Education | Columbia College

Get Classroom Ready

As an education major, you’ll develop the personal and professional skills you need to be successful as a teacher. With teaching jobs in high demand, you’ll have the opportunity to change lives and make an impact the minute you graduate. Your solid training foundation will also set you up for success in graduate school.

Degrees

Early Childhood Education, B.A. certifying to teach

Educational Studies, B.A.

Elementary Education, B.A. certifying to teach

Middle Level Education, B.A. certifying to teach

Concentrations: English/Language, Mathematics, Sciences, Social Studies

Special Education, B.A. certifying to teach

Speech-Language Pathology, B.A.

Learn Excellence, Teach Excellence

When you train to be an educator at Columbia College you learn at the highest level, so you’re prepared to teach high-quality courses. Our teaching degrees are nationally certified and offer 100s of hours of classroom preparation. We offer 35 major courses that prepare you to teach anything, from African American Literature to mathematical limit theory.

Middle Level Education

Explore our unique degree which allows you to focus on one concentration as you train to teach 5th to 8th grade students.

Teach Middle School

Dance Education

Learn more about how you can share your passion for dance. Train to teach students at all levels.

Teach Dance

English Education

With over 500 hours of classroom experience, get the skills, confidence, and certifications to teach English and ELA courses.

Teach English

Alternative Pathways for Educator Certification

Are you interested in changing careers and becoming a teacher? Check out our co-ed two-year teacher certification program, called APEC. We offer coursework, field requirements, and mentoring support for SC teaching certification in Special Education, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Middle-Level Education, and Secondary Math and English.

Explore the APEC Pathway

I loved that my professors truly cared about my success. If I had a question or concern, or if I did not seem to be meeting my full potential, my advisor or other professors were there to encourage me forward.

Emma Shelton, English/Theater, ‘14

My experience at Columbia College really prepared me. I felt like I had all the tools necessary to be successful that first year. From writing lesson plans to implementing lessons that covered a variety of learning needs, I was ready.

Courtney Robinson, Math, ‘11

I love the feeling of community at Columbia College. I made lifelong friends there and there is a real feeling of support among the students and faculty.

Kendra Gandy, Dance, ‘14

Meet the Dean

Dr. Tracy West

With 30 years of teaching experience, Dr. West represents the very traits she pushes her students to develop, like confidence, patience, and stamina. One of her primary goals is to develop educators as advocates for all students, especially those with exceptionalities.

About Dr. West