College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences

Cynthia H. West, Dean
237 Gooch Hall
731-881-7125
fax 731-881-7975

Mission

The College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences’ primary mission is to prepare our students to be well-informed citizens through engagement in public service, scholarship, and high-impact learning practices positively impacting our global community.

Organization

The College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences is composed of five departments: 1. Behavioral Sciences, which includes the Criminal Justice, Social Work and Sociology Programs; 2. Educational Studies; 3. Health and Human Performance; 4. Nursing, and 5. Psychology. The College is also home to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Educator Preparation Program with each servicing the University as a whole, as well as the College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences Graduate Programs, which services all graduate programs within the college.

Degrees

Undergraduate courses of study are offered by the College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences leading to the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Graduates of the degrees in Education and the Physical Education and Health and Wellness K-12 degrees in Health and Human Performance are eligible for teacher licensure in Tennessee and in other states that grant reciprocity in licensure to graduates of institutions accredited by CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) or that participate in the reciprocity agreement developed by NASDTEC (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification).

The College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences also offers programs leading to the Master of Science degree in Education with majors in teaching, counseling and instructional leadership. Detailed information about these programs may be found in the graduate section of this catalog.

All teacher preparation programs are approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036, telephone 202-223-0077).

The College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences is required to follow the directives of the State Department of Education, which has the authority to make changes in licensure standards. Students should keep in contact with the appropriate departments in order to keep abreast of these changes as they develop.

The Social Work program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (1701 Duke Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314, telephone 703-683-8080).

The Department of Nursing offers a program leading to a bachelor of science in nursing degree. This degree program has full approval of the Tennessee Board of Nursing and full accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates with the B.S.N. degree are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for licensure as registered professional nurses. For complete information about the B.S.N. degree, refer to the nursing departmental pages.

Majors and Teaching Licenses

Undergraduate majors and degrees are offered as follows:

Major	Degree
Criminal Justice	B.S.C.J.
Health and Human Performance	B.S.H.H.P.
Integrated Studies	B.S.Ed.
Nursing	B.S.N.
Psychology	B.A. or B.S.
Secondary Education (various concentrations)	B.S.Ed.
Sociology	B.A. or B.S.
Social Work	B.S.S.W.
Special Education	B.S.Ed.
Interdisciplinary Studies	B.I.S.

Students planning to teach vocational agriculture, or vocational or occupational family and consumer sciences should enroll and plan their programs through the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. See the Professional Education Option section in the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources or the Child, Family and Consumer Sciences and Education Concentration section in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. Students planning to teach music, art, or dance should enroll and plan their programs through the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. See the appropriate section in the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts or the Department of Music.

Students may qualify for a Tennessee teacher’s license with licensure in one or more areas by completing the appropriate program(s) outlined in this catalog.

Student Load

Full-time students may enroll for a maximum of 20 hours with adviser approval. Approval for enrollment in excess of this amount must be secured from the chair of the appropriate department and then the Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences in advance of formal registration. Students employed full-time are encouraged not to enroll for more than six semester hours credit per semester.

Correspondence Courses

Questions should be directed to the appropriate departmental chair before registering for correspondence courses. Decisions regarding approval will be made by the Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences.

Liability Insurance Coverage

Students in disciplines within the college including but not limited to nursing, social work, and teacher education while enrolled in courses and/or practica necessitating interaction with clientele in K-12 schools or other assigned settings must provide proof of liability insurance coverage to the college.

Office of Educator Preparation Program

Director, Staci H. Fuqua, M.Ed.
205 Gooch Hall
731-881-7203
fax 731-881-7204

Mission

The mission of the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) at the University of Tennessee at Martin is to prepare educators in initial and advanced programs as facilitators of active learning for P-12 learners in diverse and inclusive communities. This mission encompasses excellence in a variety of learning and field placement settings, fosters an innovative and student-focused learning community through coursework that is rigorous and standards-based, and integrates evidence-based educational practices in teaching and learning.

Vision

The vision of the Educator Preparation Program at the University of Tennessee at Martin is to prepare highly competent and socially responsible educators who are knowledgeable, ethical, and caring decision-makers for a diverse and changing world. This vision includes fostering community partnerships as well as creating a culture of learning that will advance knowledge, value diversity, and promote social justice.

UT Martin’s Educator Preparation Program is approved by the Tennessee State Board and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Admission Requirements for the Educator Preparation Program

Admission to the Educator Preparation Program involves a 2-step admission process as follows:

Step 1: “Pre-Admission” to EPP (Undergraduate/)- In order to be “pre-admitted,” students must meet the following requirements while enrolled in TCED 211/equivalent course.

Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
Minimum ACT Super Score of 21 or higher or a score of 1080 on SAT
Minimum grade of “C” or higher in ENG 111 or 112
TBI/FBI background check with “no indications”
Submit VECHS and Criminal Background Check Release forms
Receive positive Educational Disposition Assessment (EDA) scores in TCED 211/equivalent course conducted by midpoint of semester each term.
EPP office will schedule an orientation with transfer students prior to beginning classes to discuss and evaluation for “Pre-Admission” status.

Note1: Student concerns must be consistently submitted by faculty. This documentation is needed to ensure students are monitored and counseled as issues arise.

Note 2*Liability insurance is required each year prior to a candidate entering a field placement setting. Faculty teaching courses with a field component should indicate this requirement in the syllabus/Canvas. This will be verified by Field Placement Coordinator.

Students enrolled in TCED 211/equivalent will submit a “Pre-Admission” application by mid-term of the semester enrolled. The EPP Office will review applications for minimum requirements. If a candidate meets the minimum requirements, they will be allowed to enroll in coursework requiring admission to the EPP through a “preadmission code” entered in Banner. If they do not meet requirement, candidates may appeal.

The EPP Office will notify all “Pre-Admission” applicants of their acceptance or denial via email (cc to advisor). This documentation is placed in the advisees file for reference.

What if “Pre-Admission” or appeal is denied? Student needs to be advised to:

Take coursework that doesn’t require EPP Admission.
Repeat coursework to increase cumulative GPA. NOTE: Graduate students must seek approval to repeat a course through Graduate Studies.
Both 1 and 2 above.

Step 2: “Admission to EPP”- To be “Admitted to EPP,” students must meet the following requirements.

Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (must be maintained through program completion)
Minimum grade of “C” or higher on ALL education coursework
Successful completion of an interview*
Pass required content exam(s) for licensure area by end of term prior to Residency I/Methods (Level 3 courses). Graduate students enrolled in the MSIL program that have an undergraduate degree in a content area, are not required to take/pass a Praxis content exam per state policy.

Note 1: Liability insurance is required each year prior to a candidate entering a field placement setting. Faculty teaching courses with a field component should indicate this requirement in the syllabus/Canvas. This will be verified by Field Placement Coordinator.

*Students will be required to request an “Admission to EPP” interview. The interview will be conducted by an LEA team. This “full admission interview” must be requested by mid-term of the semester prior to registering for Residency I or equivalent methods courses (Level 3) in EPP. The advisor will be responsible for providing EPP Admission application deadlines to students. Additionally, the EPP Office will provide application and deadline on the One Space site and organize all interview efforts. Interviews will be conducted in April and November. Interview questions and a rubric will be developed. Students will be provided with possible interview questions upon requesting to interview to prepare in advance of interview.

Upon successful completion of the above-mentioned transition points (Steps 1 & 2), candidates will be admitted to the EPP. The EPP will hold a “pinning” ceremony for all students that meet full admission. Ceremony will be held at the beginning of the term

following admission. For example, those interviewing in April will have ceremony in August. Those interviewing in November will have ceremony in January.

What if a student gets to the “Admission to EPP” step and does not qualify? What do I do?

The advisor will need to monitor the student closely each term and provide guidance to student to ensure all requirements are met through each transition point. If a student does not meet the requirements for “Admission to EPP,” the advisor may suggest courses to repeat or may need to counsel the candidate to a different major.

Appeal Process

The following appeal process allows students not meeting the requirements for “Pre-Admission to EPP,” to be eligible to appeal based on the following two tiers for Undergraduate students only. There is not an appeal process for graduate students.

Tier 1-

Student has a 2.75 cumulative GPA or higher.
18-20 ACT SuperScore
TBI/FBI background check with no indications
EDA (Disposition) review from TCED 211/equivalent or EPP Transfer Orientation
C or better in English 111 and English 112
Recommendation letter from faculty member/advisor.

Tier 2-

Student has a 2.75 cumulative GPA.
17 ACT SuperScore
Must pass 2 parts of Praxis Core exam OR the Praxis content knowledge exam in maximum of 2 attempts.
TBI/FBI background check with no indications
EDA (Disposition) review from TCED 211/equivalent or EPP Transfer Orientation
C or better in English 111 & 112
Recommendation letter from faculty member/advisor.

