Flexible, First-Rate Teacher Preparation at USA
The University of South Alabama appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Online Nursing Education Master’s Degrees.
In University Commons, the College of Education & Professional Studies led by Dr. Andrea Kent offers a 120-credit Health Education B.S. for University of South Alabama Jaguars to receive Class B certification for Grades 6-12 after 100 practicum hours and 16-week teaching internships like Alma Bryant High. Chaired by Dr. Andre Green, the Elementary Education B.S. builds a 120-credit, CAEP-accredited Mobile curriculum where aspiring K-6 teachers can tutor at the Literacy Center, join Kappa Delta Pi, and exchange to the University of Cologne. Other undergraduate programs include the Early Childhood Studies B.S., Secondary Mathematics Education B.S., Secondary Biology Education B.S., Collaborative Teacher B.S., Physical Education B.S., and Secondary Language Arts Education B.S.
Digitally on USAOnline, the Educational Media M.Ed. follows a 30-credit, part-time plan outlined by Dr. Pamela Moore with intensive 500-level Web courses like Information Literacy and Multicultural Education plus 300 field service hours for the P-12 School Library Media Specialist Class A credential. Directed by Dr. John Kovaleski, the Foreign Language Education M.Ed. splits into 42-credit specializations for Grades 6-12 French, Spanish, or German with 100 percent Praxis II certification success and Center for Integrative Studies research.
Additional graduate degrees include the Special Education M.Ed., School Counseling M.Ed., Art Education M.Ed., Secondary Social Studies Education M.Ed., Educational Administration M.Ed., Reading Specialist Ed.S., and Instructional Design & Development Ph.D.
About the University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama originated on October 18, 1963, when the first Board of Trustees headed by Dr. Frederick Whiddon met to establish a research institution. In 1964, Governor George Wallace dedicated the University of South Alabama campus for an inaugural class of 276. Regionally accredited in 1968, it acquired Mobile General Hospital in November 1970. In 1976, the University of South Alabama joined the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference. In 1978, the Ph.D. in Basic Medical Sciences became South’s first doctorate. In 1984, South Alabama launched its first extension location for Baldwin County. In 1999, the cutting-edge, 208,300-square-foot Mitchell Center was unveiled. Two years later, USA created the 16-acre Children’s Park for hospital patients. In 2011, the University of South Alabama reached Carnegie’s RU/H status designation.
Endowed for $152.9 million, the University of South Alabama now employs 843 full-time faculty teaching 10,275 undergrad and 4,541 post-grad Jaguars from 55 countries online or on the 1,224-acre Mobile campus near Dauphin Island with 200+ clubs like Camp Kesem. In 2019, South Alabama won a CASE District III Grand Circle of Excellence Award. In 2018, USA accepted a Tau Kappa Epsilon Excellence in Community Service Involvement Award. The University of South Alabama had the 2011 National Book Award for Fiction recipient too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked South 224th for social mobility and 141st for speech-language pathology programs. On Niche, USA boasts America’s 315th top teaching degrees, 232nd best public education, and 135th best athletics. Forbes placed the University of South Alabama 241st among research institutions and 612th overall.
University of South Alabama Accreditation Details
On December 12, 2013, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees voted to extend the Level VI accreditation at the University of South Alabama through 2023-24 under President Tony G. Waldrop, Ph.D., who received a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship. Located 337 miles northeast via Interstate 65 in Decatur, Georgia, this giant 11-state Gulf Coast Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to evaluate USA’s 54 bachelor’s, 42 master’s, and 14 doctoral degrees. Further, the College of Education & Professional Studies was reaffirmed by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in 2012. The Student Counseling & Personnel Services M.Ed. is approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) until October 31, 2022.
University of South Alabama Application Requirements
Enrollment at the University of South Alabama is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because 5,259 of the 6,688 Fall 2018 applicants were victorious for 79 percent acceptance. First-year Jaguars pursuing Class B certification in the College of Education & Professional Studies must hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Sixteen academic credits, including four in language arts, are prerequisite. Cumulative GPAs of 2.5 and higher in grades 9-12 are strongly preferred. The Honors College mandates GPAs of 3.25 and higher. Freshmen need a minimum 19 ACT or 990 SAT score taken after 2016. Standardized tests are optional for undergrads age 23+ or transfers with over 29 credits and 2.0 GPAs. The Graduate School requires regionally accredited bachelor’s completion with at least 3.0 GPAs. Conditional admission is available for post-grads with 2.5-2.99 GPAs and strong GRE scores. Verbal and quantitative GRE sections should combine for 290 or better. Master of Education programs also mandate valid PreK-12 teaching certification.
The University of South Alabama has rolling undergrad admission through July 15th for Fall, December 1st for Spring, and May 1st for Summer starts. It’s suggested that international students with 525 or greater TOEFL scores apply by June 15th, November 1st, and April 1st. The College of Education & Professional Studies has M.Ed. deadlines of July 15th, January 2nd, and May 24th. Educational Specialist programs close on April 1st and November 1st. Educational Leadership Ed.D. cohorts must apply by March 15th. Accordingly, complete the South Application online for $35 ($45 if graduate). Forward official transcripts to 307 University Boulevard in Mobile, AL 36688. When registering, select SAT/GRE code 1880 or ACT code 0059. Attach supplemental materials, such as the resume, personal essay, 2-3 references, and valid educator license. Contact (251) 460-6141 or admiss@southalabama.edu with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, the University of South Alabama is charging in-state undergrads $329 per credit or $5,035 each semester. Non-resident College of Education & Professional Studies tuition is $658 per credit or $8,146 by term. These figures include the $100 academic infrastructure and technology fee. Residing at the Mobile campus’ 33 dorms like Camellia Hall adds $2,050 to $3,100 for semester rent. Standard meal plans for the Student Center Food Court are $1,850 extra. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $21,070 in-state and $29,602 out-of-state. Online bachelor’s courses cost everyone $433 per credit. Master of Education Online cohorts spend $525 per credit. The Graduate School otherwise bills Alabamans $442 and non-residents $884 per credit on-site. Full-time master’s and doctoral students pay $7,956 to $15,912 yearly.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Meisler Hall Suite 1200 helps 95 percent of incoming USA Jaguars receive tuition assistance averaging $7,314 apiece for $11.63 million combined. Education funds include the Alfred Delchamps Sr. Memorial Scholarship, Barbara Philips Scholarship, Burnette Tillinghast Jr. Graduate Scholarship, Captain Allen Graham Memorial Scholarship, Don Winterton Scholarship, Dr. George Uhlig Scholarship, Harold Bickel Memorial Scholarship, Joycelyn Franklin Finley Trailblazer Scholarship, Lavonne Simon Scholarship, and Nancy Gaillard Love of Teaching Scholarship. The Freshman Admission Scholarship gifts up to $17,650 annually for first-time students with GPAs of 3.0-4.0. The $11,000 Global USA Scholars Award assists international undergrads meeting the 1490 SAT or 33 ACT score minimum. Federal programs, such as the Teach Grant and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 001057. Future Alabama teachers also pursue the Louise Marsh Scholarship, James Linton Professional Educator Scholarship, Joanna Crane Scholarship, ACTM Scholarship, and more.
Keep reading about the University of South Alabama at the College of Education & Professional Studies website.
