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Degree Requirements for College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Master of Science in Education
Students must satisfy the university general requirements and the following requirements specific to
the degree. The majors within the degree are: educational administration and supervision, couseling, and teaching.
With a Major in Educational Administration and Supervision (5094)
The Master of Science in Education with a major in Educational Administration and Supervision is available to individuals
who obtained a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and who are professionally licensed to
teach. This degree allows the candidate to complete certification requirements for the beginning administrator
as an initial step towards full credentialing as a professional administrator. According to current Tennessee State
Board of Education policy, full credentialing and employment of principals/supervisors is a two-step process. The
first step leads to licensure as a beginning administrato; the second step supports the professional development
of the new administrator and leads to licensure as a professional administrator. This may be accomplished through
a Standard Program or an Internship Program. It is important for the candidate to consult with the graduate coordinator
and/or advisor to identify the appropriate program to be pursued in preparing to be recommended for licensure.
MINIMUM HOURS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE: 33
Portfolio Requirement
In addition to completing course requirements, the candidate is required to satisfactorily complete a professional
portfolio. Development of a portfolio provides each candidate opportunities for reflection and self-evaluation
along with spotlighting skills and accomplishments that will be of interest to future employers.
Recommendation for Licensure
In order to be recommended for licensure as a beginning administrator at the end of the degree program, the State
Department of Education stipulates that a candidate take and pass the state required test/assessment.
*Note: Individuals currently holding a master's degree may pursue an additional endorsement in Educational Administration
and Supervision. For information regarding specific requirements, contact the graduate coordinator.
With a Major in Counseling (5041, 5042)
The Master of Science in Education with a major in Counseling has two concentrations: 1) School Counseling
and 2) Mental Health/Community Counseling. The school counselor concentration will prepare counselors to support
teachers and other school personnel as well as parents in addressing the needs of students related to academic,
career preparation, and personal growth and development. Students will be prepared to serve schools with grades
pre-Kindergarten through 12. The major in Counseling is an approved preparation program for School Counseling Licensure
through the Division of Teacher Education and Accreditation, Tennessee State Department of Education.
The Mental Health/Community Counseling concentration will prepare counselors for addressing the mental-health needs
of the community. See below for the Tennessee Professional Licensure (TPL) requirements.
Disclaimer
The College of Education and Behavioral Sciences is required to follow the directives of the State Department
of Education which has the authority to make changes in certification standards. The university does not claim
to prepare counselors for distinct specialities with its general-degree programs in counseling. Students should
consult their advisor or the coordinator to ascertain if their career goals require specialization in a certain
area of counseling. Students who graduate from the counseling program and plan to enter private practice or need
licensure for employment are responsible for meeting the licensure requirements in Tennessee for the Licensed Professional
Counselor. Students are instructed to write the Tennessee Department of Health Related Boards, 283 Plus Park Blvd.,
Nashville, TN 37247-1010 for the board's licensure standards which may exceed the university's counseling degree
program requirements.
OR
OR
MINIMUM HOURS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE: 48*
*Note: In order to be recommended for licensure as a School Counselor, the State Department of Education stipulates
that candidates without teaching experience will have a semester-long orientation experience in a (PreK-12) school
as an early part of the preparation program. Students will meet this requirement by successful completion of Educational
Studies 440 Selected Problems in Education: [Professional Orientation to Schools].
Tennessee Professional Licensure (TPL) for Mental Health/Community Counseling
To qualify for the Tennessee Professional License (TPL), students are required to complete sixty (60) credit graduate
hours in counseling. Thus, students who desire to complete the requirements for the TPL must complete the coursework
for the Master of Science in Education with a major in Counseling Program (48 credit hours) and select four courses
(12 credit hours) from the following selection:
Laboratory Requirement
Each student in the counseling program must complete a semester-long supervised lab experience (Educational
Psychology and Guidance 785). The lab requirement is available to students only upon the approval of the instructor
and must be taken prior to the internship. Application for completing the laboratory requirement must be submitted
one semester in advance of the semester the experience is desired. Application may be obtained from the coordinator
of graduate programs in education.
Internship
The internship is a field experience in which students are required to apply the knowledge and skill acquired
in previous coursework to actual school/community settings. An application for completing an internship is required.
The internship requirements will be fulfilled at an approved site. All prerequisites, core courses, and the laboratory
requirement must be completed before the internship is begun.
Critical Paper
Each internship student must summarize and evaluate the internship experience in a critical synthesis paper.
Comprehensive Examination
A comprehensive written examination must be taken by all students pursuing the Master of Science degree with
a major in Counseling. The examination will test a student's competencies and knowledge in the chosen area of specialization.
The comprehensive examination should be taken after a student has met the following criteria:
With a Major in Teaching (5011, 5012, 5013, 5014, 5015)
The Master of Science in Education with a major in Teaching is available for those students who have obtained
a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and who are professionally licensed to teach, or who
are seeking to obtain initial licensure at the master's level to teach. The program is designed for those who are
qualified and interested in working on an advanced professional degree for preparation to teach in the 21st Century.
The program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills required for teachers beyond the Year 2000.
The design of the conceptual framework for the Master of Science with a major in Teaching Program promotes the
theme of Educators as Collaborative Leaders and Mentors and the following four indicators:
Educational Inquiry
The educator must have a clear understanding of a variety of research paradigms, as well as, a working knowledge of formal research processes. The educator should be able to design and execute a plan for research, read and interpret the published research of others, and apply the findings appropriately to an educational setting.
Instructional Processes
The educator is a facilitator of learning rather than a primary dispenser of knowledge. Facilitating learning requires the educator to be sensitive to diverse populations and have a working knowledge of resources, which may include curricular materials, technology, community members, professional colleagues, and institutional resources. The educator should be able to engage students and colleagues in higher-order thinking by asking probing questions, promoting inquiry, guiding discussion, and creating situations and scenarios that beg for exploration and explanation.
Curricular Design
The role of the educator in today's society requires an assessment-sensitive knowledge related to the formation of the various curricula. Included in this knowledge base are the philosophical, legal, social, psychological, pedagogical, and content-specific roots from which a curriculum springs. The educator's expertise must include the ability to weave the national standards, state standards, and local expectations into a curricular framework from which educationally sound practices emerge.
Ethical Behavior
The educator has the responsibility to serve as a role model to students, educational colleagues, and professional
liaison to members of the community. Included in those responsibilities is the need to collaborate in an atmosphere
of honesty and directness; to share one's feelings, while respecting the feelings of others; to employ respect
for cultural diversity as the duties of the profession are carried out; and to analyze and present the content
of the curricula in ways synonymous with the expectations of academic integrity.
The Major in Teaching is approved by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Students
select either an elementary or secondary concentration. If licensed, students complete a Master Research Project;
initial licensure students complete 10 semester hours of student teaching. Students without a teaching license
and not pursuing one take the subject-area option.
OR
*At least three hours should be taken in a content area and three hours should be taken outside of the discipline area and/or outside of the Departments of Educational Studies and Health and Human Performance. No more than three hours may be at the 500 level.
OR
OR
**International students not seeking a state teaching license must enroll in the appropriate Master Research
Project, take three hours of electives, and sign a non-licensure disclaimer.
***International students not seeking a state teaching license must substitute three hours of electives.
OR
MINIMUM HOURS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE: 37