Claudius G. Clemmer College of Education

Box 70685
Phone: (423) 439-7626
Web address: www.etsu.edu/coe/

Accredited by: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); Tennessee State Board of Education. Memberships: American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education

The Clemmer College of Education includes the departments of Curriculum and Instruction (interdisciplinary studies in education [elementary], secondary teaching, reading, instructional media, instructional technology, and science education); Human Development and Learning (early childhood education, educational foundations, human services, counseling, and special education); Kinesiology, Leisure and Sport Sciences (physical education, exercise science, sport physiology, and sport management and leisure services), and Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (beginning administrator, teacher leadership, classroom leadership, counseling leadership, and private and postsecondary leadership).

For a listing of majors, degrees, and concentrations, see the section of Degrees and Graduation Requirements and subsection Majors, Degrees, and Concentrations.

The ETSU Child Study Center is operated as a part of the early childhood education program. In addition, University School, a public campus school, grades K-12, is administered by the college.

Teacher Education at ETSU

The Clemmer College of Education is the unit at ETSU responsible for the planning, coordinating, and implementing all university teacher education programs leading to initial or advanced preparation of public school teachers or school service personnel; providing professional services as requested by schools in the service area of the university; providing or assisting in the provision of appropriate in-service and professional development activities as requested; and planning and conducting research and development studies growing out of needs identified in academic programs or in the public schools. The university is approved for the offering of courses appropriate for initial teacher licensure, renewal of teaching licenses, and planned added endorsements. Policies of the Tennessee State Board of Education and of East Tennessee State University must be followed in completing programs leading to the university’s recommendation for teacher licensure.

The teacher education programs are guided by a teacher education conceptual framework that ensures teacher education graduates possess the personal and professional qualities that enable them to take a leadership role and work constructively within schools and agencies to create learning communities that foster the growth and development of all learners. The ten dimensions of the teacher education conceptual framework are: reflective practice, social responsibility, collaboration, caring, diversity, life-long learning, general knowledge, content knowledge, professional knowledge, and leadership.

Ready2Teach

The Ready2Teach program is a system wide initiative of the Tennessee Board of Regents for the redesign of teacher education programs within the Board of Regents system. The focus of Ready2Teach is on preparing teacher candidates who are ready to teach from day one. The Ready2Teach initiative will produce graduates with strong academic content knowledge aligned with curriculum standards, strong skills in instruction, assessment, and management, and well-developed skills in meeting the academic and social needs of all students. All teacher education candidates will be required to complete a year-long school-based clinical residency instead of a one-semester student teaching assignment. Ready2Teach will be fully implemented in Fall, 2013.

Title II Report Information

As required by Title II of the federal Higher Education Act, East Tennessee State University reports the results of candidate performance on state licensing examinations. This information is reported to the state in an Institutional Report that is submitted annually.

For the 2009-2010 academic year, ETSU’s “Summary Pass Rate” was 100%. This compares to a statewide summary pass rate of 98%.

The Title II report can be accessed at www.etsu.edu/coe/TitleII.asp.

Admission to Teacher Education

Entering students who are pursuing degrees leading to teacher licensure in elementary education, early childhood education, physical education, or special education are classified as Pre-Education (PRED) until they meet the requirements for admission to teacher education (see below). These students receive advising from the Office of Student Services, 321 Warf-Pickel Hall. Once students are formally admitted to Teacher Education, they declare a major in one of the areas listed above and are assigned a faculty advisor in their program area.

Students who want to teach a subject usually taught in secondary schools major in that subject (teaching content major, ex. History). Advising for students in secondary education is provided in the department that offers the teaching content major. Advising on teacher education and licensure is provided by the Office of Student Services, 321 Warf-Pickel Hall. All students should check with their advisors frequently to make sure they are completing the correct requirements for their chosen program area. All students planning to teach must be formally admitted to the approved teacher education program as described below.

