Elementary and Special Education

Eric Oslund, Chair

Barksdale, Black, Boulware, Elleman, Ertel, Fields, Harmon, Hitchcock, Hooser, Huddleston, Lee, Lim, Mangione, Pence, Ridgley, Schrodt, Winters

Courses in the Department of Elementary and Special Education are designed to meet the professional needs of students preparing to teach and to improve the teaching competencies of those presently employed as teachers.

The department offers Bachelor of Science degrees for students seeking initial teacher licensure in early childhood, elementary, middle school, and special education. Students may choose from the following majors: Early Childhood Education (Prek-3); Elementary Education (K-5); Middle Level (6-8 English), (6-8 Math), (6-8 Science), or (6-8 Social Studies); and Special Education (6-12 General Interventionist or K-8 Interventionist) or Comprehensive K-12.

2+2 Program

Through partnership with Tennessee Board of Regents Community Colleges, the Elementary Education program is offered at off site campuses, including Columbia State Community College and Motlow State Community College. See 2+2 for more information.

Admission to Teacher Education

All students enrolled in initial teacher licensure programs must be admitted to teacher education. The requirements for admission include

completion of at least 45 semester hours;
an inclusive grade point average of 2.75 or higher (grades earned in basic and developmental courses are not used in computation of the required average). For graduate and post baccalaureate students, the GPA requirement is 2.75 inclusive from a completed baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree program or a 3.00 GPA in the most recent sixty (60) hours earned at a regionally accredited IHE.
earning a B- or better in EESE 2010 and EESE 2011 (or approved substitutions);
undergoing a total three (3) favorable faculty interviews: one with a faculty member in professional education at MTSU, one with a faculty member teaching courses in the major or in general education at MTSU, and one with a classroom teacher/practitioner (PreK-12) in a public school;
completion of fingerprinting and background check with TBI;
disciplinary clearance from the College of Education.

Minor

A minor in Special Education is also available. Students should note that the minor coursework does not fulfill teacher licensure requirements.

Graduate Study

The department offers at the graduate level the Master of Education degree with majors in Curriculum and Instruction (concentration in Elementary School Education), Literacy, and Special Education (concentrations in Special Education Interventionist and Special Education Comprehensive). A graduate minor is available in Curriculum and Instruction. Details may be found in the Graduate Catalog.