Teacher Preparation Programs

The College of Arts and Sciences participates in teacher preparation programs for undergraduate students who wish to pursue teacher certification. The University of South Carolina (Columbia campus)’s innovative five-year program is closely coupled with a student’s undergraduate major. This special program leads to a bachelor’s degree and is followed by a master’s degree leading to teacher certification. Because the University of South Carolina is committed to preparing professionals who will serve as leaders in education, admission to the master’s degree program with certification is highly competitive.

Students seeking certification as secondary teachers may pursue bachelor’s degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences as preparation for the Master of Teaching (MT) degree in the College of Education. In addition to all requirements for the specific undergraduate degree program, students must complete all prerequisites for the MT program as specified by the College of Education. Students planning to pursue certification in secondary English should pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English. Those seeking certification in secondary social studies may pursue the appropriate bachelor’s degree in history, economics, geography, political science, international studies, psychology, or sociology. Students seeking certification in secondary biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics should pursue the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in the appropriate discipline. In addition, students may apply for the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree program to achieve certification in two disciplines with the following combinations: chemistry/physics, biology/chemistry, or earth science/life science.

It should be noted that the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is also available at the University of South Carolina in selected disciplines, including art, English, foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, social studies, and theatre. The College of Arts and Sciences also offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in art education that prepares students for K-12 certification in art. Students majoring in classics, French, German, or Spanish may seek K-12 teacher certification in Latin, French, German, or Spanish through a teacher preparation option at the undergraduate level.  Students majoring in dance with a concentration in dance education K-12 are prepared for certification in K-12 dance.