Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in South Carolina

Clemson University's Elementary Education, B.A. prepares candidates for South Carolina certification in grades 2-6, and its defining feature is how early and how steadily it puts students in front of real learners. Clinical experience builds across all four years, opening with tutoring in the freshman year, deepening through field observations in the sophomore and junior years, and culminating in a full student teaching practicum. That gradual on-ramp means candidates are never learning to teach in the abstract. Feedback is built in as well, with candidates formally evaluated at least seven times against the South Carolina Teaching Standards rubric during their placements. Those placements happen in partner classrooms, schools, and districts, and the program is delivered on campus, keeping candidates connected to a network of cooperating schools throughout their preparation. Among South Carolina's 26 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 87%. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

The University of South Carolina's Elementary Education B.A. is designed for candidates who want extensive time in front of children before they graduate, and its structure reflects that. Across 120 credits, students study the foundations of learning, instructional methods, assessment, and teaching in diverse classrooms, then apply it all through three progressively demanding internships worth 21 credits. Those placements move from an introductory experience to planning-focused work and finally a culminating elementary internship, averaging more than 700 hours across urban, suburban, and rural schools. The degree prepares candidates to teach grades 2 through 6 and leads to South Carolina elementary certification. Instruction is delivered on the Columbia campus, with an online degree-completion option available through Palmetto College for students who need added flexibility. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of South Carolina's 26 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 75 in the most recent year. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

At the College of Charleston, the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 2 through 6. The curriculum combines education coursework with field experiences in a range of school settings, culminating in a student teaching placement during the senior year. Delivered on campus, the program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and leads to South Carolina teaching licensure. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Furman University offers an Education B.A. for Teaching in Grades 2-6, an elementary licensure major leading to South Carolina certification. Candidates must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program, complete extensive field experiences, and, in August before the senior year, participate in a full-time early teaching experience during the opening of school. The senior year includes team-taught coursework, a spring practicum, and a teacher residency. Furman's educator preparation is accredited by CAEP. Delivery is on-campus. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Anderson University's Elementary Education B.S. is a four-year, initial-licensure program leading to South Carolina teacher certification. Candidates begin clinical work early, observing veteran teachers in public schools in their first year and progressing through methods coursework and school placements across partner districts in upstate South Carolina, culminating in student teaching. An add-on certification in Learning Disabilities can be completed within the standard eight-semester sequence, and an add-on in Early Childhood is available. The program certifies elementary grades 2-6. The College of Education is accredited by CAEP at the initial-licensure level, and the Elementary Education B.S. is named among the programs in its most recent CAEP review. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Converse University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, housed in the Education department, prepares candidates for South Carolina certification in grades 2 through 6. The program builds toward classroom practice through two sequential clinical placements, the first focused on literacy and one-on-one reading instruction and the second on large-group teaching, before a directed student teaching semester. Delivered on campus in Spartanburg, the program is accredited by CAEP and leads to teacher licensure. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Bob Jones University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares students to teach grades 2 through 6 in South Carolina. Coursework in child development, curriculum, and teaching methods is paired with field experience that moves from classroom observation to tutoring and a practicum before a full semester of clinical practice alongside a mentor teacher in a local public school. The on-campus program is approved by the South Carolina Department of Education and leads to initial state teaching licensure. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of South Carolina's elementary school teachers.

Winthrop University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is a deeply clinical degree, immersing candidates in public school classrooms for an average of 1,200 hours over the course of the program. That time in schools starts in the freshman year and grows each year, culminating in a year-long internship alongside a mentor teacher who guides the transition to leading a class. Offered through the Curriculum and Pedagogy Department in the Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences, the program is CAEP-accredited and delivered on campus in Rock Hill. Graduates earn certification for grades 2 through 6, with the option to extend it down to PreK-1 by passing an additional certification test. The result is a teacher who has spent far more time in real classrooms than in lecture halls. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Claflin University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, housed in the School of Education, prepares candidates to teach grades 2 through 6 in South Carolina. Students combine professional coursework with documented field experience and a student teaching placement before completing the degree, which leads to state teacher licensure. Graduates may continue into the university's Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, completed in as little as 18 months. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

