Teacher Education Program

Students who are interested in a teaching career have the opportunity to fulfill this goal at Pellissippi State. The first decision to be made by students considering a career in education is the age group which they would like to teach! Once this decision is made, a major can be declared and each student can be assigned an advisor who is specifically trained to help teacher education majors make the best possible decisions so their career goals can become a reality.

Students in the Teacher Education Program at Pellissippi State need to specify either A.S.T., Teacher Education or ECED as their major. The information below should help students make this decision.

A.S.T. (Associate of Science in Teaching) Degree

Students who wish to teach in a K-6 setting should pursue the AST (Associates of Science in Teaching) degree.

Note: The course curriculum for the A.S.T. degree is very specific and is accepted by all TBR (Tn. Board of Regents) Schools, as well as Carson Newman College.

A.S. (Associate of Science) or A.A. (Associate of Arts) degree with a major in Teacher Education

Students who wish to teach in a middle or high school setting or in Special Education, ESL, Theatre, or in another specific concentration area should pursue an A.S. degree or an A.A. degree.

Note: These students must follow the curriculum for the school to which the student plans to transfer upon completion of the A.S. degree in the level or concentration area that he/she has selected. Articulation Agreements (with Required Courses) for many of the area universities are listed on the PSCC website. If a particular college or university or a specific major is not listed, this information can be acquired from that school's website or Admissions Office. View more information on local education programs.

Early Childhood Education

Students who wish to work with very young children (Pre-K) in a pre-school program, Head Start or other childcare setting should specify ECED (Early Childhood Education) as a major. Students who select this major will work toward a C.D.A. (Child Development Credential) or an A.A.S. (Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood).

Note: The course requirements for the C.D.A. and the A.A.S. will NOT prepare a student to transfer into a teacher education licensure program which is required for teachers in grades K-12. However, students who wish to pursue a four-year degree in Child Development or another related degree should follow the course curriculum that will prepare them for the transfer to a particular college or university.

View more information on Early Childhood Education Program (ECED).

For more information about the Teacher's Education program at Pellissippi State:

Visit -
The Teacher Education Advising Center
Portable E, Room 107, Hardin Valley Campus

Contact Us:
education@pstcc.edu
865.539.7228
Fax: 865.539.7034

Or contact a member of the TEACH team - Cindy Sauer
Coordinator of Academic Support/Advising
casauer@pstcc.edu
865.539.7287

Barbara Jenkins
Teacher Education Program Coordinator
865.694.6471
bkjenkins@pstcc.edu

Terenia Schumann
Early Childhood Education (ECED) Coordinator
865.539.7287
tschumann@pstcc.edu

Celeste Evans
Cohort & Certificate Specialist
865.694.7381
clevans@pstcc.edu

"The 2+2 program at Pellissippi is a wonderful program. I believe that the classes I took at Pellissippi, as well as the upper level classes I am now taking through Tennessee Tech are really preparing me for the classroom. The professors really teach material that you can use in your future classroom. It is so great that students are able to visit in an elementary classroom their very first semester at Pellissippi. This provides them with an assurance that they really want to be a teacher and the confidence to know that they can be a teacher… If I had to do it all over again, I would still pick the 2+2 program. I have met so many wonderful people and professors along the way. I could not imagine doing it any other way."

—Jody Harris