Admission to Teacher Education Program (ATE)
Preparing for a Career in Teaching
Are you interested in becoming an educator? At our institution, we offer several programs to help you achieve your goal. Whether you're considering Elementary Education, Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Special Education, or Secondary Education, you'll need to follow these steps to join our Teacher Education Program:
1. Application for Admission
Students aspiring to become teachers must formally apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program. If you're unsure about the specific requirements for your chosen program, please consult your academic advisor. You can submit your application for admission at any point during the semester.
2. Plan Ahead
It's important to start early as this process can be time-consuming. Certain aspects of the admission application may take several weeks to complete. We recommend allowing at least 4 weeks to ensure a smooth application process.
3. Guaranteed Enrollment Deadlines
To secure your enrollment in courses that require admission to teacher education, make sure to submit your completed application by the Guaranteed Enrollment deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed, so meeting this deadline is crucial. While we accept applications after the guaranteed enrollment deadline, please note that late admissions do not guarantee a space in your desired classes.
- Spring Semester Admission: Deadline - October 15th
- Summer Semester Admission: Deadline - March 15th
- Fall Semester Admission: Deadline - March 15th
Need Assistance
If you're facing challenges meeting the admission requirements for our Teacher Education Program, we're here to help. Explore our available resources and learn about our appeals process to get the support you need.
Remember, becoming a teacher is a rewarding journey, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need guidance on your path to becoming an educator.
- Criteria for Admission:
- Complete an online application for Admission to Teacher Education before the end of the sophomore year.
- Take and pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) exams. Passing scores are Reading –156, Math – 150, and Writing – 162. Exemptions from taking the CORE exam may apply to those applicants who:
- Have an ACT-enhanced score of 21 or higher
- Have 1080 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math.
- Complete at least 45 semester hours of coursework
- Complete EESE 2010 and EESE 2011 (or approved substitutions with a grade of “B-” or better). Application to Teacher Education may be submitted while a student is enrolled in EESE 2010 or EESE 2011. Admission procedures will not be final until the final grades are posted. NOTE: This requirement does not apply to secondary education minors
- Inclusive grade point average of 2.75 or higher (grades earned in introductory and developmental courses are not used to compute the required average).
- Completion of Fingerprinting and Background check with TBI.
- Disciplinary clearance from the College of Education.
- Admission to the Teacher Education Program is a prerequisite to enrollment in upper-division courses in Elementary Education, Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Special Education, and Secondary YOED. Students not formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program will not be permitted to enroll in upper-division teacher education classes.
- Formal Admission to Teacher Education When all criteria for admission have been met, formal action is taken on admission. Applicants are typically notified via email within a week of applying and in writing through the U.S. mail after formal approval has been granted.
- The Appeal Process If you are struggling to meet the admission to teacher education requirements, you may be eligible for appeal (i.e., admitted or conditionally admitted). Visit our website for more information.
- Undergraduate Students will not be able to register for or obtain permits for any upper-division classes until they are fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program. A Pre-Req/Test code error will be given during registration to those who have not been fully admitted.
- Tennessee Code Annotated §49-5-5610 requires that any student wishing to enter an approved teacher education program must undergo a criminal history check and fingerprinting by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Criminal Background Checks from outside agencies will not be accepted.
- Regardless, if you have obtained a cleared TBI background check in the past if you are not enrolled consecutively for the fall and spring semesters at Middle Tennessee State University, you may be required to obtain a subsequent background check. Contact the Office of Professional Laboratory Experiences to check the status of your background check at 615-898-2794.
- AST Degree Recipients: In order to complete full admission to the Teacher Education Program at Middle Tennessee State students must show proof of having been awarded the AST Degree as well as submit proof of your test scores along with an official application.
PDF Version
- Criteria for Admission:
- Complete an online application for Admission to Teacher Education.
- Complete EESE 2010 and EESE 2011 (or approved substitutions with a grade of “B-” or better). Application to Teacher Education may be submitted while a student is enrolled in EESE 2010 or EESE 2011. Admission procedures will not be final until the final grades are posted. NOTE: This requirement does not apply to secondary education licensure seekers and may be waived for all other graduate/post-baccalaureate students.
- The GPA requirement for graduate and post-baccalaureate students is 2.75, inclusive of a completed baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree program or a 3.00 GPA in the most recent sixty (60) credit hours earned at a regionally accredited IHE.
- Completion of Fingerprinting and Background check with TBI.
- Disciplinary clearance from the College of Education.
- Admission to the Teacher Education Program is a prerequisite to enrollment in upper-division courses in Elementary Education, Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Special Education, and Secondary YOED. Students not formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program will not be permitted to enroll in upper-division teacher education classes.
- Formal Admission to Teacher Education When all criteria for admission have been met, formal action is taken on admission. Applicants are typically notified via email within a week of applying and in writing through the U.S. mail after formal approval has been granted.
- The Appeal Process If you are struggling to meet the admission to teacher education requirements, you may be eligible for appeal (i.e., admitted or conditionally admitted). Visit our website for more information.
- Post-baccalaureate students will not be able to register for or obtain permits for any upper-division classes until they are fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program. A Pre-Req/Test code error will be given during registration to those who have not been fully admitted.
- Tennessee Code Annotated §49-5-5610 requires that any student wishing to enter an approved teacher education program must undergo a criminal history check and fingerprinting by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Criminal Background Checks from outside agencies will not be accepted.
- Regardless, if you have obtained a cleared TBI background check in the past, if you are not enrolled consecutively for the fall and spring semesters at Middle Tennessee State University, you may be required to obtain a subsequent background check. Contact the Office of Professional Laboratory Experiences to check the status of your background check at 615-898-2794.
