Professional Education Requirements for Secondary and K-12 Students

General Program Information

The professional education requirements for secondary and K-12 students are met by completing the Education Minor  (see Human Development and Learning) and the professional semester (CUAI 4580 - Directed Student Teaching ). Students are required to submit a professional portfolio for admission to teacher education.

Retention Criteria

1. Review of students’ grades and personal/professional functioning will be undertaken. Coursework, fieldwork, and any other pertinent factors will be considered by the faculty of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Recommendations will be made for continuance in the program, continuance with specified remediations, or discontinuance.
2. During the semester prior to student teaching, each student will be evaluated. Factors to be considered will be coursework, field experiences, ethical behavior, and personal/professional concerns. The review will culminate in either approval for entry into student teaching or disapproval. A disapproval will result in a conference with the student and a description of necessary remedial steps. All remedial conditions must be removed prior to student teaching.

Reading (READ)

The Reading Program offers courses in reading and storytelling that are required for licensure. Elective courses at the undergraduate level are provided for those interested in any aspect of teaching reading.

Science Education (SCED)

The Science Education Program offers an approved teacher education program leading to 7-12 licensure in a primary discipline such as biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science. After completing the program for one of the approved disciplines, the student would be eligible for licensure in the primary discipline, middle school science (7th and 8th), and physical science. Please note that a minor is required.

The entire program consists of the general education core for secondary and K-12 teachers, the professional education requirements, the general science basic core, and a specialization in one of the basic sciences. Students should confer with the appropriate discipline advisor, the science education advisor, and the College of Education professional advisor.

Educational Media and Educational Technology (MEDA)

The Educational Media and Educational Technology program offers courses in both school library media and technology.

The Educational Media and Educational Technology program offers coursework required for school library media specialist licensure for the state of Tennessee.