Profile
Course Information
Undergraduate Requirements
Post-Baccalaureate Requirements
Academic Policies

Profile of the Teacher Education Program

To be licensed to teach in the State of Tennessee, prospective teachers must earn a bachelor’s degree with a major in an academic field and meet specific competencies needed in the teaching profession.

Areas of initial licensure. Union offers initial licensure programs in the following areas:

Areas of additional endorsement. Additional endorsements are available in the following areas:

Courses of Study

Programs of study in all twenty-three licensure areas (as listed previously under Profile of the Teacher Education Program) are available in the office of the Assistant Dean for Teacher Education or through the faculty advisor. Each program of study consists of the general core requirements (general and specific cores), the major, and the professional education minor specific to the level of licensure.

Courses Offered

The courses offered depend on the area of licensure being sought as outlined on each program of study. See the undergraduate and graduate catalogues for courses descriptions.

Undergraduate Requirements for Admission to & Continuation in the Teacher Education Program and Admission to Student Teaching

Application for teacher licensure. Applications for Tennessee teacher licensure are completed during a student teaching seminar and are filed with the Tennessee State Department of Education when all course work is completed and minimum scores on the applicable portions of the Praxis II Series are received by Union University.

Official transcripts. Candidates who seek post-baccalaureate teacher licensure must first complete an application for admission to Graduate Studies in Education and submit a $25.00 (non-refundable) application fee. The candidate must order official transcripts from all colleges and universities that have been attended; these transcripts must be sent directly to Union University and may not be stamped "Issued to Student."

Transcript evaluations. After the candidate has completed the application for admission to Graduate Studies in Education and submitted a $25.00 application fee, and official transcripts have been received, the candidate should call the Assistant Dean for Teacher Education for an appointment for a transcript evaluation. Post-baccalaureate candidate must have a transcript evaluation completed by the Assistant Dean for Teacher Education prior to starting classes; if the licensure program takes more than one year to complete, the post-baccalaureate candidate should have another evaluation completed. At this meeting the student will be apprised of course work that remains, TEP status, Praxis II requirements, and any proposed changes in licensure requirements.

Application to the TEP. The application to the TEP is submitted upon entrance to Union University's post-baccalaureate program. Due to the nature of class schedules on the graduate level, students may take courses that are required for licensure when they are available even if they require admission to the TEP on the undergraduate level. However, students must be fully admitted to the TEP prior to student teaching or substitution of experience for student teaching.

Admission to the TEP (not required for candidates seeking only add-on endorsement). Post-baccalaureate candidates must meet the following requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program:

1. Satisfactory scores on the designated Praxis II Specialty Area Test for the content area prior to completion of 9 semester hours at Union
2. Minimum GPA of 3.0 from all undergraduate courses taken or approval of the longer writing sample and GPA of 3.0 on 9 graduate hours at Union
3. Two positive reference forms
4. Interview with the Teacher Education Screening Committee
5. Successful completion of portfolio assessment stage 1
6. Approval of the Education Department
7. Approval of the Teacher Education Committee

Continuation in the TEP. In order to remain in the TEP following admission, the post-baccalaureate candidate must maintain a GPA of 2.75 in all course work taken at Union since completion of the baccalaureate degree and a GPA of 2.75 in the professional education core, receive a favorable evaluation from graduate faculty relating to knowledge and disposition, and successfully complete portfolio assessment stage 2.

Admission to student teaching. Candidates must file an application to student teach before the posted deadline during the semester prior to student teaching. Applications are available in the Education Department. Other requirements for student teaching are as follows:

1. A recommendation from the department of the student's endorsement area or a minimum GPA of 2.75 in all undergraduate and graduate courses in the endorsement area
2. Satisfactory completion of a field experience at an appropriate level.
3. Completion of the professional education core
4. Lack no more than one course for completion of the endorsement requirements
5. Completion of one term of full-time professional education
6. Minimum scores on ALL applicable portions of the Praxis II
7. Approval of the Dean of Students
8. Approval of the Teacher Education Committee

No courses may be taken during the semester of student teaching. During the semester of student teaching, seminars are held on Thursday afternoon from 3:30-5:00 and attendance is mandatory.

Application for teacher licensure. Applications for Tennessee teacher licensure are completed during the student teaching seminar and are filed with the Tennessee State Department of Education when all course work is completed and minimum scores on the applicable portions of the Praxis II Series are received by Union University. Post-baccalaureate candidates who have completed either two years of experience on the Alternative A in the area of licensure or 3 years of experience on a permit or combination of permit and Alternative A may submit a letter of appeal to the Dean of the School of Education and Human Studies. The letter should include the Verification of Teaching Experience form completed by the candidate's principal indicating grade, subject, and dates taught, copies of two local evaluations completed by the supervisor and/or principal, copies Praxis II score report showing minimum scores on every test required for licensure, and portfolio stage 3 assessment. If the Dean deems that the experience is within the guidelines of Union's policy, he/she will allow the experience to substitute for student teaching. If denied, see Appeals section under Academic Policies.

Minimum GPA requirements. Minimum GPA's are listed above. Following admission to the TEP, if the GPA drops below the minimum, the candidate is removed from the TEP and may not take any courses that require admission to the TEP. In this case it is strongly recommended that the candidate repeat courses that caused the GPA to fall below the minimum required. When the GPA is at or above the minimum, the candidate will be submitted for readmission to the TEP.

Early field experiences. As is required by national standards and by the Tennessee State Department of Education guidelines, early field experiences are a vital part of the TEP at Union. The purpose of these early field experiences is to introduce the prospective teacher to a variety of school settings, learners, and routine activities. The knowledge and skills introduced in course work will be refined in the early field experiences. Proof of professional liability insurance is required of all students enrolled in courses with field experiences. Options for this coverage include, but are not limited to, membership in Student Tennessee Education Association, Christian Educators' Association International, or Professional Educators of Tennessee. Liability insurance is also available at a cost of $25.00 per year through Union University. Information about each of these options is available through the Assistant Dean for Teacher Education.

Attendance. As stated in the undergraduate catalogue, regular and successive attendance is expected of all students enrolled in all lecture, laboratory, and seminar courses.

Appeals. The School of Education is charged with the responsibility to follow the established policies for admission to and completion of the TEP. The Teacher Education Committee, which includes representatives of the faculty and students from across the university, is the TEP coordinating and policy-making body for the unit and is responsible for assuring that the established policies are followed. If the candidate feels that established policy or practice is not being followed, the Teacher Education Committee should be contacted. The Teacher Education Committee is also the appeals committee for the TEP. All appeals for variance from established policy and practice should be presented in writing to the Dean of the School of Education and Human Studies. The Dean will consider whether the appeal may, within established policy, be granted. If the appeal has been denied by the Dean, the candidate may choose to direct the appeal to the Teacher Education Committee. The candidate should contact the chairman of the TEC and present the appeal in writing. After the TEC has considered the appeal, the student will be notified in writing of the committee's determination.

Assessment of student outcomes. Teacher candidates complete the Teacher Education Portfolio in which they supply documentation of having met all Professional Education and Content Area standards set by the Tennessee Department of Education.  The portfolio is presented at gatepoints throughout the program (See Portfolio Handbook for more information). To be admitted to student teaching and to complete teacher licensure requirements, candidates must pass all applicable portions of the Praxis II as determined by the Tennessee State Department of Education. The Praxis II should be taken at least one semester prior to the semester of student teaching to assure receipt of passing scores by Union.