CU-PREPARES

The CU-PREPARES Program offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Middle Level (English, Math, Science, or Social Studies), Secondary (English, Math, Science, or Social Studies) and Modern Languages Education (American Sign Language, French, and Spanish) that lead to teacher certification. This 30-credit program can be completed in 13 months and features 100% online coursework coupled with a rich, immersive, year-long field experience component, while receiving a $40,000 living stipend. The program is designed for individuals with earned undergraduate Bachelor’s degrees that have coursework in backgrounds in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, American Sign Language, French, or Spanish who wish to earn a graduate degree while fulfilling the requirements for initial teaching certification. An on-site program manager in the Pee Dee region is dedicated to providing student support sessions, assisting with coursework, and offering additional support to ensure student success. The CU-PREPARES programs is based in the Pee Dee region and collaborates with local school districts including:

• Florence School District 1

• Florence School District 3

• Darlington County School District

• Marion County School District

• Georgetown County School District

CU-PREPARES is specifically targeted at individuals from the Pee Dee community and surrounding areas, aiming to enhance local educational standards and provide quality teacher training.

In order to participate in the program and receive the $40,000 living stipend, participants must agree to teach in the school district where they spend their yearlong residency placement for 3 years post-graduation.

To enter into the CU-PREPARES program, teacher candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Educational Background: Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 (3.0 preferred) on a 4.0 scale.

• Coursework Requirements: Candidates must have received a ‘C’ or better in all prerequisite content area coursework (English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies) necessary to meet state teacher certification requirements. We will review your transcript to determine if you have the necessary content area coursework for teacher certification in a specific area.  To see a list of prerequisite course requirements, click on the following program area you are interested in:

  • Middle level education: bit.ly/MATMiddleLevel

  • Modern Languages: bit.ly/MATLanguages

  • Secondary Education: bit.ly/MATSecondaryEd

• Student Teaching Clearance: Candidates must meet the requirements for student teaching clearance, which includes a criminal background check and a full disclosure statement from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

The CU-PREPARES Program with a MAT in Middle Level, Secondary, or Modern Languages Education consists of 30 hours of coursework and a year-long field experience. Transfer credits from previous graduate coursework may be considered with approval from the relevant faculty and must adhere to Clemson’s Graduate School guidelines.

Coursework Schedule

• Summer I
  • EDLT 8270- Content Area Reading & Writing (3 hrs)
  • ED 8030/3031- Methods of Teaching at Middle and Secondary Levels (3 hrs)
• Summer II
  • EDF 8020-Learning and Motivation in Context (3 hrs)
  • EDML 8410-Advanced Middle School Curriculum and Instruction (3 hrs)
• Fall
  
  • EDLT 8100- Foundations in Literacy (3 hrs)
  • Discipline-Specific Method Course (3 hrs)
    • EDML 8110- Language Arts
    • EDML 8120- Social Studies
    • EDML 8130- Mathematics
    • EDML 8140- Science
    • EDSC 8610- Secondary Science
    • EDSC 8620- Secondary Math
    • EDSC ​ 8630- Secondary English
    • EDSC 8640- Secondary Social Studies
    • EDSC 8650- Secondary Modern Languages
• Spring
  
  • EDML 8910- Directed Internship (3 hrs)
  • EDML 8920- Capstone Seminar (3 hrs)
• Summer I, Year 2
  • EDSP 8230- Teaching Individuals with Disabilities in Integrated Settings (3 hrs)
  • EDF 8350- Early-Late Adolescent Growth and Development (3 hrs)

Field Experience

• Summer 1, Year 1:  22.5 hours or 3 days
• Fall and Spring:
  • Full-Time Field Experience: The CU-PREPARES experience involves interactions between students, mentor teachers, university supervisors, and school leaders. Residency experiences start in the fall when the mentor teacher with whom you are placed return to school for teacher workdays and last throughout the remaining parts of the year.

Post-Completion Commitment

• After completing the CU-PREPARES program, teacher residents must fulfill a 3-year commitment in partner schools.

• Recruitment and Information Sessions:  October through March 

Graduate Event Calendar

• Transcript Review by MAT Program Coordinator:  Ongoing

• Applications and Recommendations Accepted:  August through March

• School District Review Completed: February

• Notification of Conditional Acceptance Status: Ongoing

• Meetings to Sign Participation Agreements:  March

• Onboarding- Complete Student Teaching Application, Background Check, Introduction to Clemson University:  April

• Begin Graduate Coursework: Early May

Living Stipend

The CU-PREPARES Program provides a living stipend of $40,000, which is dispersed monthly throughout the duration of the program. This stipend is designed to support candidates as they focus on their rigorous coursework and field experience, helping to alleviate financial concerns and enable full participation in the program.  In order to receive the living stipend, participants must agree to teach in the school district for 3 years post graduation where they spent their year-long residency placement.

SC Teachers Loan

The South Carolina Teachers Loan offers financial support to teacher residents pursuing their MAT degree through the CU-PREPARES Program. This loan is designed to assist with educational expenses and may be forgiven in part or in full upon meeting certain teaching requirements in South Carolina schools and fulfill their 3 year commitment to teach in partner schools . For detailed information on eligibility and application procedures, please refer to the South Carolina Teachers Loan program guidelines. https://www.scstudentloan.org/career-pathways/teacher-loans

Registered Apprenticeship

As part of the CU-PREPARES Program, candidates have the opportunity to become registered apprentices through Clemson University. By participating in the registered apprenticeship, teacher residents can develop their teaching skills in a classroom setting alongside a mentor teacher, while taking coursework, and receiving additional financial support.  If funds are available, participants can receive $3000 in tuition reimbursement while participating as registered apprentices.  For more information about registered apprenticeships, see https://www.apprenticeshipcarolina.com/.

For more information about this program, contact Anna Hyman at achyman@clemson.edu.