田纳西大学

Our newly-revised, 5-year program in special education is designed to prepare highly-skilled special education teachers who can work with students who have a wide range of abilities and needs. In our new program, teacher candidates spend more time in special education content classes and field experiences. Our program has a heavy emphasis on teachers implementing high-leverage practices and research-based teaching strategies across all educational settings in both coursework and field experiences. Our curriculum is aligned with standards from the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the Council for Exceptional Children’s Knowledge and Skills, and Tennessee Literacy standards. Special education courses will begin with introductory courses and classroom experiences at the sophomore year. During the junior year, courses and practicum experiences are dedicated to preparing teacher candidates with essential knowledge and skills for teaching students with learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, physical and health disabilities, intellectual disability, autism, and other diverse needs that impact learning. During the senior year, candidates will complete practical teaching experiences and seminar coursework that will allow them to develop skills needed for planning, teaching, assessing student learning, and developing individualized education programs (IEPs) and behavior intervention plans based on student needs. The graduate internship provides candidates with an intensive immersion into teaching. Upon completion of all requirements for the Professional Internship Program, our candidates leave with the following:

• At least 600 hours in at least six different classrooms through undergraduate field experiences plus 30+ hours per week in two different classrooms during the year-long internship
• Bachelor of Science in Education with a Concentration in Interventionist (K-8 and 6-12) and Comprehensive (K-12) Special Education
• Master of Science in Teacher Education: Professional Internship Concentration: Interventionist and Comprehensive Special Education
• Tennessee Teacher Licensure Endorsements:
  • Special Education Interventionist K-8 (Endorsement Code: 144)
  • Special Education Interventionist 6-12 (Endorsement Code: 145)
  • Special Education Comprehensive Program K-12 (Endorsement Code: 461)
• One year of credited teaching experience