The Secondary Education Program prepares candidates for teaching in public school grades 9-12. Programs in the subject areas of Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, and Comprehensive Social Studies provide subject-matter expertise and a comprehensive and balanced liberal arts background. Professional requirements of the curriculum offer several semesters of public school experience at the level of individual candidate interaction and for on-site experimentation with methods and materials of curriculum in a chosen certification area.

Secondary Education candidates transferring from a two-year institution will not receive transfer credit for upper-division courses. In addition, transfer credit will not be granted for courses in which the prerequisites have not been observed.

Programs offered include: 

• English 
• Mathematics
• Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry

Program Highlights

Our Secondary Education program values experience in and out of the classroom. Therefore, our students are active in coursework, research, and scholarship.

Students are provided practical experience with students in grades 9-12 in different public school settings.

SECONDARY SCIENCE - BIOLOGY

Candidates seeking certification in Secondary Science Education – Biology will be certified to teach biology at the high school or grades 9-12 level. Each candidate receives a broad general education background and advanced preparation, including a research project, in the biological sciences. The candidates are required to complete at least 100 hours of clinical experience at the secondary level before their internship. The program meets the standards established for Secondary Science Education – Biology by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).

If you have further questions regarding the Secondary Science Education – Biology program, please get in touch with SOE at 803-641-3483 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

View Secondary Science - Biology Program of Study

SECONDARY SCIENCE - CHEMISTRY

Candidates seeking certification in Secondary Science Education – Chemistry will be certified to teach chemistry at the high school or grades 9-12 level. Each candidate receives a broad general education background and advanced preparation, including a research project, in chemistry. The candidates are required to complete at least 100 hours of clinical experience at the secondary level prior to their internship. The program meets the standards established for Secondary Science Education – Chemistry by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).

If you have further questions regarding the Secondary Science Education – Chemistry program, please contact the SOE at 803-641-3483 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

View Secondary Science - Chemistry Program of Study

SECONDARY ENGLISH

The Secondary English Education Program prepares candidates for teaching English/Language Arts in grades 9-12. The program in English Education provides subject-matter expertise, a comprehensive and balanced background in the liberal arts, and field-based professional education experiences. For more information on the Secondary English Education program please contact the School of Education at 803-641-3483.  

The program is fully accredited and adheres to the standards of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

View Secondary English Program of Study

COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL STUDIES

Students seeking certification in Secondary Social Studies will be certified to teach social studies at the high school or grades 9-12 level. The program of study requires students to build a foundation of content mastery in Economics, Geography, History, and Political Science. These four core or content areas are the foundation for a general social studies curriculum, and are the most commonly taught subject areas at the secondary level. Degree-seeking students also take courses in Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology, which are considered secondary social studies strands. The program of study requires students to pick a content area concentration – history, sociology, psychology or political science.

Secondary social studies majors move through their coursework as a cohort, taking prescribed courses in select semesters. Students are required to fulfill at least 100 hours of observation/teaching at the secondary level prior to their student internship. Students will have an opportunity to observe/teach students of varying abilities and do so at various schools.

If you have further questions regarding the Comprehensive Secondary Social Studies program, please contact Dr. Tim Lintner at 803-641-3564 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

View Comprehensive Social Studies Program of Study

SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

Students majoring in Secondary Mathematics are certified to teach at the secondary level. Courses prepare students to increase their mathematic competence while learning fundamental theories and practices of teaching and learning. Students majoring in Secondary Mathematics are required to both observe and teach for a prescribed number of hours in local secondary schools. For more information on the Secondary Mathematics program please contact Dr. Bridget Coleman at 803-641-3792 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

View Secondary Mathematics Program of Study

LEARN MORE

We are excited you’re interested in joining our Secondary Education team! Please feel free to contact the School of Education office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or give us a call at 803-641-3483 to learn more about our program.