

• advocate for all learners,
• understand the importance of students’ developmental and sociocultural contexts to learning,
• implement research-based instructional practices,
• utilize current disciplinary knowledge to integrate educational theory, research and practice,
• understand the influence of educational policies on their instruction and educational system, and
• stand firm in their conviction that all students can learn.

Field and clinical practice are integral to teacher preparation. The College of Education is committed to providing candidates with purposeful, challenging, and diverse experiences. It is through a range of  diverse, carefully constructed, and challenging field-based experiences, in conjunction with classroom instruction, that candidates recognize the inherent dignity and value of all individuals, value social justice, and advocate on behalf of children and families.

The Teacher Education Programs in Early Childhood, Elementary, Special Education, and secondary school programs in Agriculture, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies are accredited by NCATE (now known as CAEP), the State of South Carolina, and discipline specialized national professional associations.

Criminal Records Check

A criminal record could prevent a person enrolled in a teacher education program in South Carolina from being licensed as a teacher in this state in accordance with State Board of Education guidelines.

Section 59-25-115 of the South Carolina Code of Laws specifies that before beginning the full-time clinical teaching experience in South Carolina, a teacher education candidate shall undergo a state criminal records check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and a national criminal records check supported by fingerprints by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The applicant is responsible for the cost associated with the FBI background checks. Information reported relative to prior arrests or convictions will be reviewed by the State Department of Education, and the State Board of Education when warranted, according to board guidelines. A teacher education candidate with prior arrests or convictions of a serious nature that could affect his/her fitness to teach in the public schools of South Carolina may be denied the opportunity to complete the clinical teaching experience, and thus affect eligibility for initial teacher licensure. An individual who is denied this opportunity as a result of prior arrests or convictions, after one year, may request reconsideration under guidelines established by the State Board of Education.

The criminal records check will be handled through the Office of Educator Services at the South Carolina State Department of Education and will be considered phase one of a person’s application for a teaching credential. Provided the criminal records check is conducted within 18 months of the time the teacher candidate formally applies for a teaching license, the fingerprinting will not have to be repeated at the time of application. A graduate of a teacher education program applying for initial teacher licensure must have completed the FBI fingerprint process within 18 months of formally applying for initial teacher licensure or the fingerprint process must be repeated. The background check normally requires six (6) to eight (8) weeks to process. If the electronic fingerprints cannot be processed, the South Carolina State Department will inform the individual that it will be necessary to complete another electronic fingerprinting appointment.

Additionally, College of Education teacher candidates must complete a SLED check, a National Sex Offender check and a Tuberculosis (TB) test prior to beginning field and practicum experiences in public schools. Candidates complete field and practicum experiences prior to the full time clinical teaching experience. Therefore, the teacher education candidate will complete a SLED check for field and practicum experiences and a SLED and FBI background check for the full time clinical teaching experience.

Admission

Professional - Application to the professional level of a program will be reviewed in the second semester of the sophomore year, the second year of enrollment in the eduction program. Admission to the professional level requirements include 60 semester hours of education program work, passing scores on all areas of the Praxis CORE and have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.75. A candidate may exempt the CORE by meeting minimum ACT or SAT requirements as determined by the South Carolina Department of Education.

Enrollment in Professional Courses

Once admitted to the professional level, candidates must maintain a 2.75 GPA in order to continue through the coursework sequence. Please see the following pages for additional program-specific academic requirements. On occasion appeals may be reviewed by department chairs.

Directed Teaching/Teaching Internship - A candidate shall apply for student teaching with the Office of Field Experiences prior to the semester in which senior level teaching methods courses are to be scheduled. Admission and maintenance at the professional level and completion of at least 95 semester hours is required for registration to student teaching.

Change of Major

Changing majors into Education is highly competitive. Change of major decisions are made on an annual basis at the end of the fall semester. Applications are due December 1 and can only be obtained after meeting with a College of Education academic advisor. To apply, candidates must have a minimum grade-point average of 2.75.

Graduation and Licensure

To graduate, a candidate must have scores for all state-mandated licensure exams on file with the College of Education’s Office of Field Experience. Candidates must pass all required Praxis II tests, including the PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching) test, before receiving recommendation for South Carolina teaching licensure.

Athletic Leadership Minor

The College of Education offers one minor - Athletic Leadership. For more information on this minor and the requirements, please see the Athletic Leadership Minor .

Athletic Leadership Certificate

Students completing a nationally recognized coaching certification through the Athletic Leadership Program at Clemson may be eligible to meet the requirements for Athletic Leadership Certification. For more information, contact the Coordinator of Athletic Leadership at 864-656-0434.

Graduate Study

The College of Education offers a comprehensive set of programs at the masters, specialist and doctoral levels in preschool to grade 12 education, educational leadership, counselor education (clinical mental health counseling and school counseling), student affairs and higher education, and human resource development. Browse the Clemson University Office of Graduate Programs or College of Education websites for more information.

Combined Degree Program BA/BS in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Science Teaching, or Mathematics Teaching, and MED in Teaching and Learning

Education majors at Clemson University may participate in a combined degree program option in any of the undergraduate majors offered in the College of Education, with the exception of Special Education. The undergraduate curricula allow up to 12 credits of mutually acceptable graduate course credits to satisfy requirements of both degrees.

Undergraduate/Graduate Transition

1. Undergraduate students who have a minimum overall GPR of 3.4 and have completed a minimum of 90 credit hours may apply for acceptance by the Graduate School and to this combination program. If accepted, students must maintain an overall GPR of 3.4 in Education and a 3.0 average in the Teaching and Learning graduate courses to continue enrollment in this combined program.
2. In consultation with the Undergraduate Advising office and the Department Chair in Teaching and Learning, students in the combined program may choose up to 12 credit hours to satisfy the degree requirements of both degree programs. To count toward the BA/BS degree in Education, these courses must be approved as satisfying the requirements of the graduate curriculum in Teaching and Learning.
3. Students in the combined degree program are conditionally accepted to the graduate program until completion of the BA/BS degree requirements.
4. Graduate assistantships are not available for this program.

Graduate Program

1. The MED in Teaching and Learning requires all students to complete five core classes and select an emphasis area. For this combined program, all students must select the emphasis in Teacher Residency.
2. Students must have at least 150 combined credit hours to earn the graduate degree
3. Complete information about the MED degree in Teaching and Learning may be found in the MED Teaching and Learning Handbook: http://www.clemson.edu/education/academics/masters-specialist-programs/index.html

Information for Students

Students interested in the combined BA/BS/MED program should consult with the undergraduate academic advising office as early as possible. Students may also wish to consult with the Chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning. An application should be submitted by the end of the junior year, but can be made at any time as long as the program requirements are fulfilled. Application is made via the GS6BS/MS form available from the Graduate School web site at http://www.clemson.edu/graduate/files/pdfs/GS6BSMS.pdf. Please note the GRE requirement for admission is eliminated for students approved via GS6BS/MS forms to pursue graduate degree programs.

Information for Departments

Departments should ensure the courses to be double counted meet the following requirements: All courses must be at least 6000-level courses. Students may not take more than 12 graduate credit hours during their undergraduate program. Students in the combined program are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

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