General Info

Stephanie Johnson, Academic Assistant | 1.800-325-0900, ext. 4136 or 865-531-4136 | s.jeffers-johnson@lmunet.edu

Lincoln Memorial University's Master of Education with Teacher Licensure (MEdTL) program offers an excellent opportunity for adults who have already earned a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Our accelerated program is ideal for individuals seeking a career change or who have obtained a degree in the desired field but have not yet received a teaching license. In our MEdTL program, candidates may pursue the following initial license pathways:

Licensure pathways:

• Elementary Education (K-5)
• Secondary Education (6-12) - Business, Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, 
  • (K-12) - Physical Education, Visual Arts
• Special Education Interventionist (K-8, 6-12) and Comprehensive (K-12)

Master's Degrees

Candidates can opt for licensure-only or Post-Bac pathways, but taking additional coursework will result in the Master of Education degree and, oftentimes, a higher step on the structured pay ladder. 

We offer these master's degrees based upon the licensure pathway:

• Elementary Education
• Secondary Education
• Special Education

The MEdTL program has a unique structure that is ideal for busy adults. Courses are delivered in hybrid-hyflex, online, and face-to-face formats. The MEdTL program is accelerated, and students can expect to complete coursework within 3 semesters, not including the clinical coursework for student teaching or job-embedded pathways. However, students can take courses at their own pace. We have professional core courses that meet on ten Saturdays during the semester. Additional coursework for methods instruction or to fulfill master's electives will be offered during the week. 

Students Seeking Elementary (grades K-5) Licensure:

Elementary candidates, unlike Secondary candidates who have a content area degree, will take content-specific methods coursework during the week, along with the professional core coursework on Saturdays. Our hybrid-hyflex design allows for convenience for students in that classes meet face-to-face every other week, with online asynchronous meetings on alternate weeks, resulting in weekday classes meeting every two weeks. The hyflex design allows for students to attend these classes online synchronously when they cannot attend in person. 

Students Seeking Secondary (grades K-12 or 6-12) Licensure:

Secondary candidates have required licensure content in their bachelor's degree. For the first two Fall and Spring semesters, candidates will attend class approximately ten Saturdays per semester. In addition, candidates will have one methods course per week. Secondary candidates who pursue the master's degree will have opportunities to take those courses to complete the credit hours for the master's. As long as candidates have met the requirements, they will be ready to student teach in their third semester. 

Student Teaching

Student teaching is such an exciting time for our MEdTL candidates. We have 52 district partners in East Tennessee for placement in student teaching. Candidates have the opportunity to showcase the skills and knowledge they have acquired over the previous year of coursework. Student teaching consists of being in the classroom full-time for one semester (approximately 16 weeks) under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. Candidates have two placements during this semester: one in a lower grade of your endorsement, and one in a higher grade. And, Tennessee now offers a paid student teaching credential that some districts may choose to offer candidates in that last semester. 

edTPA

For student teaching candidates, LMU will provide guidance and support in completing the edTPA pedagogical assessment, but it is the candidate's responsibility to complete the edTPA portfolio to achieve licensure. LMU will provide support for the video components, portfolio submission, and preparing the candidate to complete and understand the rubrics associated with the candidate's licensure area. However, the state of Tennessee will be lifting the edTPA requirement by July 1, 2026.

PRAXIS® exams are proficiency exams required for licensure in Tennessee. Passing exams pertinent to the area of certification is required as a pre-requisite for student teaching. PRAXIS® exams required for licensure by subject area can be obtained by contacting the MEdTL Office. The PRAXIS® exams are administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Additional information about each test can be reviewed on the ETS website: https://www.ets.org/praxis/register/dates_centers/?WT.ac=praxis_overwrite_39162_register_centersdate_180206.

Course Requirements

Job Embedded Program Requirements

 LMU is state-approved to provide licensure through the job-embedded experiences in all our licensure offerings. Candidates in good standing in the LMU MEd with Teacher License program may apply for admission in the Job-Embedded Program during their enrollment in EDUC 570/571. Acceptance into the Job Embedded Program is not an automatic approval. The applicant MUST complete and comply with the following to be considered for admission:

• Hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university, with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4-point scale, or have a minimum 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours of a completed baccalaureate degree.
• Submit passing scores on PRAXIS Content Knowledge Exam for the licensure the candidate is applying to teach if the candidate does not hold a bachelor’s degree in that area.*
• Submit official Letter of Intent to Hire from an LMU collaborative partner district stating position, subject area, and grade level for which the candidate is being hired.
• Meet all employment eligibility requirements for employment at the partnership school district.
• Interview and receive approval by the Job-Embedded Candidate Review Committee.

MEdTL Director, Dr. Susan Wagner, and the Director of Licensure and Testing, oversee all licensure requests for job-embedded candidates. LMU is subject to TN DOE and TN SBOE rulings and policies, which can change program requirements

Special Education Licensure Opportunity for Teachers!

The Carter & Moyers School of Education offers an online licensure opportunity for currently licensed teachers. Special education is a high-needs endorsement area. Licensed teachers can now "add-on" this license within two semesters.

Special Education Interventionist K-8 or 6-12 and Comprehensive K-12 Add-On Endorsements

This program is designed for licensed Tennessee teachers who wish to earn an add-on endorsement in Interventionist K-8/6-12 or Comprehensive K-12 Special Education.

Total required hours to be recommended for Interventionist K-8 or 6-12 Add-On Endorsement: 18 hours

 Special Education Admission requirements include, but may not be limited to:

• Submission of an application complete with the application fee and three recommendation forms. Program application
• Submission of one official transcript from each regionally accredited college/university attended, documenting a cumulative minimum undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75, as reported on the baccalaureate degree transcript.
• One copy of pre-admission test scores, taken within the past seven years and passed with minimum scores required for admission. These may be ACT (21), SAT (1020), MAT (375), GRE (284), or the PRAXIS® Core (Reading 156, Writing 162, and Mathematics 150).
• Candidates must pass a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation background check.

Please contact Stephanie Jeffers- Johnson at 865-531-4136 for more information.