Teacher Education Admission and Retention Requirements

  ADMISSION

1. Each student who desires to be a candidate for admission to the Teacher Education Program will make application to the Director of Student Services and Teacher Education in the second semester of the sophomore year.

2. Each student will submit documentation that s/he has:

    a. completed at least 50 semester hours of course work, including: 1) ENG 101, 102, 2) PSY 242, 3) EDCI 201 and 4) an appropriate sequence of freshman mathematics and freshman science;

    b. earned a grade of "C" or better in each of the following courses: ENG 101, 102, PSY 242, EDCI 201;

    c. maintained a "C" average in all freshman level mathematics and sciences courses;

    d. earned a 2.75 GPA on a 4 point scale in all previous college work.

3. Each student will provide official records that indicate s/he has:

    a. performed satisfactorily on the speech screening test;

    b. earned acceptable scores on the Pre-Professional Skills Test (P-PST), Computer-based Test (CBT), PRAXIS ACT composite, Enhanced ACT or combined SAT; students who fail the P-PST or CBT after having taken it twice and are within two (2) points of the required score may appeal to the Director of Student Services and Teacher Education;

    c. received from University professors three positive recommendations on the Behavioral Rating Scale;

    d. received a positive recommendation from her/his interviewing committee.

Students who have not been admitted to the Teacher Education Program and students who do not have a permanent or a provisional certificate will not be permitted to enroll in the following courses without special permission from the Director of Student Services and Teacher Education: EDAD 301, EDCI 387, EDAD 400, EDRD 491, EDRD 424, PSY 312, and all methods courses.
 

RETENTION

To remain in the Teacher Education Program, the student must:

1. maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above;

2. continue to exhibit personal, social and emotional characteristics essential to becoming an effective educator;

3. meet all criteria for admission to student teaching at the appropriate time.

Admission To Student Teaching

As part of the University's retention requirements in the Teacher Education Program, each student must be formally admitted to student teaching. Thus, each student must:

1. meet all Teacher Education requirements to date;

2. apply for student teaching through the Teacher Education advisor; submit the completed application to the Director of Student Services and Teacher Education in the first semester of the senior year;

3. maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better;

4. submit passing scores on Praxis II, PLT and specialty area;

5. exhibit personal, social and emotional characteristics essential to becoming an effective educator;

6. complete the prescribed prerequisite professional education courses and all courses in one's major area of specialization with a grade of "C" or better;

7. supply documentation that a physician certifies that one is free from communicable diseases;

8. supply documentation of liability insurance.

All students are limited to a maximum of fifteen (15) semester hours, twelve (12) in student teaching and three (3) in educational seminar during the semester in which they do student teaching. Dual placement will be part of the fifteen week student teaching experience. Students who are awarded a grade of "C" or "D" in student teaching may graduate from the University but will not be recommended for certification.

NOTE: A student must complete a minimum of six (6) approved semester hours at Tennessee State University prior to student teaching/practicum regardless of her/his previous studies. The Director of Student Services and Teacher Education must approve the courses of students affected by this policy.
 

In order to be recommended for certification, the student must:

1. meet all teacher education requirements to date;

2. complete all graduation requirements;

3. earn a grade of "B" or better in student teaching;

4. maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above;

5. present acceptable score(s) on each test required in Tennessee, currently the Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT), as well as appropriate Specialty Exam(s).

NOTE: A student who already holds a bachelor's degree and is seeking an institutional recommendation for certification in Tennessee must meet all institutional requirements for certification. Any student teaching/internship/practicum experience required for an institutional recommendation for certification/licensure by the Tennessee State Department of Education must be completed at Tennessee State University regardless of one's previous studies.