Secondary Education

Help high schoolers succeed with a degree in Secondary Education from USCA

You can inspire and challenge teens in grades 9–12 to reach their full potential with a degree in secondary education from the University of South Carolina Aiken. At USCA, we offer a comprehensive major in secondary education, so you’re prepared to teach at the high school level. Our curriculum combines teaching skills and thorough expertise in one of five subject areas:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• Mathematics
• Comprehensive Social Studies

Getting your degree in secondary education from USCA means you’re learning from one of the best: USCA has been recognized as a top college for education by Colleges of Distinction. You’ll graduate with a strong foundation of coursework and hands-on experience, so you can begin making a difference in students’ lives from day one.

Program Highlights

Secondary education teachers work with students during some of the most formative times in their lives. A degree in secondary education from USCA means you can step into the classroom with confidence and inspire high school students to succeed.

At USCA, our education majors benefit from our well-rounded liberal arts focus that highlights communication, critical thinking, and writing. And since teaching secondary education is a skill you learn by doing, we also make sure this major in secondary education involves a variety of experiences in the classroom. You’ll also:

• Gain 750+ hours of hands-on experience. Every secondary education degree student finishes a student teaching internship in their final semester. But that’s not all the hands-on practice you’ll get. You’ll also complete a minimum of 100 classroom hours before your internship, by either observing in a classroom or teaching directly. As a result, each secondary education major gets at least 750 hours of classroom experience before graduating.
• Learn from experienced teachers. Get teaching tips and tricks from people who have done it. All faculty for the major in secondary education are former K–12 teachers with advanced degrees. Their expertise goes beyond theory and comes from direct experience teaching high school.
• Balance subject matter with pedagogy. Secondary-level teachers need to know not just how to teach, but what to teach. You’ll spend almost equal time studying teaching methods and your chosen subject area. This approach ensures that you develop the depth of knowledge you need to teach at high school and college preparatory levels.
• Enjoy a variety of practical experiences. Secondary education students at USCA get to experience teaching secondary education in a wide variety of public school settings, including a U.S. Department of Defense school and public and private schools throughout Augusta, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina.

Course Highlights

As a secondary education major at USCA, you’ll study practical topics like classroom management, assessment, and adolescent development, along with your subject area courses and specific strategies for teaching these subjects. You’ll also

Become an expert in teaching:

• Biology: Develop a rich understanding of biology topics like genetics, physiology, and plants, plus foundational biology courses, electives, and a senior research project
• Chemistry: Take courses in basic chemistry, along with organic and inorganic chemistry, a senior research project, and more. You’ll also participate in labs that provide hands-on experience in these concepts.
• English: Study a wide array of American, British and non-Western literature, literary criticism, as well as courses in essential skills like grammar and composition.
• Mathematics: Master all math topics taught to secondary students, including geometry, algebra, calculus, and even analysis and statistics.
• Comprehensive Social Studies: Get a broad foundation in American history, economics, political science, geography, global politics and cultures, and more.