A post-baccalaureate non-degree program is available to students holding the bachelor’s degree who want to become eligible for initial classroom teacher licensure in special education. Those students must meet all requirements for admission to teacher education as well as other requirements for the bachelor’s degree for teachers. In all other licensure areas, the Clemmer College of Education requires the completion of an appropriate second bachelor’s degree or master’s degree for initial certification of individuals who hold a non-teaching baccalaureate degree. For additional information contact the professional advisor in the Clemmer College of Education, 321 Warf-Pickel Hall.

Pre-Teacher Education – Declaration of Intent

All ETSU students desiring to complete a teacher education or other public school licensure program (for initial licensure, add-on endorsement, or advanced study in education) must file a Declaration of Intent in the Office of Student Services, 321 Warf-Pickel Hall. The Declaration of Intent should be filed before 30 credit hours of coursework have been completed or, in the case of transfer and post-baccalaureate students, in the first semester at ETSU. Delay or failure to file the Declaration of Intent may result in incomplete advisement. Students who have not filed the Declaration of Intent will not be considered for admission to teacher education and may be ineligible to enroll in many professional education courses. The following students must file a Declaration of Intent:

Undergraduates pursuing first-time teaching licensure;
Transfer students pursuing first-time teaching licensure;
Post-baccalaureate students pursuing first-time teaching licensure or additional endorsements; and
Students enrolled in master’s degree programs desiring to earn teacher licensure or additional public school endorsement.

Teacher Education Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the Teacher Education Program at ETSU, students must complete the following:

A formal application to the College of Education Teacher Program.
32 hours of General Education courses including the following: Communication (6 hrs.); Sciences (8 hrs.); Mathematics (3 hrs.); and 15 additional hours chosen from History, Humanities and Fine Arts, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
A GPA of at least 2.50 on all general education coursework attempted as reflected in the calculated grade point average, excluding Developmental Studies courses and CSCI 1100 , if taken.
Standardized test requirements [either ACT composite score of at least 22; or S.A.T. combined score of at least 920 (1020 if taken after 4/1/95); or minimum Praxis I scores for Reading (174, PPST or C-PPST), for Math (173, PPST or C-PPST), and for Writing (173, PPST or C-PPST).
A portfolio developed in EDFN 2100 Orientation to the Profession of Education and EDFN 2300 Foundations for Teaching .
A successful interview with the College of Education Teacher Education Admission Board.
Demonstration of good moral character and freedom from any condition that would impair effectiveness as a teacher.¹
EDFN 2100 Orientation to the Profession of Education with a grade of C or better and EDFN 2300 Foundations for Teaching with a grade of C or better. (Early Childhood majors must complete ECED 2150 Foundations of Early Childhood Development with a grade of C or better.)
CSCI 1100 Using Information Technology or pass proficiency exam.
A background check and receive clearance. (This must be initiated in the Clemmer College of Education Office of Student Services, 321 Warf-Pickel Hall, and must be completed four weeks prior to submitting a teacher education application.)

Because of the nature of teacher licensure regulations, the university reserves the right to change the requirements in teacher education programs at any time when necessary to meet current state licensure standards.

Pre-Education students, following admission to teacher education, may declare a major in early childhood education, interdisciplinary studies in education (elementary education), physical education (K-12 licensure), or special education.

¹Applicants will complete a speech and hearing screening and be informed of any condition that may require modifications or accommodations and sign a notarized statement of character.

Directed Student Teaching/Residency

All requirements for unconditional admission to teacher education must have been completed before enrolling in student teaching/residency. Prior to admission to student teaching/residency, students must declare the areas in which they seek recommendation for licensure. Students will be placed in their major fields as well as other areas in which recommendation for licensure is sought with the approval of the appropriate department. ETSU will not recommend initial endorsement for areas that have not been declared prior to application for directed student teaching/residency.

