UTeach Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

The UTeaChattanooga Department offers five post-baccalaureate certificates intended to provide individuals with at least a Bachelor’s degree in STEM areas (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering) pedagogical training for licensure to teach secondary school mathematics or science.

Students wishing to pursue a post-baccalaureate certificate and secondary teacher licensure in mathematics or science through the UTeaChattanooga program must:
1. Have an undergraduate or graduate degree with a major, or equivalent, in one of the following content areas: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, or Computer Science.
2. Be formally admitted to UTC.
3. Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall and in the major courses. All undergraduate and graduate course work is considered when determining the GPAs.
4. Submit a Post-Baccalaureate Curriculum Review Request (available on the UTeaChattanooga web site, www.utc.edu/UTeaChattanooga) and have an official copy of his/her undergraduate and graduate transcripts mailed to:

UTeaChattanooga
Drs. Stephen Kuhn and Sandy Watson
Dept. 7156
110 Collins Street Annex
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598

A teacher licensure advisor will conduct a course-by-course transcript evaluation to determine the eligibility of the applicant. If the applicant is eligible for admission to the program, courses may be required to make up any content area deficiencies.

5. Have an ACT composite score of 22 or better or a score of 1020 or better on the SAT. If the undergraduate applicant’s ACT or SAT score is below 22 or 1020 respectively, the applicant must take the Praxis I Exam. Post-baccalaureate students who are enrolled with the Graduate School MUST take the MAT (minimum score of 372) or the GRE (minimum 900/4.0 (writing)) instead.

6. Complete the background check authorization form (available on the UTeaChattanooga web site, www.utc.edu/UTeaChattanooga).
7. Complete the background check through L-1 Identity Solutions (see the UTeaChattanooga web site, (www.utc.edu/UTeaChattanooga).
8. Formally apply to UTeaChattanooga (undergraduates do not apply until after completing Step Two, graduate students must formally apply BEFORE starting Step One).
9. Successfully complete an essay entrance requirement.
10. Perform satisfactorily in an interview with UTeaChattanooga Co-Directors.
11. Provide an accurate email address for two people selected from Academic Advisors, Professor in Major Field, or Internship Supervisor (internship related to major field) to complete a Disposition Assessment online (available on the UTeaChattanooga web site, www.utc.edu/UTeaChattanooga).

Certificate in Teacher Licensure: UTeaChattanooga

Completion of a UTeaChattanooga Post-Baccalaureate certificate program requires completion of all of the following courses and one of the Bachelor’s degrees described below as appropriate for the certificate desired.

Course Requirements

UTSM 1010 - Step One: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching Science and Mathematics and
UTSM 1020 - Step Two: Inquiry Based Lesson Design in Math and Science
Or
UTSM 1030 - Step One/Step Two: Inquiry-Based Mathematics and Science Teaching
UTSM 2010 - Knowing and Learning
UTSM 2020 - Classroom Interactions
UTSM 3010 - Perspectives on Science and Mathematics
UTSM 3020 - Research Methods in Science
UTSM 4010 - Project-Based Instruction
UTSM 4020 - Apprentice Teaching
Courses completed for the STEM degree used to help qualify for a UTeach post-baccalaureate certificate should include those listed in one of the following UTeach Certificate programs which reflect the disciplinary requirements for undergraduate UTeach concentrations. Requests for substitutions or exceptions may be made to the UTeaChattanooga co-directors.

Post-Baccalaureate UTeach Certificate: Biology

Completion of a bachelor’s degree in Biology from a regionally accredited college or university and approval by the UTeaChattanooga co-directors.

Post-Baccalaureate UTeach Certificate: Chemistry

Completion of a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from a regionally accredited college or university and approval by the UTeaChattanooga co-directors.

Post-Baccalaureate UTeach Certificate: Physics

1) completion of a bachelor’s degree in Physics from a regionally accredited college or university,

2) completion of a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from a regionally accredited college or university, including the following courses or their equivalents:

Post-Baccalaureate UTeach Certificate: Mathematics

1) completion of a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from a regionally accredited college or university, including MATH 2300, Mathematical Models, Functions and Applications, or its equivalent.

2) completion of a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from a regionally accredited college or university, including the following courses or their equivalents:

Post-Baccalaureate UTeach Certificate: Geology

Completion of a bachelor’s degree in Geology from a regionally accredited college or university and approval by the UTeaChattanooga co-directors.

Tennessee Licensure Requirements

To be eligible for a Tennessee teaching license, an individual must:

Complete the appropriate UTSM professional education courses in the UTeaChattanooga program as listed with a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall and in the relevant content area.
Pass the required Praxis II test(s) in the relevant content area and the principles of Learning and Teaching test.

Continuation Requirements

Students in the UTeaChattanooga Post-Baccalaureate certificate program must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall in all of the content major courses and USTM courses they are taking.