The BA Liberal Arts Education degree leads to licensure K-8 SDA, K-5 TN. It meets K-8 standards for Seventh-day Adventist teaching licensure and K-5 standards for the State of Tennessee teaching licensure.
Licensure and certification are synonymous terms for the process of granting legal authorization to teach in the public or private elementary or secondary schools of a state or of the Seventh-day Adventist Church based on meeting predetermined qualifications. Licensure has been established to give professional status to qualified educators and to assure school boards and parents that the teacher is well prepared.
Each student accepted at Southern Adventist University who indicates teaching as the professional objective is assigned an educational program adviser by the Records and Advisement Office. Advisers assist in planning a student's academic program each year and guide advisees through each transition of Teacher Education. Advisers and advisees should work closely to follow the professional sequence of courses.
At the time of an individual's admission to Teacher Education, the current and subsequent catalogs will determine the requirements for completion of the program and graduation. Candidates, however, must meet any and all such additional requirements mandated by the NAD, CAEP, or the State of Tennessee Department of Education, even though such changes may not be listed in the Teacher Education programs in the particular catalog under which the candidate entered. Candidates should stay in contact with the School of Education and Psychology to be aware of any changes that may affect them.
Admission to Southern Adventist University does not automatically admit the student into teacher education. Because this is a licensure program, there are four transitions a student must complete. In each transition the student demonstrates growth toward becoming an educator who will make a positive impact on students and learning.
Students assume responsibility for making necessary applications, meeting the requirements, and other relevant deadlines.
Upon enrollment in EDUC 129/EDUC 138, students enter Transition One. The following criteria are required for completion of Transition One.
When 45 hours have been completed, the student will enroll in EDUC 201 and certify completion of the following criteria:
Successful completion of Transition Two is required for students to enroll in most upper division education courses.
At the completion of Transition Two, the current and subsequent catalogs will determine the requirements for completion of the program and for graduation. Deviations to this policy will be valid only if mandated by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists and/or the TN Department of Education. Teacher candidates who achieve admission to candidacy must complete a significant number of clock hours of supervised clinical experience prior to student teaching. For state licensure, all supervised clinical experience, including student teaching, must be completed within state-recognized partnerships.
Note: Courses with grades lower than C in the major studies and professional education must be repeated. Courses required only for SDA licensure must be repeated for any grade lower than a C-.
Prior to the student teaching semester, candidates must pass all required PRAXIS II licensure exams. Each candidate must arrange for a Designated Institutional Report to be sent by the testing service to Southern Adventist University and the State of TN as evidence of passing scores. Candidates planning to student teach in the fall semester must pass all required PRAXIS II exams by June 15. All candidates planning to student teach in the winter semester must pass all required PRAXIS II exams by October 15 of the preceding year.
With the exception of EDUC 464 and PEAC 425 according to the State of TN, "no other courses may be taken by candidates during the student teaching clinical practice. In exceptional cases, candidates may seek the approval of [the Teacher Education Council] to take no more than one additional course provided: (1) the course does not interfere with the participant's full participation in all activities associated with student teaching, and (2) no other opportunity exists for the candidate to take the course before completion of the educator preparation program" (TN Educator Preparation Policy 5.504). Requests for exceptions must be submitted to the Teacher Education Council at the time of applying for student teaching. The Teacher Education Council will determine if the exception will be granted.
If personal circumstances demand an off-campus or online course, a petition must be filed with the School of Education and Psychology and its approval obtained before registering for the course. The course must be completed and the grade filed in the Records and Advisement Office prior to the beginning of student teaching.
The candidate must submit a formal application to be considered for admission to student teaching. A late application submission may delay the student teaching semester.
The following criteria are required for admission to student teaching:
Applicants meeting the above criteria are approved by the Teacher Education Council. The candidate will be informed in writing as to the status of the admission following the action of the Teacher Education Council.
In the event that the Teacher Education Council recommends a conditional acceptance, the candidate will be notified of the condition. The adviser and candidate will collaborate in the development of the PIP. Student teachers accepted on condition will receive additional coaching from assigned supervisors. Failure to complete the PIP in a satisfactory manner may result in a third placement or termination of the student teaching placement. The Teacher Education Council will determine eligibility for continuing in student teaching. [Previously called "Action Plan"]
Candidates who do not meet the required criteria may appeal to the Teacher Education Council. However, submission of an appeal does not guarantee admission to student teaching.
Student teaching is considered the culminating experience of the Teacher Education Program. To successfully exit the program the following criteria must be met:
Program Specific Information
TEACHER LICENSURE
Every candidate who successfully completes the requirements for teaching in the elementary or secondary school and graduates from Southern Adventist University will receive recommendation for licensure based upon the following criteria:
Licensure is not automatic. The eligible candidate must make the necessary application to the Southern Union Conference, and to any other appropriate union conference for denominational certification; and to the State of Tennessee and to any other specific state department of education where the candidate expects to teach. Information regarding licensure is available from the Southern Adventist University certification officer. Since teacher licensure regulations are always in the process of change, graduating teacher education candidates are urged to make their applications for licensure as soon as possible.
Licensure is not automatic. The eligible candidate must make the necessary application to the Southern Union Conference, and to any other appropriate union conference for denominational certification; and to the State of Tennessee and to any other specific state department of education where the candidate expects to teach. Information regarding licensure is available from the Southern Adventist University certification officer. Since teacher licensure regulations are always in the process of change, graduating teacher education candidates are urged to make their applications for licensure as soon as possible.
WHAT LICENSES MAY BE OBTAINED?
REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE
Candidates for state licensure must complete the appropriate teacher preparation curriculum. This consists of three components: general education, professional education, and major studies as specified in the Southern Adventist University Catalog.
Off-campus or online credit will be accepted to the extent of twenty-five percent of the credit required for licensure provided that no more than three semester hours in education are applied on the professional education requirement.
Additional Endorsements:
For licensure, a major is not always required for additional endorsements. A minor may be acceptable in some disciplines as a second endorsement area. Candidates should contact the Certification Officer in the School of Education and Psychology for information on specific requirements in the area(s) of endorsement sought.
Individuals meeting requirements for secondary licensure who wish to be licensed for elementary or individuals meeting the requirements for elementary education licensure who wish to be licensed/endorsed in one or more secondary areas must meet with the Certification Officer to work out an individualized course of study that meets State of Tennessee and/or Seventh-day Adventist guidelines for teaching licensure.