Hoyt A. King, Ph.D., Interim Coordinator
408 Hubert Crouch Hall ( Graduate Building)
Telephone 615-963-5755
General Statement: The Arts and Sciences (Interdisciplinary Studies) degree program is a cross-disciplinary program, which concentrates upper-level studies in one of the three families of disciplines: the arts and humanities, the social sciences, or the sciences and mathematics. The program exposes the student to the knowledge and methodologies of two specific fields of study within a given family of disciplines.
The degree, which is the Bachelor of Science in Arts and Sciences, permits students to develop a personalized program of study in consultation with their advisor. Students have a primary discipline of 15 semester hours, strengthening it with 8 hours from a related discipline. For example, a student interested in the humanities may have concentrations in any two of the following disciplines: Art, English, French, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Spanish, and Theatre. A student in the social sciences may concentrate in any two of these disciplines: Africana Studies, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and Speech. A student in the sciences may choose any two of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics.
A student may be allowed another combination of disciplines, provided he or she makes a reasonable case for it. This combination must be approved in advance by the Coordinator and the Dean’s office.
The degree is especially useful for some pre-professional curricula, such as pre-law, pre-pharmacy, pre-medicine, and pre-dentistry, since it allows the student to construct more easily a degree program from the required courses in various disciplines.
The Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Studies is the advisor for all students in the program, except for those who are seeking certification in Elementary Education.
Program Requirements 32 Semester Hours
For Bachelor of Science
Arts and Sciences (Interdisciplinary Degree)
| ENGL 1010, 1020 | Freshman English I, II | 6 |
| (minimum grade of C in each) | ||
| ENGL 2012-2024 | Sophomore Literature | 3 |
| HIST 2010, 2020 | American History I, II | 6 |
| HUMANITIES | Two courses from approved list | 6 |
| MATH REQUIREMENT | 6-8 | |
| MATH 1013, 1110 | Contemporary Math, College Algebra I | |
| MATH 1410, 1830 | Structure of the Numbers System I, Basic Calculus I | |
| 1710, 1720, or | Pre-calculus Mathematics I, II | |
| 1915, 1910 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I, | |
| Calculus I Alternative | ||
| NATURAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT | 8 | |
| BIOL 1110, 1111, | General Biology I, II and Labs | |
| 1120, 1121 | ||
| CHEM 1110, 1111, | General Chemistry I, II and Labs | |
| 1120, 1121 | ||
| BIOL 1010, | Introductory Biology I, II and Labs | |
| 1011, 1020, 1021 | ||
| PHYS 2010/2011,2020/2021 | College Physics I, II and Labs | |
| PHYS 2110/2111, 2120/2121 | General Physics I, II and Labs | |
| SOCIAL SCIENCES | Two courses from approved list | 6 |
| COMM 2200 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ASOR 1001, | Orientation | 1 |
| 1002, 1003 | ||
Upper-division Admission
For admission to the upper-division program of the Interdisciplinary Studies major, the student must complete all of the requirements listed above under General Education Core. In addition, one must have removed all high school deficiencies, passed all required remedial/developmental courses, earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on college-level course work, and completed the Rising Junior Examination.
Major Core: A minimum of 32 upper-level (3000- and 4000-level) hours must be completed in Arts and Sciences. For this purpose Economics, Computer Science, and Psychology are treated as Arts and Sciences disciplines, although they are administered through other colleges in the University. Students must earn at least a C in all 32 of these hours.
(a) Twenty-three upper-level hours must be completed in one of the three broad areas or families of disciplines: the arts and humanities, the social sciences, and the sciences and mathematics. Fifteen of these hours must be in a single discipline and eight must be in a second discipline from the same family.
(b) Nine additional upper-level hours must be completed in arts and sciences disciplines or in Economics, Computer Science, and Psychology.
Bachelor of Science Degree in
Arts and Sciences
Suggested Four-Year Plan
FRESHMAN YEAR
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| ENGL 1010 | 3 | ENGL 1020 | 3 |
| HIST 2010 | 3 | HIST 2020 | 3 |
| MATH 1110,1120,1013 | 3 | ||
| OR 1925 | |||
| Natural Sciences | 4 | Natural Sciences | 4 |
| ELECTIVE | 3 | ||
| ASOR 1003 | 1 | COMP 1210 | 3 |
| 14 | 16 |
SOPHOMORE YEAR
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| Intro. Elec. Disc. I | 3 | Humanities and/or Fine Arts | 6 |
| Sophomore Literature | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| SOCIAL SCIENCE | 3 | SOCIAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| COMM 2200 | 3 | ELECTIVE Intro. Disc. II | 3 |
| HUMANITIES | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 |
JUNIOR YEAR
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| 1ST DISCIPLINE, 3000/4000 | 6 | 1ST DISCIPLINE, 3000/4000 | 3 |
| 2ND DISCIPLINE, 3000/4000 | 3 | 2ND DISCIPLINE, 3000/4000 | 3 |
| ELECTIVE, 3000/4000 | 3 | ELECTIVE, 3000/4000 | 3 |
| ARTS AND SCIENCES | ARTS AND SCIENCES | ||
| ELECTIVES, ANY LEVEL | 3 | ELECTIVES, UPPER LEVEL | 6 |
| 15 | 15 |
SENIOR YEAR
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| 1ST DISCIPLINE, 3000/4000 | 3 | 1ST DISCIPLINE, 3000/4000 | 3 |
| 2ND DISCIPLINE, 3000/4000 | 3 | ELECTIVE, 3000/4000 | 12 |
| ELECTIVE, 3000/4000 | 3 | ANY SCHOOL OR COLLEGE | |
| ARTS AND SCIENCES | |||
| ELECTIVES, 3000/4000 | 3 | ||
| ANY SCHOOL OR COLLEGE | |||
| ELECTIVE, ANY UPPER LEVEL | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 |
Arts and Sciences
Interdisciplinary Studies
Certification in Elementary Education
Grades K-8
William Cumming, M.A., Coordinator
407 Crouch Hall ( Graduate Building)
Telephone 615-963-5759
General Statement: The University’s teacher certification program in Elementary Education is located in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program of the College of Arts and Sciences, in recognition of the fact that the modern teacher should be broadly educated with a firm foundation in the liberal arts. The teacher must have not only a knowledge of a variety of subject matter, but also an understanding of the psychology and the cultures of the students he or she will teach. America is an increasingly diverse society: it is estimated that by the year 2050 more than half of the school-age children will be of non-European descent.
The Elementary Education program offers the student the opportunity to prepare for a license to teach in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade. This means that the Tennessee Department of Education certifies that the individual is qualified to teach at those levels and thus is eligible to be hired by public school systems in the state. An endorsement for a given grade level means that the student is especially well prepared for those grades, but is also eligible to teach at whatever level the license includes. The concentration is child development and learning, with licensure for grades K-8. The specific requirements are listed below. The coordinator of the Elementary Education program is the advisor for students seeking this license.
Program Requirements
For Bachelor of Science
Arts and Sciences
Certification in Elementary Education
All candidates for certification in elementary education will complete a minimum of 130 semester hours, to receive the B.S. degree in Arts and Sciences. These hours include a general education core (63 hours), a major concentration of content and knowledge courses (33 hours), and a professional education core (41 hours), including one semester of student teaching in primary and middle schools (12 hours). To be eligible for admission to any certification program in the University, students must have at least a 2.75 cumulative quality point average at the time of application and must earn acceptable scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) or the Computer-Based Academic Skills Assessment Test (CBT). Students who have previously earned a 21 on the ACT, 22 on the Enhanced ACT, or a combined 990 on the verbal and mathematics portions of the SAT are exempt from the PPST. Students must also make a written application through the College of Education before being formally admitted to the program, usually during the sophomore year. For a complete statement of admission and retention requirements in the Teacher Education Program, see the section in the college of Education in this catalog.
Accreditation: The teacher certification program in Elementary Education, with all three of its concentrations, is approved by the Tennessee Department of Education. In addition, the teacher education program is accredited by the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Specific course requirements in general education, the professional education curriculum, and the concentration follow.
General Education Core 57 Semester Hours
The general education liberal arts component is designed to foster the intellectual development of the whole person and give him or her the foundation of a broad college education.
Required General Education Core
| ENGL 1010, 1020 | Freshman English I, II | 6 |
| (minimum grade of C in each) | ||
| ENGL 2010-2320 | Sophomore Literature I or II | 3 |
| HIST 1210 or 1220 | World History I or II | 3 |
| HIST 2010 or 2020 | American History I or II | 3 |
| HIST 2030 | History of Tennessee | 3 |
| MATH 1410, 1420 | Structure of Number System I, II | 6 |
| (MATH 1013 or higher may be used) | ||
| BIOL 1010, 1011, | ||
| 1020, 1021 | Introductory Biology | 8 |
| I, II and laboratories or | ||
| CHEM 1110, 1111; 1120,1121 or | ||
| PHYS 2010, 2011; 2020, 2011 or | ||
| ASTR 1010, 1020 | ||
| MUSC 1010 | Music Appreciation | 3 |
| ART 1010 | Art Appreciation | 3 |
| SOCI 2010 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| COMM 2200 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| GEOG 1010 or 1020 | World Regional Geography I or II | 3 |
| PSYC 2420 | Human Growth and Learning | 3 |
| HPSS 2060 | First Aid and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation | 3 |
| HPSS 3100 | Concepts of Games and Play | 3 |
| EDCI 1010 | Orientation | 1 |
| 57 | ||
Professional Education 36 Semester Hours
Professional education course work and related field and laboratory experiences are required to give the prospective elementary school teacher the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed for a successful career. Students must be officially admitted to the Teacher Education Program before they can register for any of these courses, with the exception of EDCI 201.
| EDAD 4000 | Professional Rights and Responsibilities | 3 |
| EDCI 2010 | History and Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDCI 3870 | Curriculum Development | 3 |
| EDCI 3905 | Methods of Elementary Teaching: Humanities and Social Sciences | 3 |
| EDCI 3906 | Methods of Elementary Teaching: Sciences | 3 |
| EDCI 4700 | Educational Seminar Elementary | 3 |
| EDCI 4720 | Enhanced Student Teaching in the Elementary School | 9 |
| EDRD 4240 | Teaching Reading in the Elementary School | 3 |
| EDCI 3110 | Classroom Behavior Management | 3 |
| PSYC 3120 | Measurement and Evaluation in the Classroom | 3 |
| 36 |
Child Growth and Development 27 Semester Hours
Licensure for Grades K-8
| ECCD 2010 | Principles and Concepts of Child Development | 3 |
| ECCD 3610 | Early Childhood Curriculum I | 3 |
| EDCI 4900 | Multicultural Education | 3 |
| ENGL 3730 | Children’s Literature | 3 |
| HIST 4910 or 4920 | Afro-American History | 3 |
| PSYC 2010 | General Psychology | 3 |
| EDSE 3330 | The Exceptional Child | 3 |
| PSYC 3150 | Principles of Learning | 3 |
| COMM 4490 | Speech and Theatre for Children | 3 |
| 27 |
Each teacher candidate, regardless of concentration, must complete EDCI 4724, Enhanced Student Teaching in the Elementary School (9 hours). The student teaching experience includes an entire semester of teaching divided between primary and middle grades. Teacher candidates seeking to focus on early grades have field experiences in kindergarten in addition to elementary school and middle school.
The awarded diploma reads: “Bachelor of Science in Arts and Sciences.” The teaching license reads “Elementary Education (K-8).” To receive the K-8 licensure, the student must complete the requirements specified for K-4 endorsement.
Concentration in
Child Growth and Development
Licensure for Grades K-8, Endorsement for Grades K-4
Suggested Four-Year Plan
FRESHMAN YEAR
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| *ENGL 1010 | 3 | *ENGL 1020 | 3 |
| HIST 2010 | 3 | HIST 2020 | 3 |
| * MATH 1410 | 3 | *MATH 1420 | 3 |
| * BIOL 1010, 1011 | 4 | * BIOL 1020, 1021 | 4 |
| COMM 2200 | 3 | GEOG 1010 OR 1020 | 3 |
| EDCI 1010 | 1 | ART 1010 | 3 |
| 17 | 16 |
SOPHOMORE YEAR
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| HIST 1210 or 1220 | 3 | ENGL 2010 to 2020, or ENGL 2020 to 2023 | 3 |
| MUSC 1010 | 3 | HIST 2030 | 3 |
| ECCD 2010 | 3 | SOCI 2010 | 3 |
| HPSS 2060 | 3 | ||
| * EDCI 2010 | 3 | * PSYC 2420 | 3 |
| PSYC 2010 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 |
*Prerequisite for admission to Teacher Education
(Apply to Teacher Education; a GPA of 2.75 is required and appropriate scores on the PPST or ACT)
JUNIOR YEAR
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| ENGL 3730 | 3 | HIST 4910 or 4920 | 3 |
| COMM 4490 | 3 | **PSYC 3120 | 3 |
| PSYC 3150 | 3 | ||
| **EDCI 3870 | 3 | ||
| HPSS 3100 | 3 | EDCI 4900 | 3 |
| EDSE 3330 | 3 | **EDCI 3110 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 |
(Apply for Student Teaching)
SENIOR YEAR
| FALL SEMESTER | HR | *SPRING SEMESTER | HR |
| **EDCI 4706 | 3 | ||
| ECCD 3610 | 3 | **EDCI 4720 | 9 |
| **EDCI 3905 | 3 | ||
| **EDCI 3906 | 3 | ||
| **EDRD 4240 | 3 | ||
| **EDAD 4000 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 |
*(No other courses may be taken during this semester.)
**Must be admitted to Teacher Education to take this course.