North Greenville University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is taught fully in person at the Tigerville campus through the College of Education, and it prepares candidates for South Carolina licensure in grades 2-6. Rather than reserving practice for the final year, the program gives students meaningful field experiences every semester, building steadily toward a full-time student teaching placement in the fourth year. The preparation is organized around three guiding pillars, framing the teacher as an effective practitioner, a caring leader, and a lifelong learner, which signals the program's emphasis on character as well as competence. Candidates learn from faculty who together bring more than 200 years of teaching experience in public and private schools. With over 1,200 of the university's education graduates now teaching around the world, the program sits within a wide network of practicing alumni. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Lander University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 2-6, and it keeps the elementary classroom squarely in view throughout. Working through the Department of Teacher Education, majors study and practice the teaching methods that fit young learners, taking courses across all of the academic areas an elementary teacher covers in a day. The curriculum is shaped in collaboration with practicing public school officials and built around InTASC standards, and a four-year major guide keeps course sequencing clear from start to finish. Classes are delivered on campus, and the program leads to teacher licensure. Its accreditation comes through the College of Education, which is recognized by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Coastal Carolina University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is built around a long, gradual apprenticeship in real classrooms. Clinical work begins in the very first education course and deepens over time, moving from observation to individual, small-group, and whole-class instruction before a semester-long student teaching internship in the senior year. Offered through the Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences, the program prepares candidates for South Carolina licensure in grades 2 through 6 and is both CAEP-recognized and state-approved. Students also gain practical support along the way: a TeachSC partnership provides coaching, fee reimbursements, and scholarships. Professional communities such as the South Carolina Education Association and Kappa Delta Pi give candidates a network well before they reach their own classrooms. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of South Carolina's elementary school teachers.

The University of South Carolina Upstate offers a Bachelor of Arts in Education in Elementary Education through the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health, preparing students to teach grades 2 through 6. Field experiences build toward student teaching, during which candidates spend the full school day for fourteen weeks in their assigned elementary classroom. Delivered on campus, the program leads to South Carolina teacher certification, and the College of Education is accredited by CAEP. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Erskine College's Elementary Education certification track, covering grades 2 to 6, sits within the college's single undergraduate Education major and is taught on campus. Fieldwork is a defining feature, as elementary candidates complete more than 300 hours of supervised classroom experience before they ever begin student teaching. That same Education major branches into several other paths, including Early Childhood, Special Education Multi-Categorical, Physical Education, Secondary, and Music Education, so students share a common foundation while specializing. The Teacher Education Program holds accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and approval from the State Board of Education. Graduates who earn South Carolina certification are generally eligible for reciprocity elsewhere, and Erskine points to alumni certified in Texas and California. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Francis Marion University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education leads to South Carolina teacher licensure for grades 2-6, and it moves students through as a cohort, taking prescribed courses in a set sequence so classmates progress side by side. Offered by the School of Education, the degree builds in a concentration of eight to nine hours in a chosen area, with options such as mathematics, science, and social studies that let candidates deepen a specialty. Practice is central, as students log at least 100 hours of observation and direct teaching before a capstone Student Teaching Block that follows all other education coursework. The School of Education is fully accredited by CAEP. Teaching Fellows may receive up to $6,000 a year toward the degree. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

The University of South Carolina Aiken offers a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education that prepares students to teach at the elementary level. Based in Aiken, South Carolina, the program combines general education, subject content, and professional teaching coursework, and it leads to South Carolina teacher licensure for elementary classrooms. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

The University of South Carolina Beaufort's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, offered through its Department of Education, is a 123 credit-hour program aimed squarely at students who want South Carolina certification for grades 2-6. Rather than treating fieldwork as a final step, it embeds clinical experiences throughout the coursework, so candidates spend extensive time in local schools as they learn. A formal admission checkpoint into the Professional Program follows the general education and pre-professional phases, marking the shift toward serious teacher preparation. From there the emphasis stays on connecting theory with practice, building the knowledge, skills, and classroom dispositions elementary teachers rely on. The result is a pathway that keeps hands-on teaching close at hand from early on rather than saving it all for the end. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

