Entrance Requirements
New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the College of Education. A student who wishes to enter the College of Education from another college on the Columbia campus or from another USC campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher if they have completed less than 30 semester hours of credit or a GPA of 2.25 if they have 30 semester hours or more.
A student who wishes to enter the College of Education from a regionally accredited college or university outside the USC System must meet the applicable admission standards of the University. Students may not transfer credit for any course that carries a grade of less than C.
Progression Requirements
To remain in a degree program offered by the College of Education, a student must make satisfactory academic progress toward the degree. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress may be placed on academic probation or be removed from the College. In addition, all students in the College are subject to the regulations on probation, suspension, and readmission in the USC Undergraduate Studies Bulletin entitled "Academic Standing."
In addition, students must achieve a grade of C or better in all Education courses (those with prefixes EDEC, EDFN, EDPY, EDRM, EDEX, EDRD, and EDTE).
A grade of C or better must also be achieved in the following: UNIV 101, ENGL 101, ENGL 102, SLIS 325 or ENGL 431, MATH 221, MATH 222, PEDU 575, ARTE 520 or ARTE 530, and ARTE 360.
Regardless of individual course grades, a collegiate summary GPA of 2.5 must achieved in all courses and a 3.0 GPA in all education courses.
Admission to the Professional Program
Upon completion of 60 semester hours of course work, including courses specified by the Program Area, the candidate may apply for admission to the Professional Program in Early Childhood Education. Applications for the Professional Program are available in the Office of Student Affairs, room 113 Wardlaw. (Note: Admission to the Professional Program is granted by the Dean of the College of Education and constitutes the first "Midpoint" review in the Early Childhood Program Assessment System.)
For admission to the Professional Program the candidate must
1. Successfully complete all three sections (reading, writing, and mathematics of the Praxis I, which is administered on campus at the Testing Center (phone 777-2780). Information about all Praxis exams, including the "Test at a Glance," is available on line at http://www.ets.org/praxis/prxsc.html. Students should pass all three sections of the Praxis I on or before May 1st of the sophomore year. Please note, no student will be permitted to enter the junior spring block of courses (EDEL 440 or 450 or 460, 441, and EDRD 430) without official passing scores being on record with the College of Education by December 1st of the semester prior to entry into the junior spring block. Note: Students who have achieved an 1100 or better on the combined Verbal/Math sections of the old 2-part SAT (taken prior to March 2005), a combined score of 1650 or better on the new 3-part SAT (Taken after March 2005), or a 24 or better on the ACT are exempt from the Praxis I requirement.
2. Achieve a collegiate summary GPA of 2.50 or higher.
3. Achieve a GPA of 3.0 or higher and no grade lower than a C on education courses and field experiences.
4. Complete with a grade of C or better:
UNIV 101, ENGL 101, ENG 102, MATH 221, one of the required art education classes (ARTE 360, 520, or 530), EDEC 201, EDEC 250, EDEC 340, and EDEC 340P.
5. Comply with the criminal background check and health screening requirements.
6. Provide a written endorsement for admission from an instructor in Education.
7. Provide a written endorsement from an educator outside the University of South Carolina who has worked with the candidate in a practicum setting attesting to the candidate's character and dispositions.
8. Undergo a successful review of work samples as determined by the program area. (i.e., kid watching and portfolio)
Admission to Internship
Applications for admission to the Internship are available in the Office of Student Affairs, room 113 Wardlaw. Admission to the Internship occurs in two phases. For the initial admission into Internship a student must:
1. Be admitted to the Professional Program
2. Achieve a continuing GPA of 2.50 or higher overall.
3. Achieve a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all education course work with no grade lower than a C.
4. Complete with a grade of C or better EDEC 342, EDEC 342P, and EDRD 345.
5. Successfully complete a health screening and the criminal background check that is required for South Carolina Teacher Certification.
In addition to the above, for admission to Internship II (EDTE 590A, B, C) a student must complete with a grade of C or better EDRD 445, EDEC 442, EDEC 443, and EDEC 447. Students must pass the dispositions assessment as defined by the Early Childhood program faculty prior to admission to Internship II.
Exit requirements for the B.A. in Early Childhood Education:
1. Successfully meet all degree requirements
2. Complete and submit an application for graduation to the College of Education Office of Student Affairs early in the last semester of the senior year. Students should consult the official University calendar for the specific date that the application is due.
Certification:
In the teacher preparation programs (B.A. in Early Childhood Education), the degree requirements and certification requirements are linked. Inasmuch as certification requirements are the responsibility of the State Board of Education, if state regulations change, degree requirements are also subject to change. All students seeking a recommendation for certification must:
1. successfully complete the requirements of the degree program;
2. achieve test scores at or above the level established by the state on the program appropriate exams (Praxis II series);
3. submit scores on the Praxis II series to the Office of Student Affairs, Wardlaw 113, USC, and to the South Carolina Department of Education;
4. submit to an FBI check for prior felony convictions
5. pay all certification fees as required;
6. successfully complete ADEPT requirements with a positive recommendation for certification.