Secondary Education (B.A.)

FAST FACTS ›

  • We have the largest secondary education program in South Carolina.
  • Our students exceed more than 100 field hours prior to student teaching.
  • We are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS).
  • Our 72-day student teaching internship exceeds the state’s certification requirements for student teaching by 12 days.
ABOUT.

Educate and guide children who are exploring their most challenging academic years by majoring in secondary education. This program prepares you to teach English, mathematics or history to students in grades 9-12. With our dual-major option, you can earn a dual major in secondary education and your content area in four years. From the moment you step foot into our classrooms, you’ll be a part of diversified field experiences that will sharpen your skills. Our top-level faculty are recognized for their excellence in teaching, and we focus on engaging and thought-provoking inquiry-based teaching and learning, solid preparation in the content disciplines, ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration and community outreach. 

CLASSES.

What you'll study:

Field experiences and clinical practice are critical components that allow you to apply your knowledge, skills and dispositions in a variety of settings. All field experiences are monitored to ensure that you have a chance to work with exceptional students and students from different ethnic, racial, gender and socioeconomic groups. The experiences represent a variety of early and ongoing school-based opportunities in which you may observe, assist, tutor, instruct or conduct applied research. These experiences extend the South Carolina Assisting, Developing and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT) performance standards into practice in school settings. Our focus is on meeting the needs of all the children you will teach.

English Teaching Area: Students who select this area will typically teach high school English, but depending on the school offerings, you may also be able to teach electives involving literature and comp topics. An additional course is required to be qualified to teach advanced placement (AP) English.

Mathematics Teaching Area: Students who select this area will typically teach algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, or pre-calculus, but depending on the school offerings, you may also be able to teach electives in mathematics. An additional course is required to be qualified to teach AP calculus.

Social Studies (History) Teaching Area: Students who select this area will typically teach history, but depending on the school offerings, you may also be able to teach economics, psychology or sociology. An additional course is required to be qualified to teach AP history.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

The Eugene T. Moore School of Education is committed to providing all students with purposeful, challenging and diverse experiences. It is through a range of carefully constructed, challenging and classroom-based instruction and field-based experiences that students recognize the inherent dignity and value of all individuals, promote equity in education and advocate on behalf of children, families and communities.

Internships and Research Projects:

RESEARCH:
The Inquiry in Motion Institute seeks to improve the motivation, potential and achievement of students and teachers using rigorous learning experiences. This research gives Clemson students strategies for improving student performance.
CEIMS:
Clemson hosts the Center of Excellence for Inquiry in Math and Science, which seeks to increase the number of highly qualified middle school math and science teachers, and the confidence and competence of in-service middle school teachers.
TRAINING:
Casio America Inc. has named Clemson as its Center of Academic Training. Casio’s programs enrich the mathematics classroom and use graphing calculator technology to foster investigations and deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

Connect with Other Students:

CAREERS.

What are students doing at graduation?*

N/A%

Employed

N/A%

Grad School

N/A%

Seeking Employment

N/A%

Other

Where are students headed at graduation?*

Recent employers and job titles*

  • Dent Middle School — 6th Grade English Language Arts Teacher
  • Palmetto High School — Biology Teacher
  • Delta Zeta Sorority, Inc. — Educational Leadership Consultant

Recent graduate schools and sought degree types*

  • University of Connecticut — Master’s
  • Clemson University — Master’s
  • Winthrop University â€” Master’s

Common Career Areas**

  • Most graduates go on to teach in the state and region while some continue with graduate education.

  • High School (9th-12th)
    • Teaching
*Represents only Clemson University graduates who completed Michelin® Career Center surveys from 2009 to 2011.
**Used w/permission from Univ. of Tennessee.
FIND OUT MORE.

Have more questions or want more information? Fill out the form below, which goes directly to the following department contact as well as our admissions office.

Jeff C. Marshall,
Science Education Associate Professor — marsha9@clemson.edu