South Carolina State University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is a 131-credit degree taught face to face over roughly four years, with a strong emphasis on getting future teachers into classrooms well before they graduate. Housed in the Department of Education, the program runs field experience through its Pre-STEP initiative, which stacks at least 150 hours of sequential, field-based practice ahead of a full placement in a real elementary classroom during the final semester. Small classes shape the experience, with a 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and most sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. That scale gives candidates close contact with their instructors as they prepare. Graduates are readied to pass the state teaching exam and teach elementary school in South Carolina. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among South Carolina's 26 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $9,528. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Southern Wesleyan University offers a BS in Elementary Education through its School of Education, delivered on campus. The teacher education programs at the university are fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The program leads to teacher licensure. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Columbia International University weaves faith and teaching together in its Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education, a 120-credit, on-campus program that pairs an undergraduate core in Bible with professional preparation for the classroom. Through the College of Education, students move through practicum and field experiences coordinated by a dedicated director of field placements, giving them steady contact with real schools. Graduates who meet state requirements are recommended for initial licensure in elementary education for grades 2-6, and an early childhood add-on extends that reach down to PreK-3. Those bound for Christian schools can also earn an ACSI teacher certificate. The university's education programs are endorsed by the Higher Education Accreditation Program of the Association of Christian Schools International. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Newberry College's Elementary Education program awards a Bachelor of Science and prepares candidates to teach grades 2 through 5, leading to South Carolina licensure. Housed in the Department of Teacher Education, it moves students into an upper-division internship phase that pairs a classroom internship with a seminar, followed by the required licensure examinations. The program holds CAEP accreditation and is delivered on campus. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Charleston Southern University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach children in grades 2-6, and it puts them in front of real classrooms early. Through the College of Education, students begin progressive practicum experiences as freshmen, rotating across the Dorchester, Charleston, and Berkeley County school districts before a yearlong senior placement that mirrors the rhythm of a full school year. That long runway of practice is a defining feature of the program. The College earned CAEP accreditation in 2023 and notes South Carolina Department of Education approval, signaling that its preparation meets recognized standards. Students also plug into a wider community of future educators through offerings such as Teaching Fellows, Teacher Cadets, and Call Me MISTER. Classes are held on campus. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Columbia College's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 2 through 6 and leads to South Carolina licensure, with recognition from the state Board of Education. Students complete field placements across partnered school districts in the midlands, most supervised by college faculty, and finish with student teaching. The college participates as a Call Me MiSTER school, holds designation as a Teaching Fellows Institution, and partners with TeachSC on scholarships and fee reimbursements. Classes meet face to face. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of South Carolina's elementary school teachers.

Coker University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is unusually hands-on for a four-year degree, tying nearly every education course to time in a real public school classroom. That structure begins in the first year and adds up quickly, with each candidate completing at least 100 supervised hours and many freshman entrants reaching closer to 150 before culminating student teaching. The Wiggins School of Education prepares candidates to teach second through sixth grade and is accredited by the South Carolina Department of Education. Students who want a broader credential can combine the major with Early Childhood Education for dual PK-6 certification. It runs as a traditional on-campus day program, with hybrid evening and fully online options for students who need a different rhythm. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Benedict College offers a Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies through its Psychology and Educational Studies Department. This is not a teacher-licensure degree. Its Child and Family Development concentration is designed to prepare graduates for non-public school settings that serve the educational needs of children and families. Field experiences are embedded in designated courses from freshman through senior year, and students complete a minimum twelve-week, full-time internship at an approved site during the final semester of senior year. Graduation also requires 120 hours of service-learning activities. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

This Limestone University program is no longer available. In 2025 the university's Board of Trustees voted to discontinue its on-campus and online programs, and the institution closed at the end of the spring 2025 semester, holding a final commencement on May 3, 2025. Because the closure came before the Elementary Education program could be reviewed here, there is no curriculum, credit load, fieldwork, or accreditation detail to share. Students who were considering this path will need to look elsewhere in the state. South Carolina offers a number of accredited elementary teaching programs worth exploring in its place. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.