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Department of Foundations, Secondary, and Special Education (EDFS) |
The Department of Foundations, Secondary, and Special Education (EDFS) is one of three departments in the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance (EHHP) at the College of Charleston, with both graduate and undergraduate programs of study. The department and school are working to guarantee that certain objectives and common projects are part of the core curriculum. EDFS has faculty in four areas: foundations/core curriculum, secondary education, special education, and technology. Within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts education, EDFS faculty prepare special education teachers, coordinate the preparation of secondary teachers, and contribute to the preparation of early childhood, elementary, and middle school teachers. Faculty model quality teaching practices, engage in research and professional development, and contribute to the advancement of their undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the faculty members contribute to their profession through cooperative service activities and collaboration with others who educate future and current teachers.
| Degrees and Programs of Study |
Bachelor of Science: Special Education
Nationally Recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
The major in special education is a performance-based program of study designed to prepare candidates to teach students with emotional, learning, and/or mental disabilities in pre-K through grade 12 settings or as professionals in other service delivery systems for individuals with disabilities.
Secondary Education Minor
Students who have the goal of teaching in secondary schools (grades 9-12) must major in a content area - Biology, Chemistry, Classics (Latin), English, French, German, Mathematics, Physics, History (social studies), Political Science (social studies), Sociology (social sciences), Spanish - and minor in Secondary Education. After completing the major and the minor (including foundation classes, field experiences, procedures and clinical teaching, and passing the PRAXIS exam) students can become certified to teach in the appropriate areas.
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree is available to college graduates who do not have a background or major in education. Successful completion of this graduate-level degree leads to recommendation for teacher certification at the master level in South Carolina in learning disabilities, emotional disabilities and/or mild/moderate mental disabilities, all K-12 certifications in South Carolina. The M.A.T. degree is awarded to candidates who successfully complete an approved program of study consisting of a minimum of 43 semester hours with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Students may complete the program as full-ti me or part-time students. Applicants without a broad liberal arts college degree may be required to take additional general coursework.
The M.A.T in special education is designed for individuals with undergraduate degrees in areas other than education who want to become licensed special education teachers. There are three areas of study within the M.A.T. Special Education degree: emotional disabilities, learning disabilities, and mental disabilities.