Secondary Education Licensure
Mission Statement
The mission of the Secondary Education dual major program is to enhance each candidate's in-depth content knowledge obtained from their primary major with the pedagogical skills necessary to meet the academic and developmental needs of all students in grades 6-12.
The Secondary Education Dual Major program has been designed with input from current practitioner partners and in response to the call for more rigorous preparation in academic disciplines for secondary education teachers.
The program has been specifically designed to ensure graduating teacher candidates will meet the academic and developmental needs of all students during their first year teaching and thereafter.
Candidates seeking a license to teach an academic subject in grades 6-12 must dual major in the subject area they wish to teach and Secondary Education.
Candidates for teacher licensure must work with two advisors: a content advisor in their program and an education advisor in the School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts. Candidates must seek guidance early and often to ensure enrollment in the required courses in a timely manner.
Students in this program must be admitted to STEPP to be considered a licensure candidate, and must meet STEPP requirements at key checkpoints in their program. Cumberland University students who wish to become teacher candidates must see a Teacher Education Programs advisor for more information on teacher candidacy. Also refer to the Educator Preparation section of the Catalog.
Candidates completing a dual major with Secondary Education have few or no elective courses available depending on the program. Candidates must complete the following education courses in addition to the full requirements of their other academic program (major):
Degree Requirements
Secondary Education Core Courses - 39 hours
| ED 201 | Education as a Profession | 3 |
| ED 230/PSY 230 | Exceptional and Culturally Diverse Students | 3 |
| ED 300 | Instructional Assistance I | 1 |
| ED 301 | Instructional Strategies | 3 |
| ED 317 | Assessment | 3 |
| ED 322 | Education for the Developing Learner | 3 |
| ED 340 | Reading and Writing in the Content Areas | 3 |
| ED 400 | Instructional Assistance II | 2 |
| ED 432 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| ED 433 | Applied Methods and Concepts | 3 |
| ED 435 | Enhanced Student Teaching | 9 |
| ED 436 | Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
If a student has CIS 170 as an equivalent course, enroll in ED 191 instead of ED 190. Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses, including all courses in their content area.
Exception: Students must earn a "B" or higher in ED 301. ED 432 and ED 433 must be taken the semester prior to student teaching and full admission to the Teacher Education Program.
Total GEC Credit Hours (39-45 hours)
Total Required Education Core Courses (39 hours)
Total Required Courses for major (varies according to content area)
120 minimum hours required for graduation.
Licensure: Candidates for a Tennessee teaching license must pass state-required exams to be qualified for a license. Exam requirements periodically change. Candidates must consult the Tennessee Department of Education and Educational Testing Service websites for a list of current licensure exams. Teacher licensure candidates are responsible for taking and passing the correct licensure examinations at specific times in their program of study as is detailed in the online Teacher Education Handbook.