Teacher Licensure

Cumberland University is approved by the Tennessee Department of Education to offer certain, but not all, types of teacher licensure. For a list of the types of licensure Cumberland University is approved to offer, click here. You must be sure that Cumberland is able to recommend you for the type of licensure you seek. Undergraduate candidates seeking teacher licensure through Cumberland University must be enrolled in an appropriate major or follow the Master Teacher Option.

Candidates for licensure should be sure to understand the difference between the state's requirements for a teaching license and Cumberland University's requirements for degree programs.

Below are the types of licensure Cu is approved by the state to offer, and the programs (major), or areas of emphasis that meet the requirements for that type of license. Candidates enrolled in Cumberland prior to the Fall 2010 semester may complete their current programs of study that lead to teacher licensure, which are not described below. 

For all questions about programs and licensure, Please see an adviser in the School of Education & Public Service

Elementary & Early Education Licenses

  1. Early Development/Learning PreK-K* (License code 468)
  2. Early Childhood Education, PreK-3* (License code 467)
  3. Elementary Education (License code 499)

Undergraduate candidates seeking these types of license must complete the Child Growth & Learning Major. Candidates who wish to add a Pre-Kindergarten endorsement to a K-6 license take 10 additional hours in early childhood education coursework.

*If a candidate is interested in only obtaining this type of license (without K-6), they must substitute a number of courses in the typical Child Growth & Learning program. Please see a School of Education & Public Service faculty advisor.

Graduate candidates seeking these types of license complete a program of study in the Master of Arts in Education Teaching and Learning Track II. Click here to review those programs of study.

 

K-12 Licenses

 

  • Special Education: Modified (License code 460)
  • Special Education: Comprehensive Program (License code 461)
  • Special Education: Early Childhood (License code 459)

Undergraduate Candidates seeking these types of license must complete the Bachelor of Science in Special Education, with appropriate course substitutions depending on licensure sought. Please see a School of Education & Public Service faculty adviser. Graduate Candidates must have at least a Baccalaureate degree in a relevant major and pass the Praxis Content Area test for this content area.

  • Physical Education (License code 420)

Undergraduate Candidates seeking this type of license must complete the Bachelor of Science in Health & Human Performance program, Physical Education Emphasis. Graduate Candidates must have at least a Baccalaureate degree in a relevant major and pass the Praxis Content Area test for this content area.

 

  • Visual Arts (License code 427)
Undergraduate Candidates seeking this license must complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, Art Education Emphasis. Graduate Candidates must have at least a Baccalaureate degree in a relevant major and pass the Praxis Content Area test for this content area.
  • Vocal/General Music (License code 428)
  • Instrumental Music (License code 429)

Undergraduate Candidates seeking these types of license must complete the Bachelor of Arts Music program, Music Education Emphasis. Graduate Candidates must have at least a Baccalaureate degree in a relevant major and pass the Praxis Content Area test for this content area.
 

  • Theater (License code 405)

Undergraduate Candidates seeking this type of license must complete a specialized course of study approved by advisers in both the Theater program and the Secondary Education program. Graduate Candidates must have at least a Baccalaureate degree in a relevant major and pass the Praxis Content Area test for this content area. 

 

Secondary Education Licenses

  • English (License code 407)
  • History (License code 421)
  • Mathematics (License code 413)
  • Psychology (License code 426)

Undergraduate Candidates seeking these types of license must complete a dual major: a major in one of the above content areas through the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and the Secondary Education dual major. Please see a faculty advisor from both schools early and often to ensure requirements are met. Dual majors do not have much flexibility in terms of electives.

Graduate candidates seeking these types of license complete a program of study in the Master of Arts in Education Teaching and Learning Track II. Click here to review those programs of study.

  • Biology (License code 415)
Candidates seeking a biology teacher's license must follow the Master Teacher Option. In this option, candidates complete a Biology degree, taking certain Education courses in place of their 12 elective credits. They then enroll in the Master of Arts in Education program and student teach the fall semester following graduation. Certain MAE courses need to be taken prior to student teaching. Once they complete student teaching, Cumberland University's Office of Teacher Licensure will submit their application for a beginning Teacher's License. Candidates then complete their MAE courses at their own pace.

The Master Teacher Option can be completed in five years, gaining the candidate a degree in Biology, an initial teacher's license and a Master's of Arts in Education degree.
  • Economics (License code 424)
  • Geography (License code 422)
  • Sociology (License code 425)

Cumberland University does not offer majors in these areas. Graduate and Undergraduate Candidates interested in licensure in these areas will need to complete coursework to meet state standards for these areas of licensure. These will need to be completed in addition to the requirements for a dual major in one of the above areas. Please see a School of Education & Public Service faculty advisor.

Tennessee license endorsement policy change:

As of March, 2010 educators who hold a current K-12, 5-9, or 7-12 teacher's license can add an additional teaching endorsement in a second content area by passing the Praxis II exams required for that type of license. Teachers interested in taking course content to prepare them for an additional endorsement should contact the Licensure Officer or Dean of the School of Education & Public Service.
Teachers cannot become endorsed to teach in the PreK or Elementary K-4 grades by this method, and PreK-4 teachers cannot add additional endorsements to teach at different grade levels by this method.
The Teacher Education Program also offers individualized programs of study for educators seeking to add an additional endorsement to an existing teaching license in all licensure areas approved for Cumberland University by the Tennessee State Department of Education.

The Teacher Education Program of Cumberland University is being constantly refined to meet national and professional standards and the State of Tennessee's licensure requirements for teachers. As a result, there may be changes. Interested students should stay in contact with the Teacher Licensure Office to be aware of any changes that may affect them. Students must meet Tennessee licensure requirements in effect at the time of their program completion.