program overview
as advancements in education continue to be a large focus in the u.s., teachers are in demand more than ever. it is evident that an early foundation is crucial to student success. so, join forces with our accomplished faculty on the path to become a confident and competent teacher. depending on your preferred licensure range, you will gain teaching experience within appropriate grades of nashville-area schools. whether you choose licensure in pk-3, k-5, or 6-8* grades, you’ll have broad career potential based a solid foundation of effective teaching methods and practices.
the nashville community provides opportunities for diverse experiences that include urban, suburban, and rural settings. you can add one or more areas of emphasis to gain certifications. if you choose to add an english language learner endorsement, you'll find you're even more marketable as a teacher. lipscomb offers the opportunity for you to do a portion of your student teaching abroad through an international organization.
interdisciplinary teaching majors have the option to choose licensure or non-licensure pathways.
- p-3/sped early childhood education with integrated special ed licensure: the state department of education now requires teachers to double major with both age-specific and special education training. those pursuing early childhood education will follow an integrated program in interdisciplinary studies in teaching (pre-k through 3rd grade) with special education experience.
- k-5/sped elementary education with dual special ed licensure: similar to early childhood, k-5 is now required a double major. our dual endorsement program offers both licenses upon graduation. the interdisciplinary studies in teaching (kindergarten through 5th grade) combines experiential special education training with general education for these ages.
- middle grades (6-8) licensure: students interested in teaching certain subjects available only for middle school grades can gain teaching licensure for these four subjects: mathematics, social studies, english language arts, science
lipscomb’s interdisciplinary teaching programs meet tennessee licensure standards. you’ll gain the knowledge and practical experience you need to be well-prepared to pass the required content exams (praxis) and the performance assessment of pedagogy (edtpa). you’ll be ready to teach in a wide variety of settings, sharing the content you love and making a difference in the lives of students and their families.
* under tennessee state law, teachers with 6-8 licensure can also teach fifth and ninth grades within certain parameters.
