Before approval for the TEP II: Professional Student-Teaching semester, students must complete all of the following requirements:

• All professional education core requirements, all coursework required for the major and all General Education Core coursework in the teaching content area with a grade of "C" or better. (ED 301 requires a grade of "B" or better. See Teacher Education Phase I);
• Pass all relevant parts of the Praxis II assessment (including Principles of Teaching and Learning and the appropriate Specialty Area tests) and meet the minimum cut-off scores for Tennessee licensure. (Students should visit www.ets.org to become informed about which Praxis II tests are relevant to their area of specialty or major. Students will also find the schedule of Praxis Exam dates and information on each test, including content and sample questions). NO ONE WILL BE ADMITTED TO TEP II or ALLOWED TO STUDENT-TEACH until passing scores are on file with the School of Education (exceptions will be made in the case of candidates passing all but one of the required Praxis II tests, provided they miss the cutoff score by 5 points or less);
• Submit two letters of recommendation, one from the advisor in the major and one from another faculty member or a member of the educational community beyond Cumberland (e.g. a cooperating teacher from pre-student teaching field experiences), for student teaching completed;
• Send for review (not share) their LiveText portfolio to the members of the interview committee AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FORMAL INTERVIEW;
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 as well as a minimum 2.75 on all Cumberland University work when beginning the student-teaching semester; and
• Complete a formal interview with the Teacher Education Committee.

Upon successful completion of all of the above requirements, the student will be recommended for admission into the TEP Phase II program. Admission must be approved by a majority vote of the Teacher Education Committee.

Candidates must complete a formal interview with a committee of School of Education faculty to be accepted into the TEP I and TEP II programs and to complete the Professional Student Teaching semester.

STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT ALL VERIFICATION FOR EACH REQUIREMENT IS SUBMITTED TO KAREN HOBSON PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW. Interview dates and the due dates for documents are posted in Bone Hall each semester. Please come by Bone Hall to sign up for an interview time and to be aware of paperwork requirements and submission dates.

NOTE: Be aware that portfolios for TEP II interviews must be posted TWO WEEKS PRIOR to the interview in order to give faculty time to adequately review them. Please CLICK HERE to download additional TEP II Interview Requirements.

Students who do not have proof of meeting certain requirements may still interview, but their acceptance into the program will be deferred until proof is provided to the School of Education.