Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE)

Major Equivalency Statement

Return completed form to:

South Carolina Department of Education

Division of Teacher Quality

3700 Forest Drive, Suite 500

Columbia, South Carolina 29204

PACE is South Carolina’s alternative route to teacher certification. One of the admission requirements for PACE is that the individual must have a degree in the content area he/she intends to teach. If an individual does not have the degree in the desired teaching content area posted on his/her transcripts, the State Department of Education will accept a major equivalency in the content area he/she intends to teach. There are two options for major equivalency. Both options require an evaluation of the transcripts by the department chair in the desired certification content area at a regionally accredited higher education institution. Option One is outlined below. Option Two is outlined on the back of this page.

Option 1: Major Equivalency Statement

The department chair will evaluate all transcripts for the individual seeking certification. While the applicant may not have all the courses for a degree in the content area, he/she may have the courses equivalent to a major in the content area. This does not mean the individual is eligible for another degree. For purposes of PACE, this individual has exhibited knowledge equivalent to a major in the content area they desire to teach by completing content related courses. This evaluation may include courses related to the content area but not necessarily completed in the content area department.

Section I: To be completed by the PACE applicant

Name (print):	Social Security Number:
Certification Content Area Seeking Admission to PACE:

Section II: To be completed by the higher education department chair

Based on a review of this individual’s transcripts, I have determined this individual has completed the equivalent to a major in the content area listed below. This does not mean this individual would be eligible for a degree in this area from our institution. This statement is for purposes of PACE program admission only.

Major Equivalency Area
Printed Name of Individual Completing Form:	Signature of Individual Completing Form:
Title of Individual Completing Form:	Higher Education Institution:
Email Address:	Phone Number:
Date:

Option 2: Course Review

A Participant can be evaluated by the State Department of Education for a major equivalent if he/she has thirty or more semester hours earned in content area coursework, twenty-one of which were earned at the junior or senior level or above; or twenty-four or more semester hours earned in content area coursework at the graduate level. Once the department chair has listed the courses on the graduate or undergraduate level the individual has completed related to the certification content area, the State Department of Education will review the listed coursework for a major equivalency. This evaluation may include courses related to the content area but not necessarily completed in the content area department.

Section I: To be completed by the PACE applicant

Name (print):	Social Security Number:
Certification Content Area Seeking Admission to PACE:

Section II: To be completed by the higher education department chair.

Based on a review of this individual’s transcripts, I have determined this individual has completed the following courses related to the certification content area listed below. These courses will be reviewed by the State Department of Education for a major equivalency.

Certification Area:
Higher Education Institution		Course Prefix and Number	Semester Hours		Graduate (G) or Undergraduate (U)	If undergraduate, please designate the course level as lower or upper. freshman/sophomore (L) junior/senior (U)
Printed Name of Individual Completing Form:				Signature of Individual Completing Form
Title of Individual Completing Form:				Higher Education Institution:
Email Address:	Phone Number:						Date: