Post-Baccalaureate
Teacher Education Program

The program for post-baccalaureate licensure at Tennessee State University (TSU) provides an avenue by which individuals who have received undergraduate degrees can complete their preparation for becoming certified teachers in Tennessee. The teacher education programs are designed to prepare competent and caring professionals who are facilitators of learning with a multicultural perspective. Candidates must demonstrate knowledge and skills in an area of specialization appropriate to the licensure area, and professional education. A variety of data sources are used by a committee of university faculty, graduate student (s), and public school personnel to screen each applicant for admission to the program.

Two broad areas of knowledge and skills have been established for prospective teachers in Tennessee: (1) Academic Major of Specialty Area and (2) Professional Education. For post-baccalaureate teacher education students, the same standards are required as for undergraduate students but the procedures are somewhat different.

The following standards are used to demonstrate the candidates' knowledge and skills:

1. an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;

2. a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 point scale of all previous college/university work.

3. acceptable performance on the appropriate graduate examination (GRE-Composite 870 or above; MAT - 25 or above).

4. acceptable performance on the tests of the Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching and Specialty area at or above the State requirement for licensure in the projected certification year.

Academic Major

The following guidelines are used:

1. an undergraduate major in the subject area required for endorsement with the recommendation from the TSU department that no undergraduate content deficiencies exist; or

2. a specification of undergraduate deficiencies to be completed in the major.

3. candidates seeking certification in an area other than their undergraduate degree must complete the equivalent of the requisite undergraduate major.

Post-Baccalaureate Admission Requirements
Teacher Education Program

Students should apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program upon completion of the first semester of coursework or nine (9) hours and acceptable scores on the MAT or GRE.

    1.   An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;

    2.   A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 point scale of all previous college/university work.

    3.   Acceptable performance on the appropriate graduate examination (GRE-Composite 870 or above; MAT - 25 or above.

Enhanced Student Teaching:

Post-Baccalaureate student has the option of pursuing licensure while working toward a Masters of Education degree, or licensure only at either the undergraduate or graduate level (or a combination of the two). Licensure must be completed prior to the awarding of the M.Ed. degree by university policy. The M.Ed. degree options from the Department of Teaching and Leaning are Curriculum and Instruction for all K-12 and 7-12 endorsements and Elementary Education for K-8, Special Education certification is available through an approved M.Ed. major in Special Education.

Clinical experiences are designed to complement classroom learning and prepare students for field experiences in Enhanced Student Teaching.

Field experiences including observation, observation/participation, and student teaching. The student teaching experience is a full semester with dual placement.