Students declaring a second field must have completed at least two-thirds of this requirement as well as lower-division cognate courses, before being eligible for directed student teaching/residency.

Applications for admission to the directed student teaching/residency program should be submitted to the Director of Field Experiences and Residency, 321 Warf-Pickel Hall, by February 15th for Fall semester student teaching/residency placement and by October 1st for Spring semester student teaching/residency placement. Applications will be processed according to the filing date. Students who delay applying for admission to teacher education, who delay in completing requirements, or who delay in applying for student teaching will be considered for placement on a space-available basis only.

Applications should indicate preference for placement in the locations being used in the semester concerned. However, the university reserves the right to exercise its best judgment in final determination of student placement based on student performance, teaching situations available, the number of applicants for a specific instructional area, and personal hardships.

A minimum academic average of 2.50 overall, in professional education courses (with no grade below C-), and in all areas for which endorsement is sought (with no grade below C-) is required for admission to student teaching. Candidates are required to meet state mandated test score requirements on the Praxis II (formerly NTE) examination no later than two weeks prior to student teaching.

Applications must be endorsed by the major department not only for academic qualifications but also for physical, moral, and emotional health qualities appropriate to the teaching profession. If a second field is sought, the applicant must also have the endorsement of that program.

Questions regarding these policies should be referred to the Director of Field Experiences and Residency.

Licensure

The initial Tennessee teacher’s license will be issued only to those applicants who have completed an approved teacher education program.

If the initial license is not obtained following completion of the approved program, requirements in effect at the time of application must be satisfied. In all cases, current state licensure requirements must be met regardless of when the student enters the program, including mandated licensure exams.

All applicants for a teaching license in Tennessee must submit satisfactory scores on specified Praxis II tests. Applicants should request that a copy of their test scores be sent to:

East Tennessee State University
Recipient Code #1198

Request current information about Tennessee test requirements at the Office of Student Services, 321 Warf-Pickel Hall. Upon completion of an ETSU teacher preparation or other school licensure program, application for Tennessee licensure must be submitted to Angela Murray, Certification Analyst, 323C Warf-Pickel Hall. Contact Ms. Murray for application forms and instructions. Phone (423) 439-7562 or email murrayp@etsu.edu. Licensure renewal information is available at www.tn.gov/education/lic/renw.shtml.

Following is a list of the teacher education areas in which ETSU has licensure programs available:
Early Childhood Education PreK-3
Elementary Education K-6
English 7-12
Mathematics 7-12
Music Education (Vocal, Instrumental) K-12
Physical Education K-12
Psychology 9-12
School Social Worker PreK-12
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science 7-12
History, Government/Political Science, Geography, Economics 702
Sociology 9-12
Special Education, Modified and Comprehensive K-12
Special Education, Preschool/Early Childhood PreK-3 (graduate program)
Speech Communication 7-12
Speech/Language Pathology PreK-12 (master’s program)
Technology Engineering 5-12
Theatre K-12
Visual Arts K-12
World Language (French, German, Spanish) 7-12

In addition to the above programs for initial licensing, the college offers “add-on” endorsements in many of these areas. An appropriate initial license must be verified in order to apply for an “add-on”. Consult the certification analyst, 323 C, Warf-Pickel Hall for information about specific programs.

The college also offers extensive graduate work, including school licensing programs in counseling, reading, library media, and administration. Consult the Graduate Catalog for details.

Non-teaching Programs

In addition to those majors and concentrations leading to teacher licensure, the College offers additional majors and concentrations that do not have a teaching focus. The Department of Human Development and Learning offers three non-teaching major/concentrations. These are the early childhood development (general) concentration in the early childhood development major and the human services major. The Department of Kinesiology, Leisure and Sport Sciences offers two non-teaching concentrations. These are: 1) exercise science and 2) sport management and park and recreation management. Admission to these concentrations may take place at the time of admission to the university. Advisement is provided by faculty in the respective departments.