PROGRAM INFORMATION
Undergraduate Major Programs: The Education Department offers two majors: Interdisciplinary Studies (elementary K-8; 5-8) and Special Education. (K-12)

Licensure Program: Majors for licensure programs at the secondary level are offered in academic departments. Refer to specific discipline in this BULLETIN.

Academic Regulations to Applying for Degree: All students should be informed concerning general requirements for a baccalaureate degree and the specific Liberal Arts core courses that apply to teacher licensure as they differ from other degree programs.

Accreditation of Education Programs: Teacher education programs at APSU are approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the State of Tennessee.

Correspondence Credit for Licensure: Correspondence credit for licensure is not acceptable without prior approval by the Dean on the Coursework Approval Form available from the Office of the Registrar.

Licensure Post-baccalaureate: Holders of degrees from other universities who seek to complete a teacher education program post-baccalaureate are required to meet State and/or departmental requirements. (See the Office of Teacher Licensure in Claxton 106 for evaluation.) Some graduate work may be applicable toward a degree in this program.

Additional Requirements for Licensure in other States: Students seeking Kentucky licensure should consult with their advisor and the Teacher Licensure Officer regarding additional requirements. For requirements in other states, the student should consult the respective State's Department of Education.

TEACHER EDUCATION IDENTIFICATION PROCESS
Any student interested in obtaining a license to teach must contact the Office of Teacher Licensure, Claxton 106, to activate their teacher licensure file. This should be completed by students enrolled in EDUC 2100, or during initial advisement for transfer students.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION TO TEACHER EDUCATION
After completion of approximately 60 semester hours of Liberal Arts core requirements and Education 1000, 2100, EDUC 2100 with a minimum grade of "C'", students may be Provisionally Admitted by the Director of Teacher Education or a designee. Provisional Admission also requires meeting the minimum criteria of:

1. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75;
2. No grade below "C" in ENGL 1010 and 1020, HIST 2010, 2020 or 2030, and core laboratory sciences and mathematics; and,
3. Satisfactory initial test scores or equivalent:
   a.  PRAXIS I (Pre-Professional Skills Test) with minimum scores in reading, writing and mathematics; or,
   b.  Minimum ACT Composite score of 22, or SAT of 1030 (Verbal and Math), less than five years old; or,
   c.  B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited institution, meet minimum scores on PPST or GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Post-baccalaureate candidates pursuing a graduate degree are encouraged to use the GRE for admission to Teacher Education, if a graduate degree will be pursued.

FULL ADMISSION TO TEACHER EDUCATION
Full admission to teacher education may be granted only by the Screening Appeals Committee of the Council for Teacher Education. Minimum requirements include:

1. Provisional Admission;
2. GPA minimum of 2.75 in major, Interdisciplinary Studies or Professional Education minor (Professional Education), and overall;
3. No grade below "C" in professional education courses;
4. Completion of Student Interview by Panel of Practitioners;
5. No serious infractions in disciplinary record;
6. Three favorable faculty recommendations, one each from:
   a.  the major,
   b. the College of Education, and
   c. the student's choice; and
7. Successfully pass the PRAXIS II Specialty Exam(s) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching Test;
8. Acceptable review by the College of Education faculty.

ADMISSION TO STUDENT TEACHING
To register for Student Teaching, the student must have met the requirements for full admission to teacher education.

APPEAL PROCESS
Students who do not meet one of the standards for provisional or full admission to Teacher Education are permitted to request a waiver of the standard. The candidate should pick up an appeals form in the Office of Teacher Licensure (Room 106 Claxton) and return it along with a transcript to the Office of Teacher Licensure. The College of Education’s Appeals Committee meets at the beginning and end of each semester and candidates are notified by mail of the committee’s decision.

RECOMMENDATION FOR LICENSURE
Candidates desiring a University recommendation for licensure must meet the following criteria:

1. Full admission to the program;
2. Satisfactory completion of Student Teaching;
3.  Passing Score on the Principles of Learning and Teaching subtest of the PRAXIS II. Elementary licensure requires the K-6 version of the test, while 7-12 licensure requires the 7-12 version of the test. Pre-K through 12 licensure or middle grades licensure may choose either test;
4. Passing score on the PRAXIS II Specialty Area(s) (Teaching specialty(s)) as required;
5. 5. Fully qualified to receive a bachelor's degree and maintains a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 upon completion of the program;
6. The student must possess good moral character and be free from mental and physical disabilities which would impair effectiveness as a teacher;
7. The student must have completed all degree requirements, to include a Liberal Arts core, a teaching major, the professional education minor, and any mandated licensure requirements which may not be in the BULLETIN under which the student entered (BULLETIN not to exceed six years). Courses completed must satisfy State of Tennessee guidelines for licensure; and,
8. The student is responsible for providing all test scores and paperwork required by the Office of Teacher Licensure.

FUTURE CHANGES IN TEACHER EDUCATION
The State Board of Education policy changes take precedence over the licensure programs in this BULLETIN. Some of these changes and college initiated changes may occur before this BULLETIN is replaced with another edition. Education advisors will be able to provide information about changes.

It is probable that program requirements will change during a students matriculation.

PREPARATION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
(LICENSURE FOR 7-12 OR K-12)

This curriculum is designed for students who desire a degree in liberal arts and sciences with licensure to teach in the secondary school (grades 7-12) or to teach art, health and physical education, and music (grades K-12). All requirements for provisional and full admission to teacher education apply to these courses of study. Students must complete a Liberal Arts core, a major, and the professional education minor total at least 128 hours. Students seeking licensure in 7-12 or K-12 must complete the Liberal Arts core, including HHP 1260, for the B.A. or B.S. degree as designated in this BULLETIN. Courses completed must satisfy required State guidelines.

DECLARE INTENT
Students planning to become licensed to teach in secondary schools should declare their intent as early as possible and should follow the Teacher Education Identification process on page 106.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING ENDORSEMENTS - contact the Licensure Office in Claxton 106 for specific requirements for add-on endorsements.

Department

Education

Areas of Instruction

Early Childhood
Elementary Education
Literacy
Science
Secondary Education
Special Education
Foundations