Admission to Clinical Practice for All Programs

All education candidates who desire Tennessee teacher licensure in any program will engage in fifteen weeks of clinical practice in two different placements (one of eight weeks and one of seven weeks). Candidates shall refer to the Application for Admission to Clinical Practice and the Clinical Practice Handbook for specific requirements for each program. All candidates shall obtain approval for admission to clinical practice from the Teacher Education Committee. Clinical practice placement will be in the state of Tennessee, generally within a 50-mile radius of the University of Tennessee Southern. To be eligible for participation in clinical practice, candidates shall have:

• been admitted to the Teacher Education Program

• completed and submitted to the program coordinator all required components of the Application for Admission to Clinical Practice by the semester prior to clinical practice

• completed all course work except clinical practice and clinical practice seminar

• been classified a senior (90+ hours) by the Registrar’s Office and be within two semesters of graduation

• passed all required sections of the Praxis II

• a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 in all course work taken at UT Southern

• earned a “C” or better in each major and professional education course

• passed a TBI/FBI background check paid for by the candidate

• a satisfactory rating on three copies of the Educator Disposition Assessment completed by the applicant, a University of Tennessee professor, and a UT Southern education professor

• submitted a Program Admission Portfolio normally created in EDU 101 and expanded to include artifact(s) in all 10 Tennessee Teacher Licensure Standards as well as a revised teaching philosophy (from what was created in EDU 101 for program admission)

• obtained and provided proof of professional membership (STEA)

• received approval of the Teacher Education Committee

Formal application to clinical practice must be completed and submitted to the office of the program coordinator by March 1 of the spring semester and by October 1 of the fall semester prior to the semester in which the education candidate enrolls in clinical practice and clinical practice seminar. Except for special circumstance, the following policy will be followed:

• Scores from the November Praxis II test date may not be accepted for clinical practice placement for the following spring.

• Scores from the July Praxis II test may not be accepted for clinical practice placement for the following fall.

The suggested timetable for progress through the licensure process for all programs within the Division of Education is as follows:

• Sophomore year, 1st semester: take CORE Academic Skills for Educators (if ACT score is not 21 or above)

• Sophomore year, 2nd semester: apply for admission to the program

• Junior year, 2nd semester: take all applicable Praxis II exams

• Senior year, 1st semester: retake Praxis II exams if needed, complete all degree course work, and apply for clinical practice

• Senior year, 2nd semester: clinical practice and seminar, and complete all degree requirements.