Undergraduate Programs
College of Education undergraduate programs are housed in the Instruction and Curriculum Leadership department. If you are interested in teaching or working with youth, the COE has a degree program for you.
- If you would like to teach in preK-5th grade or Secondary Math, visit the Office of Teacher Education and Clinical Practice page> to learn more about teaching licensure.
- If you would like to teach 6th-12th grade, learn more about the new K-12 Education Minor>.
- If you are interested in working with children in a school or clinical setting, learning more about Educational Careers>.
- If you are interested in working with youth in a non-profit setting, learn more about the new Youth Development concentration>.
- If you are a current COE undergraduate looking for your advisor, visit the Office of Teacher Education and Clinical Practice page>.
River City Partnership
180 days - one school year - is a lifetime and can make a huge impact on the life of a student. Inspire the Memphis community by becoming a River City Teacher Scholar for the College of Education at the UofM. The River City Partnership is a collaboration between UofM College of Education, Shelby County Schools, Achievement School District and local charter schools. Our program prepares local, future educators to practice and promote social justice, equity and inclusion as a teacher in Memphis urban schools.
The River City Partnership provides scholars with a unique cohort model, scholarship opportunities, support and mentorship during classes and after graduation and coursework focusing on teaching in Memphis. Learn more on the River City Partnership page>.
COE Majors and Minors
Important Links
The Human Development and Learning major, part of the Early Childhood Education program, aims to actively engage and thoughtfully and rigorously prepare early childhood educators to develop culturally responsive, anti-bias, and anti-racist teaching practices. Through coursework, field experiences, and student teaching, undergraduate students gain knowledge, skills, dispositions, and strategies needed to advance equity and support young children’s learning across developmental stages (birth to age eight) within diverse contexts, leading to initial Pre-K-3 Tennessee State Teacher Certification.
The ECED program encourages and supports the development and use of culturally inclusive and culturally sustaining critical theories, perspectives, and practices to advance contextually appropriate practices developed in collaboration with local cultures and communities.
Important Links
Secondary Math Concentration
The ICL Department offers an Integrative Studies, Secondary Math Concentration degree. The objectives for a B.S.Ed. in Integrative Studies/Secondary Math are: (a) to understand how learning occurs, how students construct knowledge and acquire skills, and knows how to provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social, and personal development; (b) preparing, through intensive clinical experiences, highly qualified math teachers grades for 6-12.
In this program, you will:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the mathematics you will teach
- Work collaboratively with mathematics and education faculty
- Learn how to teach effectively in urban schools
- Spend a full year “in residence” in a local school (observing, tutoring, and teaching)
- Earn a teaching license upon successful completion of the program
Important Links
- Secondary Education program page>
- Secondary Math program of studies>
- Secondary Math Advising and teaching licensure>
Youth Development Concentration
The Integrative Studies: Youth Development Undergraduate concentration (Bachelor of Science in Education) is an authentic, cutting-edge program designed collaboratively with the COE's non-profit partners. This non-licensure program will provide students who are interested in serving in non-profits and educational support structures with a dedicated course of study, practicum, internship and a path to a career. Students in the Integrative Studies: Youth Development concentration will take specialized courses focused on diversity, equity and inclusion and gain real-world experience to work with youth in non-school settings.
Visit the Youth Development page to learn more>.
Educational Careers Concentration
Students who are interested in working in education or working with youth but are not interested in earning teaching licensure can major in Integrative Studies: Educational Careers. The Integrative Studies Educational Careers concentration, a non-licensure concentration, does not require admittance to the Teacher Education Program.
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Minor
ICL offers a 100% online minor (18 hours) for Undergraduate students in Applied Behavior Analysis. This accelerated minor prepares students to apply for certification as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). This minor pairs well with majors in Teaching All Learners, Psychology, Social Work and Child Development, as well as other majors that work with children and adults with autism, behavior delays, or social communication delays.
Learn more about the ABA Minor>.
K-12 Education Minor
The K-12 Education Minor allows non-education majors, especially those in the College of Arts and Sciences, to complete a partial program of study that will lead to teaching licensure in Tennessee, as opposed to beginning your teacher preparation coursework after undergraduate graduation. The 6 course (18 credit hour) minor allows non-education majors to enroll in courses that will prepare you for the classroom.