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May 25, 2026
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2026-2027 Graduate Catalog
Teacher Education Major, MS
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Concentrations (Required) and Options Available
Campus Code
Knoxville Campus
- Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration
- Professional Internship Concentrations
Distance Education - Practitioner Concentration
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- For all programs, students must meet all current graduate school admission requirements and departmental requirements in addition to submitting a graduate school application and a departmental application.
- Admission to the ABA concentration will be based on applicant GRE scores, grade point average at all collegiate levels, written goal statement, example of professional writing, background check clearance, professional references, and admission board interview.
- Admission to ASL Education Professional Internship and ASL Education Practitioner Concentration Specialization courses requires a minimum score of Advanced level on SLPI or 3+ on ASLPI.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Concentration — Coursework Only With Comprehensive Exam
The Teacher Education, MS; Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) concentration is designed to prepare practitioners to use behavior analytic techniques and treatment approaches to prevent and reduce problem behaviors and to increase appropriate behaviors and skills targeted to improve overall quality of life. The ABA concentration coursework is comprised of courses in Special Education and School Psychology programs. Content in this program of studies is primarily focused on treatment approaches for children and adults with learning or behavioral difficulties and their teachers and caregivers.
Credit Hours Required
30 graduate credit hours
Required Courses (21 credit hours)
- SCHP 505 - Quasi-Experimental and Single-Subject Design Research
- SCHP 515 - Educational Applications of Behavioral Theories of Learning
- SCHP 517 - Direct Assessment and Interventions for Academic Skills Deficits
- SCHP 636 - Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Psychology and Behavior Analysis
- SPED 530 - Applied Behavior Analysis in School Settings
- SPED 555 - Methods of Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- SPED 501 - Advanced Topics in Applied Behavior Analysis
Additional Courses (9 credit hours): In consultation with advisor, select from the following courses and/or other relevant graduate-level course(s) approved by advisor: - SCHP 510 - Psychological Theories of Human Development Applied to Education
- SPED 542 - Methods of Teaching Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
- SPED 552 - Classroom Management
- SPED 553 - Assessment of Exceptional Students
Note: To complete the coursework required for board certification in applied behavior analysis, students must complete SCHP 515, SCHP 517, SCHP 636, SPED 555, SPED 530, SPED 501, and SCHP 505. An international certifying board specifies and updates additional requirements (e.g., completing supervised internship experience, completing exam) for board certification which are outside of coursework included in the Teacher Education, MS; ABA concentration.
Professional Internship Concentrations — Thesis Option or Coursework Only With Comprehensive Exam Option
The Professional Internship concentrations are intended for individuals seeking initial teacher licensure. Applicants to any of the professional internship concentrations must first interview with a teacher education admissions board and be admitted to teacher education. 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 timeline. Note that several of the concentrations have dual or triple pathway options that lead to additional licensure in English as a Second Language and/or Special Education. Program contact information can be found at the Theory and Practice in Teacher Education webpage.
Credit Hours Required
- 39 graduate credit hours for the Thesis Option
- Minimum 30 graduate credit hours for the Coursework Only With Comprehensive Exam Option
- 33 graduate credit hours for the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Integrated PreK-3 Professional Internship Concentration
Additional Course Requirements
American Sign Language Education Professional Internship
Art Education Professional Internship
Deaf Education Professional Internship
9 graduate credit hours, chosen in consultation with advisor Elementary Education Professional Internship
English Education and English as a Second Language Professional Internship
9 credit hours of electives selected in consultation with advisor Term 9 Total Graduate Credit Hours = 12
Term 10 Total Graduate Credit Hours = 9
Summer Pre- or Post-Internship Total Graduate Credit Hours = 12
Non-Course Requirements
Required Comprehensive Exam: a practice-based review of research. Mathematics Education Professional Internship
Science Education Professional Internship
Social Sciences Education Professional Internship
Special Education Professional Internship
World Language Education Professional Internship
Non-Course Requirements
- Thesis Option: Successful defense of the thesis
- ASL Education Professional Internship: Candidates must haveneed a minimum score of Advanced level on SLPI or 3+ on ASLPI to advance to the internship year.
- Deaf Education Professional Internship: Candidates must haveneed a minimum score of Intermediate Plus on the SLPI or 3 on ASLPI to advance to the internship year.
- Coursework Only With Comprehensive Exam Option: Successful completion of a comprehensive exam / project with a grade of Pass is required.
- ASL Education Professional Internship: Candidates must haveneed a minimum score of Advanced level on SLPI or 3+ on ASLPI to advance to the internship year..
- Deaf Education Professional Internship: Candidates must haveneed a minimum score of Intermediate Plus on the SLPI or 3 on ASLPI to advance to the internship year..
Practitioner Concentration — Coursework Only Without Comprehensive Exams Option
The Practitioner concentration in Teacher Education is offered only as a Distance Education program. The Practitioner Concentration is designed for individuals pursuing a career in teaching. This program fulfills state licensure requirements and can lead to a Master of Science degree. As a Job-Embedded Practitioner (Teacher of Record), candidates will be employed in a partnering school while completing graduate-level coursework. Candidates may begin coursework before being hired, but to complete the program, must work full-time in the classroom for at least one academic year (10 months). All courses are offered 100% online with flexible scheduling to accommodate the responsibilities of first-year teaching. Most candidates complete the program in about two years, though state policy allows up to three years to finalize licensure requirements.
While enrolled, candidates will receive support from both school-based mentors and UT faculty. Licensure may be issued at the start of the program, provided candidates meet subject-matter qualifications and are admitted to educator preparation program. The Tennessee Department of Education’s Office of Educator Licensing issues the license only upon the recommendation of the EPP once all requirements have been met. Specializations: - American Sign Language Education
- Art Education
- Deaf Education
- Elementary Education
- English Education
- English as a Second Language
- Interdisciplinary Integrated Prek-3 Early Childhood Education
- Integrated Birth-Kindergarten
- Mathematics Education
- Science Education
- Social Sciences Education
- Special Education
- World Language Education
Credit Hours Required
30 to 38 graduate credit hours
American Sign Language Education
English as a Second Language
Math Education (Grades 6-8, 6-10, or 6-12)
Science Education (Grades 6-8 or 6-12)
World Languages Education
Student Teaching in Deaf Education Concentration
The student teaching program is designed for people seeking initial teaching license through remote programming options. After completing the majority of their coursework, students will enroll in a 15-week student teaching experience. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be recommended for Tennessee teaching license for special education-hearing. A person planning to teach deaf students in another state would apply for licensure in that state upon receiving their Tennessee teaching license in Tennessee. UTK’s Office of Professional Licensure will supply an out-of-state educator preparation verification form upon request.
Credit Hours Required
Minimum 30 graduate credit hours
Non-Course Requirements
- The student must complete licensure requirements within three years.
- Students must successfully pass all required state licensure assessments.
- Students must satisfactorily complete all clinical practice requirements.
- Students in the World Language specialization must have completed a minimum of 24 graduate credit hours in the world language (WL) with at least 18 upper division credit hours in the WL with a 3.00 GPA average or above.
- Students in the ASL Education concentration must have a minimum score of Advanced level on SLPI or 3+ on ASLPI.
- Students in the Deaf Education Practitioner concentration and Student Teaching in Deaf Education concentration must have a minimum score of Intermediate- Plus level on the SLPI or 3 on ASLPI.
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