Department of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services • (901) 333-5483
education@southwest.tn.edu
The Associate of Science in Teaching degree has been implemented throughout the Tennessee Board of Regents system to facilitate entry of transfer students from community colleges into university teacher education programs. A common curriculum applicable to all community colleges and acceptable to all TBR universities is prescribed. Admission, retention, and graduation requirements are the same as those published in the Graduation Requirements section of the Southwest Tennessee Community College catalog with the additional requirement that students who qualify for the AST must satisfy the following:
- Attainment of a cumulative 2.75 grade point average
- Successful completion of the PRAXIS Core examination
- Computer-based tests can be scheduled at any time by visiting www.ets.org
- Satisfactory Reading Core Score (Test 5712): 156
- Satisfactory Writing Core Score (Test 5722): 162
- Satisfactory Math Core Score (Test 5732): 150
- Students with an institution documented ACT Best Score of 21 or higher are exempt from taking the Praxis Core examination
- Achievement of satisfactory rating on three (3) Student Disposition Forms
- One must be from Introduction to EDUC or Introduction to ECE (respective of the specific AST degree being pursued)
- Two forms are at the student’s discretion
- Completion of 30 documented department approved field experience hours
Additional Information:
Criminal and/or other types of background checks, possibly at the student’s expense, may be a requirement of some courses in this degree program. The ability to complete cooperative training, internships, field experiences, and educational practicums may be based on the results of these background checks. This could result in your inability to successfully complete course/program requirements.
The Associate of Science in Teaching (A.S.T.) (K-5) Degree is designed as a transfer degree for students who wish to pursue a career in elementary education, teaching children in kindergarten through sixth grade in public and private schools. The graduate with the A.S.T. degree will have completed the first two years of a four-year degree that is required for teacher certification (licensure) in elementary education in Tennessee. Students who earn the A.S.T. (K-5) are prepared to transfer to any of the six Tennessee Board of Regents universities for their junior and senior years, and are prepared to enter into the university’s teacher education program.
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