Master of Teaching (M.T.) Degree

Secondary Education

(last revised April 9, 2012)

 

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, and EDSE 402 as undergraduates.  Additional undergraduate education requirements (up to 6 semester hours of course work) are required for those students pursuing certification in English.

 

USC undergraduates may elect to exercise their right to use Senior Privilege or the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program if they meet the qualifications.  Doing so can reduce the requirements of the M.T. degree by 6 to 9 semester hours after earning the Bachelor's degree:

 

Senior Privilege allows undergraduates who have completed at least 90 semester hours of undergradate course work with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 to enroll in up to 6 semester hours of graduate credit during their senior year.   Those graduate credits, if approved by the M.T. advisor, count toward the M.T. degree but not the bachelor's degree.  Application and inforrmation about Senior Privilege at

  http://gradschool.sc.edu/DocLibrary/documents/G-SPCA.senior.privilege.coursework.authorization.GS19.pdf

 

Seniors (undergraduates who have completed at least 90 semester hours of undergradate course work) with a GPA of at least 3.4 (overall AND in undergraduate major) are eligible for the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program that allows up to 9 semester hours to count for both a bachelor's and a master's degree at USC as long as approved by the respective advisors:  Application and other information at

Students may only participate in one of these programs (Senior Privilege OR Accelerated) but not both.

 

National Science Foundation Noyce Scholarships

Junior mathematics, science, and engineering majors who intend to become high school mathematics or science teachers and are willing to teach in high needs schools may qualify for up to $10,000 per year in scholarship available as undergraduates (junior and senior years) and during the M.T. program year.  Information at http://www.ed.sc.edu/ite/noyce.asp

 

South Carolina Teacher Loan Program (TLP)                                                              

Under the current guidelines, you may be eligible to apply for the TLP over all five years of USC's teacher education program.  To qualify for the TLP, you must take and pass all three portions of the Praxis I [Pre-Professional Skills Teast (PPST) paper or computer based] as one requirement for eligibility or exempt the Praxis I through SAT or ACT scores. (Note: Students who have achieved an 1100 or better on the combined Verbal/Math sections of the old two part SAT taken prior to March 2005, a combined score of 1650 or better on the new three part SAT taken after March 2005, or a 24 or better on the ACT are exempt from the Praxis I requirement.)  For more information:  www.scstudentloan.org

 

 

Admission

 

Information Packets for the M.T. degree with specialization in the content areas can be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs at www.ed.sc.edu/SA/programs2/secondarymt.asp  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. 

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.  Sample Programs of Study for the M.T. degree in English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies can be reviewed at www.ed.sc.edu/SA/MTPOSForms.asp 

 

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.  Specifics about the examination including due date are provided by advisors within each content area. 

 

 

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

D. Cook