ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE

Academic Centers for Excellence (ACE) are OPEN and ready to assist students with general study skills, math, and writing! http://www.housing.sc.edu/ace

ACE Locations/

Bates House:  Phone 777-2763

Columbia Hall: Phone 777-0624

Sims: Phone 777-0562

Thomas Cooper Library: Phone 777-0690

Academic Skills Consultations:

Students may schedule an ACE appointment at: http://www.housing.sc.edu/ace/aceappt.asp

or drop by an ACE to learn how they can improve their study skills, manage their time, develop a resume, and much more. Graduate student volunteers staff the ACEs as academic skills consultants.

LASSI:

The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) is a 10-scale, 80-item assessment of students' awareness about and use of learning and study strategies such as Information Processing, Selecting Main Ideas, Motivation, Anxiety, Concentration, and Time Management. Students enrolled at USC may take the online LASSI at: http://www.housing.sc.edu/ace/lassi.html. ACE consultants are trained to help students interpret their results.

Becoming a Strategic Learner Online Modules

These self-paced online modules, based on the LASSI, are designed to help students become more effective and strategic learners. Students may work through all 10 of the modules or pick and choose specific areas to work on. Students may access the modules at: http://www.housing.sc.edu/ace/lassi.html

Generally ACEs are open Mondays through Thursdays, 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. Hours and offerings vary by locations. All USC students may use ACE services.

See our web site for more information: http://www.housing.sc.edu/ace

ESSENTIAL ADVISEMENT INFORMATION FOR

ELEMENTARY UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS

Become familiar with Elementary Education website: http://www.ite.sc.edu/ite/elementary/BAElem.htm

Schedule a regular time to check the website for new information.

Plan your course schedule for each semester for the next four years.

• The Typical Program document http://www.ite.sc.edu/ite/elementary/ELtypical.htm

The Typical Program shows one example of a four-year plan to complete required coursework. Note that in the spring semester of the Junior year, you must take EDRD 430, EDEL 440, EDEL 441, and  EDEL 450 OR 460 as a block of courses. In the Senior year, all coursework is blocked.

• The Curriculum Checklist document http://www.ite.sc.edu/ite/elementary/ELChecklist.htm lists all required coursework.
• The Planning Ahead document

http://www.ite.sc.edu/ite/elementary/ElEdAdvise.pdf provides a ready-made framework to plan a four-year program.

• Use all three documents to plan courses to take each semester. Plan to take all the General Education requirements as early as possible in your program.

Sophomore Year Application to the Professional Program

• Support for students applying to the ELEM Professional Program will be provided in the course, EDEL 505, typically taken during the spring semester of the Sophomore year.

Note: Application forms are available online from Student Affairs. Go to the College of Education, Click on COE offices, Click Student Affairs, Click Forms, and then Click Professional Program Application (Elementary Education), or visit: http://www.ed.sc.edu/SA/docs/UPPEM_Elem.pdf

• PRAXIS EXAMS

o Students should plan to take the Praxis I exam early.

o Opportunities for Praxis Support:

Any student who is interested in taking practice exercises and mock Praxis exams may contact Cindy Morton-Rose in the College of Education, at domina@mindspring.com or by calling

803-576-5660. This is a free tutorial that models Math and Reading Sections of the Praxis.

You may attend a Praxis I and II Seminar through the Palmetto State Teachers Association for an additional fee. Visit www.palmettoteachers.org for more information (Click on Seminars). The seminars will be held on Oct. 11 in the Columbia area. This seminar is only listed as an additional resource for students’ convenience.

You may attend a Praxis Workshop for an additional fee. Visit www.praxisprep.com for more information. The workshop will be held at USC on Nov. 12. Students can also arrange individual tutoring sessions if desired. This workshop is only listed as an additional resource for students’ convenience.

Praxis II Exam is required for certification. Students typically take this exam during their senior year. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Affairs, College of Education, 777-6732.

Professional Program Costs

• Please be aware that there will be costs associated with the Professional Program that will ultimately help the certification process as a teacher. You can find this information on the Bursar's website.  Go to http://www.sc.edu/bursar/schedule.shmtl.  Under USC Columbia, click on Education.

Professional Calendar

• Please be aware that during the Senior Year, students will follow a professional calendar rather than the typical USC calendar. The Senior fall and spring semesters begin earlier than the official USC first day of classes. During the senior year, students will take spring break with the public school system rather than during the USC spring break. During the Senior year fall and spring orientation sessions, students will be given a copy of the specific dates of the professional calendar for that academic year.

Scholarship Information

• Visit http://www.sc.edu/financialaid/departments/educationlist.pdf for scholarship information. You can access this webpage by visiting the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships online, click on Scholarships, and select departmental scholarships. Scroll down to and click on the College of Education. As undergraduate Elementary Education Majors, you are eligible to apply for the Cecil-Self Scholarship, Conrad Becton Scholarship, Dr. Patterson Wardlaw Memorial Fellowship, Mary J. Heimberger Memorial Award, Peabody Scholarship, and the Richard E. Ishler Award. Some of these scholarships have applications with deadlines. Check these out soon!