School of Education Conceptual Framework

The School of Education prepares professional educators for a rapidly changing and complex society.

As they grow as professional educators, students must: (1) acquire knowledge about learners, pedagogy, and content; (2) use reflection as they integrate theory, planning, and practice; and (3) engage in collaboration as they develop and hone communication and leadership skills necessary to work with diverse populations of students, parents, colleagues, and community members. Interwoven in these components are critical thinking, assessment, and the effective use of technology.

TEACHER CERTIFICATION OPTION IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (FOR SOCIAL STUDIES CERTIFICATION)

The rationale and organizing principles that guide the School of Education's development of professional education programs is couched in a tripodal model which mirrors our goals for our students. We believe that our students must be knowledgeable about learners, content, and pedagogy. Students must be reflective as they plan, implement, and evaluate pedagogical and curricular issues. Students must be collaborative, developing and honing communication and leadership skills necessary to work with colleagues, students, parents, and community leaders to plan and implement efficient and effective educational programs and to initiate change when needed. We believe that critical thinking is the connecting strand which permeates these three elements. Critical thinking is a process which involves assessment, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and appropriate action. It is our goal to prepare the Professional Educator for the 21st century.

The Department of Political Science and Geography provides the knowledge base for students certifying to teach social studies in the state of South Carolina. The department supports and encourages the conceptual framework strands in the School of Education: critical thinking, collaboration, and reflection.

General Education	51 hours
Communications	12 hours
ENG 112	3
ENG 200	3
SPCO 101	3
Computer Science	3
Social Sciences	9 hours
ANTH 200 or GEOG 101	3
POL 101 or 103	3
Additional 3 hours to be chosen from anthropology, economics, geography, political science, or sociology	3
Humanities	12 hours
Literature (in any language)	3
History	3
Art 101	3
Music 101	3
Mathematics	6 hours
Math 111, 112 or higher	6
Natural Sciences	12 hours
(Both biological and physical sciences must be repre-
sented; labs are required; psychology does NOT count as
science for teacher certification)
Biological Science with lab	4
Physical Science with lab	4
Additional four hours	4
(biological or physical)
Professional Education	32 hours
EDUC 290	2
EDUC 299	2
EDUC 300	4
EDUC 303	2
EDUC 380	2
EDUC 393	2
EDUC 435	3
EDUC 488	2
EDUC 489	1
EDUC 490	12
Supporting Courses	6 hours
HLTH 301	3
PSY 316	3
Political Science Major	36 hours
POL 101	3
POL 103	3
POL 295	3
POL 395	3
Two courses in American Politics: POL 201, 202, 206, 215, 230, 305, 311, 317, 319, 321, 322, 340
Two courses in Comparative Politics/International Relations: POL 203, 205, 301, 314, 315, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 341
And 12 additional hours of political science courses above
the 199 level
_______	3
_______	3
_______	3
_______	3
Supporting Teaching Field Courses (if not previously taken as part of the major, minor, general education, or collaterals)
U.S. History	( )
U.S. History	( )
European History	( )
Non-Western History	( )
POL (200-level or above)	( )
ECON 203 or 204 or 250	( )
ANTH 200	( )
SOC 310	( )
GEOG 101 or 102	( )
Minor or Collaterals	18-24 hours

(choose one 18-hour minor or two 12-hour collaterals, approved by the faculty adviser)
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