Literacy Teacher Certification
To qualify for the Literacy Teacher certification, the South Carolina State Department of Education has the
following requirements:





Bachelor’s Degree
Initial or professional certification at the early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, or K-12 level
Minimum qualifying score(s) on the content area examination(s) required by the State Board of
Education
Two years of successful teaching experience
Specialized preparation - 5 graduate courses as shown below
State
Department of
Education
Description
Foundations
of Reading
Assessment
Strategies in
Reading
Content Area
Reading and
Writing
Instructional
Strategies for
Reading
Optional
Practicum in
Literacy
Approved USC Course
Hours
Semester Offered
EDRD 600 – Foundations in Reading
Instruction
EDRD 716 – Assessment Strategies for Reading
3
Fall, Summer 1
3
Fall
EDRD 730 – Teaching Reading and Writing in
the Content Areas
3
Spring
EDRD 715 – Instructional Strategies for Reading
3
Spring, Summer 2
EDRD 718 Seminar in Classroom Reading
Assessment
3
Spring
Literacy Coach Certification
To qualify for the Literacy Coach certification, the South Carolina State Department of Education has the
following requirements:






Bachelor’s Degree
Initial or professional certification at the early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, or K-12 level
Minimum qualifying score(s) on the content area examination(s) required by the State Board of
Education
Five years of successful teaching experience
12 Semester hours of courses required for the Literacy Teacher certification
Specialized preparation – 4 graduate courses shown below
State
Department of
Education
Description
Reading
Instruction
and
Assessment
for Diverse
Learners
Coaching for
Literacy
Education
Action
Research in
Literacy
Coaching
Practicum
Experience
Approved USC Course
Hours
Semester Offered
EDRD 797 Assessment for English Language
Learners
3
Spring
EDRD 719 Developing and Guiding Reading
Programs
3
Fall
EDRD 776 Coaching within Classrooms:
improving Teaching and Literacy Instruction
3
Fall
EDTE 712 Introduction to Action Research
3
Fall
EDTE 713 – Action Research Seminar (prerequisite is EDTE 712)
3
Spring
OR