Education

Women's College

Early Childhood Education (BA)

Elementary Education (BA)

Special Education (BA)

Speech-Language Pathology (BA)

Middle Level Education (BA)

Evening Program

Early Childhood Education (BA)

Elementary Education (BA)

Special Education (BA)

Graduate Program

Divergent Learning (MEd)

Columbia College has a long and distinguished history of training the best teachers in South Carolina. Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty are distinguished innovators and leaders who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the classroom setting. The Education Division at Columbia College seeks to prepare teachers for careers as collaborative professionals knowledgeable in the content and practice of their respected discipline.

Effective teachers have the ability to make use of all available resources to maximize the quality of classroom instruction. Professionalism and collaboration are essential skills for successful educators. Providing education majors with opportunities to develop these skills is the foundation of the Teacher Education Program at Columbia College.

Based on research in the field, a key characteristic of an effective teacher is the ability to make use of resources--human and other--in order to maximize the quality of instruction in classrooms. To this end, the essential elements of professionalism and collaboration have come together to form a unique approach that has served as the foundation of the Columbia College Teacher Education Program.

The governing body for the Teacher Education Program is the Columbia College Teacher Education Committee, made up of representatives from certifying programs and Education Division faculty and staff. The Alliance of Educators--a group representing Columbia College faculty from teacher education, liberal arts faculty, and teachers and administrators from Professional Development Schools--serves as an advisory board.

Undergraduate Education Majors

The Education Division offers undergraduate majors leading to teacher certification in early childhood education, elementary education, middle level, special education, and speech-language pathology. A non-certifying major in speech-language pathology also is available.

The Education Division works in collaboration with other academic divisions to offer certifying majors in Dance, English, and Mathematics.

Columbia College's Teacher Education Program is accredited and approved by the South Carolina State Board of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Goals of the Program

The Teacher Education program seeks to:

Provide a knowledge base for the development of content proficiency
Model connections and varied perspectives between core content and specialized subject matter
Model communication and collaboration through instructional methods and interactions
Model and define pedagogical principles, best practice, and inclusive teaching procedures and practices
Model and provide opportunities to conduct inquiry in teaching and learning
Model ethical, caring, and professional behaviors
Model and address the essential components of teaching and learning with technology
Model and assess professional growth through performance and reflection

Opportunities for Teaching Experience

Education majors are quickly introduced to the real-life world of a practicing educator. As early as the sophomore year, students enter public classrooms to begin learning and teaching. Students participate in three sequential experiences in public schools: Shadowing in Schools, Apprenticeship in Schools, and the Internship (Directed Teaching). Columbia College has formal partnerships with public schools in the Columbia area.

Additional Information

For information on Columbia College's teacher preparation programs, please download the Teacher Education Handbook.