Master of Teaching (M.T.) Degree

Secondary Education

(last revised April 23, 2009)

 

The M.T. degree is designed for initial teacher certification in secondary education (grades 9-12) and incorporates an undergraduate major in a subject area with an undergraduate component in education.  Candidates then complete the fifth year of graduate study in teaching. Areas of specialization within the M.T. program currently include English, mathematics, science,  and social studies.  Adding certification for teaching at the middle level (grades 5-8) can be accomplished by completing additional course work (click here for information on adding middle level language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies certification). 

 

The M.T. degree in secondary education is designed only for USC-Columbia students who have completed their baccalaureate degree in an eligible subject area and have completed the 12-18 hour education component.  Specific subject area courses within the undergraduate major must be completed.  Candidates should consult with the College of Education Office of Student Affairs for a list of required courses by subject area.

 

All M.T. candidates must have completed EDFN 300, EDTE 400, EDPY 401, EDPY 401P, EDTE 402, and EDTE 402P as undergraduates.  Additional undergraduate education requirements (up to 6 semester hours of course work) are required for those students pursuing certification in English.
 

South Carolina Teacher Loan Program (TLP)                                                              

Under the current guidelines, you may be eligible to apply for the TLP during the four years of your baccalaureate degree program at USC as well as during your 5th year in the M.T. program . If you seek the loan prior to admission to Graduate School, please be advised that you must take and pass all three sections of the Praxis I (reading, writing, and mathematics), paper or computer version as one requirement for eligibility. Students are advised to take the Praxis I in their first semester of enrollment for earliest consideration. Graduate students are exempt from the Praxis I requirement.  For more information:  www.slc.sc.edu

 

Admission

 

Information Packets for the M.T. degree with specialization in the content areas of English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies and should be reviewed carefully by all candidates applying for the program.

Note: Information about the M.T. is for students applying to the last year of the program.  If you are going to be an entering freshman or transferring to USC as an undergraduate, apply through Undergraduate Admissions. 

Admission criteria for the M.T. degree are:

  1. Completed Application to USC Graduate School and completed M.T. Supplement and Professional Program Application for your content area ( English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies).
  2. Successful completion of undergraduate degree with a minimum 2.50 GPA overall and a minimum 2.50 GPA in content area.
  3. Graduate Record Examination or Miller Analogies Test scores.  Candidates admitted to the M.T. degree have mean GRE scores of 457 verbal and 554 quantitative or 47 Miller Analogies Test score.
  4. Successful completion of the education cognate and the prerequisite courses for content area (if any).
  5. Successful interview with faculty including review of transcripts, letters of recommendation and practicum experiences.
  6. Letters of recommendation from a content area and education core faculty member (USC Graduate School, 901 Sumter St. #304, Columbia, SC 29208).

Candidates must also submit a completed Application for Internship form.  Review the Internship Information Packet prior to completing the Internship Application form. Print the completed form and send to the Office of Student Affairs (College of Education, USC, Columbia, SC 29208).

Program of Study

The requirements for the fifth year of graduate study vary by subject area but all require a minimum of 39 semester hours of course work including the following: 

Content Area Courses: up to 15 semester hours

 

Professional Education Courses: 15- 24 semester hours (including

Internship and Seminar: 15 semester hours

 

Program of Study Templates:

Use the templates below, in consultation with your advisor, to complete the Graduate School Master's Degree or Certificate Program form (available at http://www.gradschool.sc.edu/doclibrary/documents/mastersprogramofstudy.pdf ).  Submit your Program of Study with your signature and that of your advisor to the College of Education Office of Student Affairs during the second semester of your degree program.  Signatures of the College of Education Graduate Director and the Dean of the Graduate School will be obtained by the Office of Student Affairs and you will be informed when your program is accepted.

 

English M.T.

Mathematics M.T.

Science M.T.

Social Studies M.T.

 

Should you need to make adjustments to your accepted Program of Study prior graduation, complete the Graduate School Request for Adjustment to Program form (available at http://www.gradschool.sc.edu/doclibrary/documents/programadjustmentform.pdf)

 

 

Comprehensive Examination

 

Each candidate must complete a comprehensive examination as determined by the appropriate M.T. degree committee.  Notify the College of Education Office of Student Affairs of your intention to complete the M.T. Comprehensive Examination BEFORE MIDTERM of the semester you intend to graduate.  An application form is required (available online or from the Office of Student Affairs) containing your advisor's signature. 

 

 

Advisors:

 

English
M. Styslinger 803-777-2233


Mathematics
E. Dickey 803-777-6235

J. Yow 803-777-2472

Science
C. Lotter 803-777-6593

Social Studies

K. Smoak 803-777-7748

S. Schmidt 803-777-2544