The Master of Science with a major in teacher education has two tracks. 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. Track 2 is designed for students seeking initial teacher licensure.
Both Track 1 and 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.
Track 1
Track 1 non-licensure concentrations are art education; early childhood special education; education of the deaf and hard of hearing; elementary education; English education; foreign language/ESL education; mathematics education; reading education; science education; science education (informal education); social science education; and special education.
Students must meet all current graduate school admission requirements in addition to submitting a departmental application and three rating forms.
- Completion of a prescribed set of courses: Core Area (9 hours minimum) TPTE 517 , approved research course, IT 521 , IT 573 , or approved Instructional Technology course.
- Concentration Area (12 hours).
- Related Studies (3-12 hours).
- Completion of thesis or non-thesis option.
Thesis: Minimum 30 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 hours, satisfactory completion of written comprehensive examination; 2/3 of total hours for MS must be 500-level or above.
Advising Note for Thesis and Non-Thesis Options
- The 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 ones 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, at the front of the 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) • Track 1
| |
Hours Credit |
| 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) • Track 1
| |
Hours Credit |
| 1 Core |
6 |
| 2 Concentration |
21 |
| 500-Level Electives |
6 |
| |
Total 33 |
1 TPTE 517 ; EDAM 516 ; EDPY 550 , EDPY 582 , 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 .
Concentrations are English Education, Foreign Language/ESL Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, Social Science Education.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours Credit |
| * Core Area |
9 |
| Concentration Area |
12 |
| Related Studies |
12 |
| All classes must be approved by major advisor. |
|
* TPTE 517 ; EDPY 550 , EDPY 582 , EDAM 516 , or other approved research course; IT 521 , IT 573 or other approved Instructional Technology course.
Non-Thesis: Minimum 33 hours of approved coursework and satisfactory completion of written and/or oral comprehensive examination. Two-thirds of the total hours for the MS must be 500 level or above.
Thesis Option
Minimum 30 hours of approved coursework, 6 hours of TPTE 500 , and satisfactory completion of written thesis and oral defense of thesis. Two-thirds of the total hours for the MS must be 500 level or above.
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis Option
Contact the department head for information on this concentration.
Thesis Option
| |
Hours Credit |
| 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 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 Credit |
| 1 Core |
12 |
| 2 Concentration |
15 |
| 3 Related Studies |
6 |
| |
Total 33 |
1 EDPY 550 , EDPY 582 , EDAM 516 , or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 6 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.
Thesis Option
| |
Hours Credit |
| 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 hours determined by student and advisor.
2 Choose 3 hours from language arts education, English education, elementary curriculum, elementary education, middle school curriculum, special education, or educational psychology.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours Credit |
| 1 Core |
12 |
| Concentration (reading education courses) |
12 |
| 2 Related Studies |
9 |
| |
Total 30 |
1 EDPY 550 , EDPY 582 , EDAM 516 , or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 6 hours determined by student and advisor.
2 Choose 9 hours from language arts education, English education, elementary curriculum, elementary education, middle school curriculum, special education, or educational psychology.
Thesis Option
| |
Hours Credit |
| 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 hours determined by student and advisor.
2 SCED 506 , SCED 509 , SCED 510 ; 3 hours determined by student and advisor.
3 Determined by student and advisor.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours Credit |
| 1 Core |
12 |
| Concentration |
15 |
| 3 Related Studies |
6 |
| |
Total 33 |
1 EDPY 550 , EDPY 582 , EDAM 516 , or other approved research design course; TPTE 517 ; 6 hours determined by student and advisor.
2 SCED 506 , SCED 509 , SCED 510 ; 6 hours determined by student and advisor.
3 Determined by student and advisor.
Thesis Option
| |
Hours Credit |
| 1 Core |
9 |
| 2 Concentration |
15 |
| TPTE 500 (Thesis) |
6 |
| |
Total 30 |
1 SPED 587 ; SPED 586 or EDPY 505 , SPED 590 , SPED 553 .
2 Select (with major advisor) from affective motivational disorder (6-9); general special education (6-9); elementary education (6-9); reading education (6-9); cognitive education (6-9); gifted education (6-9); modified programs (6-12); comprehensive programs (6-12). Others by committee approval.
Non-Thesis Option
| |
Hours Credit |
| 1 Core |
9 |
| 2 Concentration |
27 |
| |
3 Total 36 |
1 SPED 587 ; SPED 586 or EDPY 505 , SPED 590 , SPED 553 .
2 Select (with major advisor) from affective motivational disorder (6-9); general special education (6-9); elementary education (6-9); reading education (6-9); cognitive education (6-9); gifted education (6-9); modified programs (6-12); comprehensive programs (6-12). Others by committee approval.
3 Problem courses in lieu of thesis (30 hours); additional problem courses (6 hours); oral exams over problems courses.
The 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, middle grades, or secondary English and social sciences education applicants must complete the equivalent of an undergraduate minor in either elementary or secondary education. 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. Applications to the middle grades teaching program complete an academic minor in one of the following licensure areas – mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, or foreign language arts. Post-baccalaureate students interested in seeking licensure in art education, special 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.
Track 2 Common Course Requirements
Master’s Track 2 programs are 36-hour (non-thesis); 42-hour (thesis). Students, regardless of teaching area (e.g., elementary, secondary, etc.), complete a common teacher licensure core of 24 hours during the professional year (see below).
Additional Course Requirements (12 hours)
In addition to the above common core of courses, students must complete an additional 12 hours of coursework that is unique to their particular teacher preparation field.
Art Education
ARED 510 , ARED 520 , ARED 530 , ARED 540 .
Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Research elective (3); non-specified electives (9).
Elementary Teaching
6 hours chosen from MEDU 530 , REED 530 , SCED 531 , or SSCE 521 , 6 hours of educational electives chosen from historical, philosophical, or social foundations; instructional technology; reading education; language arts education; science education; social science education; elementary education; issues in teacher education.
English Language Learning
TPTE 517 ; advisor approved electives (9).
Middle Grades Teaching
TPTE 517 ; REED 543 ; 6 hours of electives (see faculty advisor).
Modified and Early Childhood Special Education
SPED 553 , SPED 590 ; 6 hours of electives (see advisor).
Professional Year Courses (24 hours/credits)
TPTE 574 (2-3), TPTE 575 (12), TPTE 591 (3-4), specialty studies (6).
Secondary Teaching
TPTE 517 ; TPTE 549 or TPTE 558 , or TPTE 588 , or an elective in the history of sociology or philosophy of education; 6 hours of specialty area electives (see faculty advisor).
