The Anderson University College of Education is in its second year of offering graduate credit to undergraduate education majors, and it’s been a success.
According to Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Jeremy Watts, students finishing their program were asking if they could take graduate-level courses. Dr. Watts explained that students go through an approval process to take the courses, which can be used as credit for the master of education (M.Ed.) program.
“In higher education, undergraduates taking graduate coursework is a reality,” Dr. Watts said. “Because of that, we’ve worked to have a policy in place ensuring we could “cross all of our t’s and dot all of our i’s” with our accrediting bodies to implement such a policy at AU for undergraduates—also having boundaries in place that there are certain requirements undergraduates must meet in order to be successful, not just that they could do it, but be successful in doing it.”
Hannah Thomas, a senior from North Augusta, South Carolina, found the courses were good preparation for her professional future as an educator.
“I felt like all of the undergraduate classes that I took were a really good foundation for my master’s courses—the ones I had taken so far. And it just kind of felt like more in depth information, skills and strategies that I had already learned… it was just more critical thinking and applying than my undergraduate courses were,” said Thomas, who is an elementary education major with an add-on in learning disabilities and special education. Thomas has begun teaching second grade at Meriwether Elementary in Edgefield County. When she graduates in May, she plans to continue her master’s work, with the goal of finishing by the end of spring in 2024.
The Anderson University College of Education
The Anderson University College of Education focuses on the intellectual development of the student, while being attentive to the ideals of character, servant leadership and cultural engagement. Programs are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, onsite or online. Details can be found here.