Tier 3-

Student has a 2.5-2.74 cumulative GPA or higher.
17 ACT SuperScore or higher
Must pass 2 parts of Praxis Core exam OR the Praxis content knowledge exam in maximum of 2 attempts.
TBI/FBI background check with no indications
EDA (Disposition) review from TCED 211/equivalent or EPP Transfer Orientation
C or better in English 111 & 112
Recommendation letter from faculty member/advisor.

*If a student has less than a 2.5 cumulative GPA, the student must consult with advisor to repeat coursework or be counseled to another major.

The Appeals Committee will consist of one faculty member representing Health and Human Performance, one from Applied Sciences, one from Fine and Performing Arts, and two from Educational Studies (5 total). These members will rotate off every three years if possible. The Director of the EPP will serve as an exofficio member to coordinate the work.

Admission to Residency II (Student Teaching) will be granted if students:

The application for Residency II must be submitted to the Educator Preparation Program two semesters in advance of the student teaching semester by the stated deadline. Before admission to the Residency II semester, you must have fulfilled the following requirements:

admission to the Educator Preparation Program
senior standing and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75
completion of 80% of coursework in your endorsement area(s)
completion of all specialized teaching strategy courses and reading requirements
evidence of professional liability insurance coverage
verification of criminal background check
must pass all Praxis exams required for licensure in declared major
complete all courses requiring admission to the Educator Preparation Program with a C or higher. A candidate earning a D or F in a course requiring admission to the Educator Preparation Program must retake the course prior to student teaching.

Candidates not meeting all Residency II admission requirements will not be permitted to enroll in Residency II coursework until all requirements are met. This may delay the completion of degree requirements until a future term.

*The State Department of Education establishes passing scores for the CORE, Praxis II Subject Assessments, and Principles of Learning and Teaching exams. The scores are subject to change each year. In order to obtain the current passing scores when tests are taken, check with the Office of Educator Preparation Program located in 205 Gooch Hall.

Requirements for Recommendation for Licensure

Tennessee state regulations stipulate that the applicant for a teaching license must be recommended by the Educator Preparation institution. To receive this recommendation, the applicant must have fulfilled the following requirements:

minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75.
minimum grade point average of 2.75 in student teaching.
minimum grade point average of 2.75 in each teaching field.
pass the edTPA assessment.
pass the appropriate Praxis Series Specialty Area Exam(s) if a minimum score is required.
complete an approved program that conforms to the above 2.75 grade point guidelines.
complete an application for a teacher’s license. Request for a teacher’s license must be made within five years after degree requirements have been met; otherwise, an additional nine semester hours in residence credit must be earned.

Praxis Series Examinations

The Praxis Series is a prerequisite mandated by the Tennessee State Department of Education for the professional teacher’s license.

The Praxis is given on campus in accordance with the schedule established by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey, for nationwide administration of the test. Students must register for exams online at www.ets.org. In addition to the Praxis, candidates must take and pass the edTPA assessment to meet licensure.

During the 2022-23 academic year, 99% of the UT Martin students completing the Educator Preparation Training Program passed the Praxis II exam(s) required for licensure.

edTPA

As of January 1, 2019, initial license applications in the State of Tennessee are required to submit qualifying scores on the appropriate edTPA performance, subject-based, subject-specific assessment.

Candidates completing job-embedded clinical practice are not required to complete edTPA per state policy.

Out-of-state applicants who do not hold a professional level license in a state other than Tennessee must submit qualifying scores on an approved pedagogical assessment. The edTPA may meet this requirement.

Specialty Area/Major Field Test/Departmental Exit Exam

Students may fulfill the university’s major field test requirement by taking the Praxis test for his/her major that has been identified by his/her department. The specialty area test(s) required for teacher licensure majors are in accordance with state-mandated requirements. These codes are identified by the State Department of Education Office of Teacher Licensing. A list of required tests by major, which meet Exit Exam and licensing requirements, is available on the Educator Preparation Program Onespace site. Exit exams for non-licensure majors in Integrated Studies and Special Education are the same as those identified for licensure-seeking majors in those areas.

Multiple test requirements: Please note the state requires multiple specialty area tests for many areas of licensure. Students should give careful attention to the available test dates for all necessary licensure exams. Refer to the Praxis website (www.ets.org) for available test dates, times, and locations. Testing requirements for all majors are posted on the Office of the Educator Preparation Program Onespace site at https://liveutk.sharepoint.com/sites/UTMEducatorPreparationProgram/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FUTMEducatorPreparationProgram%2FShared%20Documents%2FPraxis%20Requirements%202023%2D2024%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FUTMEducatorPreparationProgram%2FShared%20Documents. Students must register for exams online at www.ets.org.