FASTFACTS

  • Approximately 95 percent of PC educators remain in the teaching profession after three years, compared to the national average of 50%.
  • Jennifer Ainsworth ’94 was named the South Carolina Teacher of the Year in 2014.
  • Employer survey data indicate a high degree of satisfaction in the abilities of PC teacher graduates and programs.
  • The PC Teacher Education Program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The program is approved by the South Carolina State Department of Education.

WHAT YOU’LL STUDY

As a middle school science major, you receive an education that prepares you to lead a classroom. Courses like Middle School Science Methods, Educational Psychology and Directed Teaching provide you with the skill set to lead this unique age group. You’ll also take Earth Science, Biological Concepts and General Chemistry.

You can observe real classroom settings before student teaching during the final semester of your senior year. You’ll do everything that is expected of a middle school science teacher, but you’ll have guidance too. Your cooperating teacher and a faculty member in PC’s Department of Education will meet with you regularly to help you along the way.

As a capstone to the major, you conduct a comprehensive project or original research in middle school science education. During this process, you will learn to read and interpret research articles, plan a research study to complete in a school setting, collect data, analyze data and present research findings to your peers and PC faculty. The middle school science major prepares you for the licensing exam – required of all education majors – and for the real-world classroom.

MORE INFORMATION

  • CO = Co-requisite
  • CO = Co-requisite
  • POI = Permissions of Instructor
  • PR = Pre-requisite
  • RE = Recommended
  • XL = Cross-listed

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Palmetto State Teachers Association

As a member of the student chapter of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, you can discuss issues in education with teachers and other students.

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Kappa Delta Pi

PC hosts the Alpha Gamma Xi Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education. Kappa Delta Pi was established to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching.

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Student Teaching

Education majors gain real-world experience by student teaching.

Studying Abroad

Education majors have the opportunity to participate in study abroad or Maymester trips. Previous trips have focused on countries such as Italy, France, England, Belgium, Scotland, Barbados, and New Zealand.

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CAREER OUTCOMES

Middle school science teachers work in public, private and charter schools. Those who go on to earn a graduate or doctoral degree also have the opportunity to teach at the college or university levels.

According to PayScale, the average salary of a middle school science teacher is $43,088.

Eighty-two percent of PC education graduates begin their teaching careers right after they graduate. PC education students are well-prepared for the national licensure examinations and experience a high pass rate. Our graduates are employed in rural, urban and suburban areas across the United States. Some go abroad to teach.

PC education majors become school teachers, principals, district office administrators and school board members. Majoring in education doesn’t mean you can only teach after you graduate. You may choose to pursue a career outside the classroom. In recent years, some PC education majors have become nurses and psychologists.

CAREER PROFESSIONS

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FACULTY

Dr. Patricia Jones

Professor of Education & Exec Dir of Teacher Education

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Dr. Julia Wilkins

Associate Professor of Education

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