Elementary Teaching Concentration
Admission and Progression

Master of Science Degree - Track 2

The College of Education, Health & Human Sciences, The University of Tennessee, has one of the few nationally ranked teacher licensure programs. The major distinctions of this program are as follows: admission is selective, candidates have completed a Bachelor's Degree, a one-year internship guarantees a full range of professional experiences, the internship counts as one year's teaching experience in Tennessee, and a Master's Degree can be completed in the process.

1. Pre-Admission to the Elementary Education Licensure Program

• Candidates must complete at least 75 semester hours of college courses with at least a 2.7 overall grade point average (GPA). These semester hours should include at least 12 hours of social science courses at the 300 level or above. Candidates’ overall GPA in the Social Sciences must be 2.5 or higher.
  
  
• Candidates must complete two required screening tests - a speech and hearing examination and a basic skills test called the Praxis I: Pre-professional Skills Test (PPST). There are two exemptions from the PPST: 1) candidates with enhanced ACT scores of 22 or combined RSAT scores of 1020 and 2) candidates with a Bachelor's degree. Times, dates, and registration materials for these screening tests are available in the College’s Student Services Office, Claxton Addition 314.

2. Admission to Social Science Education

• Candidates should complete all of the above requirements during the junior year or as soon as possible if one has a Bachelor's Degree. 
• Once screening tests are completed, candidates will be invited to interview with the Elementary Teaching Admission Board. Candidates should plan to meet all of the pre-requisites and interview by the fall semester preceding the internship. Admitted candidates may be accepted for the following or a subsequent fall depending upon available slots. Each candidate is responsible for informing their academic advisor of changes in intern plans. Intern slots are not guaranteed for years other than the one applied for and accepted for during the admission process.
• Application for the internship should be made one year in advance of the professional year. Please contact the Office of School Based Experiences (A330) to make application. An orientation to the internship is required during the spring semester prior to the professional year.

3. Admission to Masters Program

• Eligible undergraduate candidates may apply for Senior Privilege and complete a maximum of 9 graduate hours as a part of the undergraduate program.


• Application to Graduate School should be made during the spring semester prior to the internship.


• Candidates will seek the Masters of Science Degree with a major in Teacher Education and a concentration in Elementary Teaching.

4. The Praxis Series

All candidates are required to take the Praxis examinations before the Professional Teaching License is awarded.

5. Completing the Required Professional Courses

Admitted candidates will complete a prescribed set of courses. Certain courses must be completed before the internship year begins; other courses must be taken in conjunction with the internship, and the remainder are normally completed following the internship. For a list of courses see "Course of Study" under M.S. - Track 2.

Elementary Faculty and Advisors

Individualized
Dr. Glennon Rowell
452 Claxton Complex
865-974-4122
crowell@utk.edu

Neighborhood Schools
Dr. Amy Broemmel
A221 Claxton Complex
865-974-4225
broemmel@utk.edu

Dr. JoAnn Cady
A407 Claxton Complex
865-974-4235
jcady@utk.edu

Rural
Dr. Michael Bentley
A404 Claxton Complex
865-974-3656
mbentle1@utk.edu

Dr. Tom Turner
A222 Claxton Complex
865-974-4230
thom@utkux.utcc.utk.edu

Dr. Nancy Williamson
A112 Claxton Complex
865-974-2272
nwillia3@utk.edu

Small School Systems
Dr. Tom Turner
A222 Claxton Complex
865-974-4230
thom@utkux.utcc.utk.edu

Dr. Mary Ann Blank
A109 Claxton Complex
865-974-0841
mblank@utk.edu

Dr. Jane Qualls
A329 Claxton Complex
865-974-5203
lqualls2@utk.edu

Urban/Multicultural
Dr. Gina Barclay-McLaughlin
A415 Claxton Complex
865-974-0443
gmclaugh@utk.edu

Dr. Amos Hatch
A420 Claxton Complex
865-974-4209
ahatch@utk.edu