The Master of Science with a major in teacher education has two tracks. Non-Licensure Track 1 is for students who hold a valid Tennessee teaching license, or for those preparing to teach on the post-secondary level, or for those preparing for careers that do not require teacher licensure. Licensure Track 2 is designed for students seeking initial teacher licensure.
Both Non-Licensure Track 1 and Licensure Track 2 offer thesis and non-thesis options and require students to submit a written comprehensive examination. In addition, students completing theses must sit for an oral examination of their theses.
Non-Licensure Track 1
Non-Licensure Track 1 concentrations are art education; education of the deaf and hard of hearing; elementary education; English education; literacy education; mathematics education; science education; science education (informal education); science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; social science education; special education; teaching and learning and world language/ESL education.
Admission
Students must meet all current graduate school admission requirements in addition to submitting a departmental application and three rating forms.
Requirements
- Completion of a prescribed set of graduate courses: Core area (9 credit hours minimum) TPTE 517 , approved research course, ETEC 586 , ETEC 587 or approved educational or instructional technology course.
- Concentration area (12 credit hours).
- Related studies (3-12 credit hours).
- Completion of thesis or non-thesis option.
Thesis: Minimum 30 graduate credit hours, satisfactory completion of written thesis and oral defense of thesis; 2/3 of total hours for MS degree must be 500-level or above.
Non-Thesis: Minimum 33 graduate credit hours, satisfactory completion of written comprehensive examination; 2/3 of total hours for MS must be 500-level or above.
Distance Education
Courses leading to a Non-Licensure Track 1 master’s concentration in STEM (Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Technology) with a specialization in Gifted Education are available via Distance Education.
Content Fields Teaching • Teacher Education major, MS - Non-Licensure Track 1
Concentrations are English Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, Social Science Education, and World Language/ESL education.
Thesis Option
Minimum 30 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, 6 hours of TPTE 500 , and satisfactory completion of written thesis and oral defense of thesis. Two-thirds of the total credit hours for the MS must be 500-level courses or above.
Non-Thesis Option
Non-Thesis: Minimum 33 credit hours of approved graduate coursework and satisfactory completion of written and/or oral comprehensive examination. Two-thirds of the total hours for the MS must be 500-level courses or above.
| Non-Thesis option |
Credit Hours |
| * Core Area |
9 |
| Concentration Area |
12 |
| Related Studies |
12 |
| All classes must be approved by major advisor. |
|
* TPTE 517 ; EDPY 550 , EDPY 577 , EDAM 520 , or other approved research course; ETEC 586 , ETEC 587 or other approved educational technology course.
Art Education concentration • Non-Licensure Track 1
Advising Note for Thesis and Non-Thesis Options
- The Non-Licensure Track I MS serves those students who have a BS, BA, or BFA and desire a master’s degree, but do not wish to pursue certification to teach art, or who already have certification to teach art and wish to pursue a master’s.
- An exhibition, instead of a thesis, must be of work directed by art and art education faculty. The artwork must be completed while pursuing the master’s degree. A written paper must accompany the exhibition. The paper includes a philosophical statement; process and media explanation (demonstration of knowledge); compositional analysis of each work; and how the work relates to one’s personal artist statement.
- For both tracks, a comprehensive written examination is required during the final semester of work. An oral exam is given over the thesis. Students are expected to read and meet requirements in the Graduate School section of the current catalog, with regard to admission applications, candidacy forms, scheduling comprehensive exam, as well as meeting all requirements regarding the courses in their graduate program.
Art Education concentration (Thesis Option) • Non-Licensure Track 1
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
6 |
| 2 Concentration |
18 |
| Theory and Practice in Teacher Education TPTE 500 (Thesis) |
6 |
| |
Total 30 |
1 Theory and Practice in Teacher Education TPTE 517 , Educational Psychology EDPY 577 , or other approved research design course.
2 Art Education ARED 510 , ARED 520 , ARED 530 , ARED 540 ; art history 400- or 500-level (3); studio art courses 400- or 500-level (3).
Art Education concentration (Non-Thesis Option) • Non-Licensure Track 1
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
6 |
| 2 Concentration |
21 |
| 500-Level Electives |
6 |
| |
Total 33 |
1 TPTE 517 ; EDAM 520 ; EDPY 550 , EDPY 577 , or other committee approved research design.
2 ARED 510 , ARED 520 , ARED 530 , ARED 540 ; art history 400- or 500-level (3); studio art courses 400- or 500-level (3); TPTE 593 or TPTE 595 .
Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing concentration • Non-Licensure Track 1
Contact the department head for information on this concentration.
Elementary Education concentration • Non-Licensure Track 1
Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
9 |
| 2 Concentration |
12 |
| 3 Related Studies |
3 |
| TPTE 500 |
6 |
| |
Total 30 |
1 EDPY 577 or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 3 credit hours determined by student and advisor.
2 Choose from at least three areas – reading education, language arts education, mathematics education, science education, social studies education, elementary curriculum, middle school curriculum.
3 Determined by student and advisor.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
12 |
| 2 Concentration |
15 |
| 3 Related Studies |
6 |
| |
Total 33 |
1 EDPY 550 , EDPY 577 , EDAM 520 , or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 6 credit hours determined by student and advisor.
2 Choose from at least three areas – reading education, language arts education, mathematics education, science education, social studies education, elementary curriculum, middle school curriculum.
3 Determined by student and advisor.
Literacy Education concentration • Non-Licensure Track 1
Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
9 |
| Concentration (reading education courses) |
12 |
| 2 Related Studies |
3 |
| TPTE 500 |
6 |
| |
Total 30 |
1 EDPY 577 or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 3 credit hours determined by student and advisor.
2 Choose 3 graduate credit hours from language arts education, English education, elementary curriculum, elementary education, middle school curriculum, special education, or educational psychology.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
12 |
| Concentration (reading education courses) |
12 |
| 2 Related Studies |
9 |
| |
Total 33 |
1 EDPY 550 , EDPY 577 , EDAM 520 , or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 6 credit hours determined by student and advisor.
2 Choose 9 credit hours from language arts education, English education, elementary curriculum, elementary education, middle school curriculum, special education, or educational psychology.
Science Education (Informal Education) concentration • Non-Licensure Track 1
Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
9 |
| 2 Concentration |
12 |
| 3 Related Studies |
3 |
| TPTE 500 (Thesis) |
6 |
| |
Total 30 |
1 EDPY 577 or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 3 credit hours determined by student and advisor.
2 SCED 506 , SCED 509 , SCED 510 ; 3 credit hours determined by student and advisor.
3 Determined by student and advisor.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
12 |
| 2 Concentration |
15 |
| 3 Related Studies |
6 |
| |
Total 33 |
1 EDPY 550 , EDPY 577 , EDAM 520 , or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 6 credit hours determined by student and advisor.
2 SCED 506 , SCED 509 , SCED 510 ; 6 credit hours determined by student and advisor.
3 Determined by student and advisor.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics concentration • Non-Licensure Track 1
Note: STEM offers a specialization in gifted education. Specific course selection and sequence should be determined in consultation with student’s advisor. This concentration is offered via distance education (DE).
Thesis Option Only
| |
Hours |
| 1Core |
12 |
| 2Concentration |
12 |
| Related Studies |
6 |
| TPTE 500 (Thesis) |
6 |
| |
Total 36 |
1 TPTE 517 ; TPTE 540 ; ETEC 586 ; TPTE 588
2 SCED 572 ; SCED 509 ; MEDU 543 or SCED 543 ; MEDU 583 or SCED 565 ; ELED 524 ; EDDE 504 or SPED 506 (3 credit hours); SPED 574 ; SPED 575
Special Education concentration • Non-Licensure Track 1
Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
12 |
| 2 Concentration |
12 |
| TPTE 500 (Thesis) |
6 |
| Total |
30 |
1 SPED 556 ; EDPY 505 , SPED 590 , SPED 553 .
2 Select appropriate courses with major advisor.
Courses in Gifted Education specialization are available via distance education: SPED 574 ; SPED 575 ; ELED 524 ; SCED 572 ; SPED 506 . Specific course selection and sequence should be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor. Gifted courses may be taken in partial fulfillment of degree requirements in other degree programs upon approval of the student’s graduate committee.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
12 |
| 2 Concentration |
24 |
| Total |
36 |
1 SPED 556 ; EDPY 505 , SPED 590 , SPED 553 .
2 Select appropriate courses with major advisor.
Courses in Gifted Education specialization are available via distance education: SPED 574 ; SPED 575 ; ELED 524 ; SCED 572 ; SPED 506 . Specific course selection and sequence should be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor. Gifted courses may be taken in partial fulfillment of degree requirements in other degree programs upon approval of the student’s graduate committee.
