UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where can I get information about...

• Links to all College of Education program areas for prospective students
• Instructions and material for applying to a College of Education program
• Information pertinent to current students
• An outline of the certification process
• Links to job opportunities
• Forms. Currently the following forms are available:
  • Undergraduate Professional Program Application
  • Undergraduate Student Teaching Application
  • Programs of study for the M.A.T, I.M.A, M.Ed., M.A., and M.T.
  • College of Education Graduate Assistantship application

A. The Office of Student Affairs website has forms and procedures to address these issues.

Q. What are my enrollment options for graduate courses at USC?

A. There are only two enrollment options for graduate courses at USC:

1.  Non-degree Enrollment is available to anyone holding at least a baccalaureate degree who wishes to take graduate courses for professional or personal development or re-certification without a degree objective. This enrollment category is administered by the Graduate School and 12 hours of eligibility will be authorized per application. If a student in this category later applies to degree status, no more than six hours may be applied to the degree program.
2. The second option is full admission to a degree program. Each program has specific admissions requirements which may be obtained by contacting the program office.

Q.  Over the years I've taken several classes as a non-degree student (i.e., have not been officially "admitted" to the university as a graduate student). How many of those classes can I apply toward the M.Ed. in Educational Administration?

A. Only 6 semester hours taken as a non-degree student can be used in a program of study once a student is admitted.

Q. I've taken classes at other colleges and universities. Which ones can I apply toward the M.Ed. in Educational Administration?

A. Students can only transfer courses from other institutions that can be used in a program of study at that institution. No professional development courses can be used. For example, any courses from The Citadel with a PDXX type designator will not be accepted, or the College of Charleston prefix EDUC. If a student is not sure whether the courses meet these criteria, the Office of Student Affairs (Wardlaw first floor) has forms that can be sent to the offering institution requesting verification of course type (for programs or PD).

Q. I already have a Master's or Doctoral degree from another institution. Do I still have to submit MAT and/or GRE scores for admission to the university?

A. Yes. Even if a student has a terminal degree, if the student is seeking admission to one of our programs, he or she must submit or have on file either a MAT or GRE score. The student must also meet the admission requirements of the M.Ed. Educational Administration program.

Q. I am only seeking principal certification, not a Master's degree. Do I still have to take all of the courses?

A. Yes. Students cannot be recommended for South Carolina administrative certification unless they complete a Program of Study. That means they must be admitted to the Masters Degree Program in Educational Administration (whether or not the person has a previous masters or even doctorate), then complete all of its requirements, including comps, etc. Students cannot be recommended by the University for certification if they remain in a non-degree status, even if, as a non-degree status student, you have completed all of the coursework.

Q. I need administrative certification as soon as possible but I already have a Master's Degree. Can I get principal certification through the Ed.S. (Education Specialist) program?

A. The principal certification requires that you be admitted to the M.Ed. program and meet all the requirements of that program (coursework, comprehensive exams, PRAXIS scores, etc.). After you have been admitted to pursue the M.Ed. in Educational Administration, you can then seek "concurrent" enrollment in the Ed.S. program. If concurrent enrollment is approved you may take courses in the two programs at the same time. However, you MUST be admitted to the M.Ed. program to get the principal certification; the Ed.S. program is not a substitute, or alternative route, for principal certification. The Ed. S. is for those seeking superintendency certification.

Q. I already have a Master's degree, but I want to get certified as a principal. Why do I have to be admitted to the M.Ed. program?

A. South Carolina certification is a "program approval" model, and our state-approved program requires that you be admitted to our M.Ed. in Educational Administration program and complete all the requirements of that program. You may transfer NO MORE than 12 hours from another university not included in a completed degree at that institution. Those hours MUST be program-approved courses in the transferring institution, and must be subsequently approved by the USC faculty. You can transfer no more than 9 hours credit from USC or other institutions from an already earned degree. And, no more than 6 credit hours of USC course work earned as a non-degree student (taken prior to admission) may be used to satisfy degree requirements..

Q. I've heard that South Carolina has developed some new, "alternative" administrative certification programs. Where can I find out about these?

A. If students are interested in the new alternative administrative certifications (alternate for super., etc.), or need info about requirements of these, they need to check with the South Carolina State Department of Education.

Q. I want principal certification. What do I do?

A. Follow the steps below:

1. Apply for admission (to Graduate school AND the EDLP department) to the M.Ed. in Educational Administration (CD-12). Be sure you meet all requirements as specified.

2. Be sure you have the GRE (quantitative and verbal are the only sections we use to determine your score) or MAT on file at USC, or request your scores be sent to the USC Graduate School.

3. Take no more than 6 hours in the program while classified as a non-degree student.

Q. How do I register for the Principalship and the related practicum course?

A. Provide the following information to the secretary in the EDLP department (777-4213), preferably no later than August 1 preceding the academic year beginning in the fall:

• Which courses: EDLP 707 a & b(Elementary) or EDLP 709 a & b(Secondary)

• The following information on SELF and SUPERVISING PRINCIPAL: Name, SS#, e-mail, school name, address & phone#

If students are not fully admitted (regardless of the hours taken that could apply to the program), they are not eligible to take either the principalship or superintendency practicum. Students also must have 15 hours of EDLP courses before enrolling in the practicum.

Q. May I transfer in "Professional Development" courses from other higher education institutions in South Carolina?

A. USC-Columbia and USC-Aiken are the only instate public institutions
that allow students to use their Professional Development (PD) courses (6 hours) as part of the degree requirements. Since the other schools do not allow their PD courses to meet degree requirements for their programs, we, of course, will not accept their PD courses for transfer to our programs. The following is a list of the schools and their PD course indicators so you will know which courses are not acceptable for transfer:

Clemson---ED635
The Citadel---PDED587
College of Charleston---EDPD, beginning Fall 2000
Francis Marion---EDUC510 or EDUC525
Lander---EDUC552 or any 500 level course
SCSU---599 or 699
Winthrop---WPDC5xx
USC-Aiken---PD prefix, may use up to 6 hours
USC-Spartanburg---SETE or SEDU