2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog

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Post Baccalaureate Education Candidates Seeking Initial Licensure or Endorsement

A post baccalaureate education candidate is one who possesses a 4-year degree from an institute of higher education (IHE) and re-enters the University of Tennessee Southern for additional professional credentials. Even though each case is reviewed on an individual basis, there are three general categories of post baccalaureate students:

  1.  A post baccalaureate education candidate seeking only initial licensure and no additional degree would generally have all core requirements waived unless there is an obvious weakness.
  2. A post baccalaureate education candidate whose 4-year degree is from UT Southern and who seeks an additional degree with licensure will generally have all core requirements waived unless there is an obvious weakness in meeting educational standards because of core changes made since the original UT Southern degree was awarded.
  3.  A post baccalaureate education candidate whose 4-year degree is from an IHE other than UT Southern and who seeks a degree with licensure would generally have to fulfill all degree and licensure requirements (including core) not granted by transfer of equivalent coursework.
  4. A post baccalaureate education candidate would have the option of a traditional licensure pathway or a job-embedded pathway.

Post baccalaureate candidates must be admitted to the appropriate UT Southern education program.

Procedures for post baccalaureate education candidates seeking a license to teach (applications and forms are in Canvas):

  1. See the program coordinator for information about Canvas.
  2. Possess or demonstrate ability to maintain a 2.75 GPA or higher. This requirement is generally met by a previous GPA or 12 hours taken at UT Southern.
  3. Submit the completed program application and three personal/professional dispositions to the appropriate program coordinator
  4. Make arrangements with the program coordinator to complete the admission essay (supervised writing- on-demand) at a convenient time.
  5. Submit a recent (within a year) TBI/FBI background check (see Chair for Grissom School of Education for details).
  6. Have a satisfactory interview with the program coordinator and one other Teacher Education Committee (TEC) member.
  7. Submit to the program coordinator proof of membership in STEA or other comparable professional educational organization that offers liability insurance and legal counsel.
  8. Gain approval of the Teacher Education Committee (TEC).
  9. Maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher on all work at UT Southern and a grade of “C” or better in all education and major courses taken at UT Southern.
  10. Pass the required Praxis II tests before clinical practice.
  11. Successfully complete all applicable program requirements before recommendation to the state for licensure by the TEC.

Variances for Post Baccalaureate Candidates:

  1. A portfolio will not be required prior to program admission.
  2. The EDU 101 requirement will be decided on an individual basis. A workshop covering program admission, Canvas, VIALiveText, e-portfolio/showcase, and other important items will be offered as needed at the beginning of each semester. Post baccalaureate education candidates who attend will have EDU 101 waived.

Transfer Students

For any course required within the program that has prerequisites, the student may be required to take the prerequisite courses before taking the required course.

For Job-embedded Candidates:

  1. Job-embedded candidates that are seeking an initial licensure that demonstrate that they hold a degree with a major aligned to a middle or secondary core academic endorsement will not be required to pass a Praxis assessment.
    All other candidates must have a passing score (for the state of Tennessee) on the appropriate Praxis assessment.
  2. Submit proof of employment at an accredited Tennessee Public K-12 school.
  3. Possess or demonstrate ability to maintain a 2.75 GPA or higher. This requirement is generally met by a previous GPA.
  4. Submit the completed program application and three personal/professional dispositions to the appropriate program coordinator.
  5. Make arrangements with the program coordinator to complete the admission essay (supervised writing- on-demand) at a convenient time.
  6. Submit a recent (within a year) TBI/FBI background check (see Chair for Grissom School of Education for details).
  7. Have a satisfactory interview with the program coordinator and one other Teacher Education Committee (TEC) member.
  8. Gain approval of the Teacher Education Committee (TEC).
  9. Student Learning and Licensure, e-portfolio/showcase, and other important items will be explained at the beginning of the first semester.
  10. Maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher on all work at UTS and a grade of “C” or better in all education and major courses taken at  UT Southern.
  11. Pass any other required Praxis II or other state required assessments before practicum semester.
  12. Successfully complete all applicable program requirements before recommendation to the state for licensure by the TEC.

For Add-On Endorsement Candidates:

  1. Contact the director of Teacher Education or the program coordinator for questions.