Clemson University

You will participate in a well-rounded general education curriculum while also taking courses designed specifically for teacher preparation and specific content areas. You can find individual curriculum plans outlining coursework for each program on the College of Education website. 

In conjunction with coursework, you'll have clinical experiences throughout your four years, gradually increasing in scope and responsibility, with placements in classrooms, schools and districts that have longstanding commitments to high quality educational experiences for all children.

Beginning with early tutoring experiences during your freshman year, and continuing with a variety of early field observations throughout your sophomore and junior years, you'll be prepared for the culminating practicum and student teaching. By the end of student teaching, you will have a strong base of content knowledge, classroom management skills, pedagogical skills and a deep understanding of foundational issues affecting student achievement and fair access to education.

The College of Education is dedicated to meeting the demands of the state and equipping students for lives and careers that make a difference. Through innovative educational programming, high-impact research, and transformative outreach, the College of Education  responds to critical societal and educational issues, such as:

• Workforce development
• The role of technology in education and society
• Teacher recruitment and retention
• Mental health and well-being
• Leadership development

You will participate in a variety of high-quality, purposeful field experiences that prepare you to meet the needs of students in South Carolina classrooms and beyond.

You will have an assigned academic advisor who provides academic support alongside a faculty mentor who provides additional developmental support. Advising and mentoring takes a holistic approach to your success, providing mentoring with a focus on retention to prepare you to serve all students.

As a College, administration, faculty and staff share the same beliefs for educator preparation. The College seeks to prepare resilient and highly engaged educational professionals committed to improving the educational opportunities and life outcomes of all learners, advocate for a civil and just society through sustained engagement with schools and communities, and engage in innovative, multidisciplinary research to address complex social issues as a nationally prominent land-grant university.

Stemming from these beliefs, collectively the College of Education values the following and expects these practices to be evident in students and the graduated teachers:

• Apply disciplinary and developmental knowledge to educational design, implementation, and assessment.
• Understand and shape educational policies and practices within broader educational contexts.
• Use culturally responsive practices that value student backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge.
• Integrate theory, research and practice when examining and influencing educational environments.
• Engage in critical reflection to examine assumptions.
• Promote better policies and practices to ensure all students can learn equally in South Carolina and beyond.