Frequently Asked Questions
Teacher Education & Professional Licensure
- I am interested in becoming a teacher. What should I major in?
- I already have a bachelor's degree and I am wanting to become a teacher. What courses must I take?
- Are there specific academic requirements I must meet to be eligible for admission into a teacher education?
- What if I do not have a 2.7 GPA? Are there other options?
- I already have a bachelor's degree. When I apply to the University of Tennessee, should I apply as a graduate student?
- How many additional credits are required after the Internship year to earn the M.S. degree in Education?
I am interested in becoming a teacher. What should I major in?
Undergraduate students and individuals who have already graduated who are interested in becoming a teacher must first decide which subject or grade level they are interested in teaching. For example, to teach high school mathematics, you major in mathematics and complete a minor in Secondary Education. If you are interested in teaching grades K-8, you can select any major from the College of Arts and Science and minor in Elementary Education. See the listing below to help you determine to which college you will apply:
To Teach: |
Apply to this college: |
You will be advised by: |
Art Education,K-12 |
Arts & Sciences |
College of Arts & Sciences & collaboratively with the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences |
Agriculture Education, 7-12 |
Agriculture |
College of Agriculture |
Early Childhood Education, PreK-4 |
Education, Health & Human Sciences |
College of Education, Health & Human Sciences |
Elementary Education, K-8 |
Arts & Sciences |
College of Arts & Sciences & collaboratively with the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences |
Music Education, K-12 |
Arts & Sciences |
College of Arts & Sciences |
Secondary Education, 7-12
|
Arts & Sciences |
College of Arts & Sciences & collaboratively with the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences |
Special Education, K-12
|
Education, Health & Human Sciences |
College of Education, Health & Human Sciences |
Speech/ Language Pathology, PreK-12 (M.S. degree required) |
Arts & Sciences |
College of Arts & Sciences |
I already have a bachelor's degree and I am wanting to become a teacher. What courses must I take?
The course requirements will depend on the subject or grade level you want to teach. Click on the list below to view requirements (Coming Soon). Information for licensure areas not linked to viewable curriculum be obtained by contacting the College housing the program (see above listing).
Art Education
Elementary Education K-8
English Education, 7-12
Foreign Language Education, 7-12
French
German
Latin
Japanese
Spanish
Mathematics Education, 7-12
Music: Instrumental, K-12
Music: Vocal/General, K-12
Science Education
Biology, 7-12
Chemistry, 7-12
Earth Science, 7-12
Physics, 7-12
Social Science Education
Economics
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Special Education: Modified and Comprehensive, Grades K-12
Special Education: Education of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, Grades
K-12
Teaching English as a Second Language, 7-12
Are there specific academic requirements I must meet to be eligible for admission into a teacher education program?
To be granted admission into the Teacher Education program, individuals are required to interview with an admissions board. All Teacher Education programs require a minimum 2.70 GPA to be eligible for the interview.
What if I don’t have a 2.70 GPA? Are their other options?
If you do not have a 2.70 GPA you will not be granted an opportunity to interview with the Teacher Education admissions board. Admission into the Teacher Education programs is competitive because of the limited number of spaces available. Generally, 70% of the eligible candidates are granted admission. However, admission statistics vary between programs.
Individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree and who have been out of school for five or more years may be granted a waiver of the grade point average requirement with the completion of 12-15 credits of new courses which reflect a substantially higher level of academic performance. However, the granting of a GPA waiver does not guarantee admission to the Teacher Education program. All students must be interviewed by the admissions board and granted admission to progress in their program.
Undergraduate students who have had a three-year break in their college enrollment may petition for academic second opportunity, which would improve the student’s grade point average by not counting prior grades into the overall grade point average. See you advisor for details on applying for academic second opportunity.
I already have a bachelor’s degree. When I apply to the University of Tennessee, should I apply as a graduate student?
If your interest in applying to The University of Tennessee to complete a Teacher Education Program, it would be best to apply as an undergraduate student. The initial courses you will take are pre-requisites to the internship. These courses are only offered for undergraduate credit. Since it is less costly to pay undergraduate tuition, there is no advantage to enroll as a graduate student. However, once you are ready to begin the two-semester internship program, you must apply to Graduate School. You will earn 24 graduate credits for the Internship, which means you will have two-thirds of a Master’s degree in Education completed.
How many additional credits are required after the Internship to earn the M.S. in Education?
Twelve additional credits in courses approved by your faculty advisor will complete course requirements for the M.S. in Education.
Contact CEHHS Advising
332 Bailey Education Complex
1122 Volunteer Blvd.
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-8194
Fax (865) 974-5781