Child Growth and Learning
The Bachelor of Science in Child Growth and Learning is designed with input from current practitioner partners specifically to incorporate coursework from the disciplines of psychology, education, and other disciplinary content areas to prepare the Cumberland University for candidacy for a Tennessee Elementary Education (K-5) Teaching License. The program has been specifically designed to ensure graduating teacher candidates meet the academic and developmental needs of all students during their first year teaching and thereafter.
Students in this program must be admitted to the Teacher Education Progression (TEP) to be considered a candidate for licensure, and must meet TEP requirements at key checkpoints in their program. The TEP and its requirements are described fully on the University website in the online Teacher Education Handbook. Cumberland University students who wish to become teacher candidates must see a Teacher Education Program advisor for more information on teacher candidacy.
Degree Requirements
Area I - Foundation Skills - 3 hours
| FSL 101 | Foundations of Scholarship and Learning | 3 |
FSL 101 is required for new and transferring students with less than 24 credit hours. Students must earn a "C" or higher in
FSL 101.
Area I - Rhetoric and Communication - 9 hours
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area I - Mathematics - 3-4 hours
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area I - Computer Literacy - 3 hours
| ED 190 | Introduction to Computers for Instruction | 3 |
| or | |
| CIS 170 | Intro to Microcomputer Applications | 3 |
| and | |
| ED 191 | Computers in the 21st Century Classroom | 1 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses. Students who have successfully completed
CIS 170, will also need to take
ED 191 for licensure.
Area II - The Arts - 3 hours
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area II - Literature in English - 3 hours
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area II - Social Science and Humanities - 6 hours
| PSY 211 | Psychology of Human Growth & Development | 3 |
| SOC 221 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area II - History - 6 hours
Choose one of two sequences:
| HIS 191 | World Civilization to 1500 | 3 |
| and | |
| HIS 192 | World Civilization since 1500 | 3 |
| or | |
| HIS 201 | History of the United States I | 3 |
| and | |
| HIS 202 | History of the United States II | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area II - The Natural Sciences - 7-8 hours
Choose two different science disciplines from any of the following:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Required Professional Education Core Courses -36 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 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 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses. 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 require full admission to the Teacher Education Program.
Required Courses for Major - 21 hours
| ED 304 | Strategies for Reading/Language Arts | 3 |
| ED 305 | Diagnostic Teaching of Reading | 3 |
| ED 218/ENG 218 | Children and Adolescent Literature | 3 |
| PE 220 | Physical Education Activities | 3 |
| or | |
| PE 424 | Health and Physical Education in the Classroom | 3 |
| PE 311 | Personal and Community Health | 3 |
| or | |
| PE 400 | Health Issues | 3 |
| SPE 340 | Language Development and Disorders | 3 |
| SPE 345 | Effective Collaboration | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Additional GEC requirements for licensure - 15 hours
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Required GEC credit hours (40-45 hours)
Total required Education core (36 hours)
Required courses for major (21 hours)
Additional requirements for licensure (15 hours)
120 minimum hours required for graduation.
Students must earn a "C" or higher in ALL courses.
Candidates interested in an ADDITIONAL licensure endorsement in PreK-K or PreK-3 or Special Education, you will find the requirements here.
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.