Teaching and Learning concentration • Non-Licensure Track 1
Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
9 |
| 2 Concentration |
9 |
| 3 Related Studies |
6 |
| TPTE 500 |
6 |
| |
Total 30 |
1 EDPY 577 or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; approved educational technology course.
2 Faculty approved graduate courses in curriculum or instructional pedagogy.
3 Faculty approved graduate courses in leadership, strategic planning, adult education, or other committee approved topics.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours |
| 1 Core |
9 |
| 2 Concentration |
12 |
| 3 Related Studies |
9 |
| |
Total 30 |
1 EDPY 550 , EDPY 577 , EDAM 520 , or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; approved educational technology course.
2 Faculty approved graduate courses in curriculum or instructional pedagogy.
3 Faculty approved graduate courses in leadership, strategic planning, adult education, or other committee approved topics.
Licensure Track 2: Initial Licensure Programs
The Licensure Track 2 master’s is intended for individuals desiring to earn teacher licensure. Applicants to this program must first be admitted to teacher education. Elementary, or secondary English and social sciences education applicants must complete the equivalent of an undergraduate minor in either elementary or secondary education while applicants for either of the grades 6-8 teaching concentrations complete the grades 6-8 minor. Applicants interested in a grades 6-8 concentration for mathematics complete an undergraduate major in mathematics and applicants interested in a grades 6-8 teaching concentration in one of the sciences complete an undergraduate major in that area. Applicants interested in a grades 6-8 teaching concentration for both mathematics and science should consult with a CEHHS advisor. Applicants interested in secondary math or science education should contact the CEHHS Office of Student Services for further guidance on available options at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Post-baccalaureate students interested in seeking licensure in art education, special education, world language education, or in other fields that require students to earn an undergraduate major would be expected to complete an equivalent undergraduate program of study. Please refer to the catalog for complete details. Individuals are encouraged to contact the college’s Student Services Center, A332 Bailey Education Complex, for a diagnostic interview and to develop a tentative course of study and time line.
Requirements
Teacher Education, MS: Licensure Track 2 common course requirements
Master’s Track 2 programs are 36 graduate credit hours (non-thesis); 42 graduate credit hours (thesis). Students, regardless of teaching area (e.g., elementary, secondary, etc.), complete a common teacher licensure core of 24 graduate credit hours during the professional year (see below).
Professional Year Teacher Licensure common core courses (24 credit hours)
TPTE 574 (2-3), TPTE 575 (12), TPTE 591 (3-4), specialty studies (6)
Additional Course Requirements (12 credit hours)
In addition to the Professional Year Teacher Licensure common core courses listed above, students must complete an additional 12 credit hours of graduate coursework that is unique to their particular teacher preparation field.
Art Education concentration
ARED 510 , ARED 520 , ARED 530 , ARED 540
Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing concentration
Research elective (3); non-specified electives (9).
Elementary Teaching concentration
6 credit hours chosen from MEDU 530 , REED 530 , SCED 531 , or SSCE 521 , 6 credit hours of educational electives chosen from historical, philosophical, or social foundations; educational technology; reading education; language arts education; science education; social science education; elementary education; issues in teacher education.
English as a Second Language Education concentration
TPTE 517 ; advisor approved electives (9).
Mathematics Grades 6-8 Teaching concentration
TPTE 517 ; REED 543 ; 6 credit hours of electives (see faculty advisor).
Science Grades 6-8 Teaching concentration
TPTE 517 ; REED 543 ; 6 credit hours of electives (see faculty advisor).
Special Education concentration
SPED 553 , SPED 556 ; 6 credit hours of electives (see advisor).
Secondary Teaching concentration
TPTE 517 ; TPTE 549 , or TPTE 588 , or an elective in the history of sociology or philosophy of education; 6 credit hours of specialty area electives (see faculty advisor).
World Language Education concentration
TPTE 517 ; ETEC 586 or ETEC 587 (or approved educational technology course); approved graduate class in the World Language; TPTE 593 or TPTE 595 (Teaching World Languages, PreK-5).
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