What else can you do with your math or science major?
How can you become a math or science teacher?
Make an appointment with a licensure advisor in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences to get information about the course sequence and program.
Before your meeting, please meet with your academic advisor to discuss your current degree plan.
What is VolsTeach?
VolsTeach is an undergraduate pathway that emphasizes early and on-going field based experiences while students are working to attain a bachelor degree (in education, math or science).
The Tennessee Department of Education endorses the VolsTeach program to prepare highly qualified teachers to meet state and federal guidelines.
VolsTeach provides:
- students have the opportunity to gain experiences in a variety of schools during the program
- a range of classes which will include educational technology, special education, educational psychology, general pedagogy, content-specific pedagogy, and field-based experiences to complement their math/science content coursework
- opportunities to work with experienced mentors in a school setting
- while not a traditional cohort model, VolsTeach students create a smaller school within the larger University setting, providing community and peer support systems throughout the program
Scholarship Opportunities:
- The Nivedita Ganguly Memorial VolsTeach Scholarship Fund. To honor Nita Ganguly, PhD, former clinical associate professor of VolsTeach, her husband Ranjan Ganguly, PhD, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Professor of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB), created an endowment that will provide scholarships for VolsTeach and BCMB students. The VolsTeach scholarship is named the Nivedita Ganguly Memorial VolsTeach Scholarship in her honor.
- The Brent L. and Rachel W. Trentham Endowed Scholarship, established in 2013, recognizes and awards a VolsTeach student who has demonstrated high-quality math teaching skills and commitment to the education profession. Brent and Rachel Trentham are alumni of the University of Tennessee. Apply here.
- The Stringer-Thompson-Taylor-Richardson-Cox Endowed Scholarship. This endowment was established by University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) alumni Jeanne and Neal Richardson, to support those students who show high academic performance and are planning to teach science. The name given to this scholarship honors four generations of Jeanne’s family and the positive influence they shared about the importance of good education. Apply here.
- The Cleonelda B. and Leo Harner Scholarship. This endowment was established through an estate gift of the Harners. Cloenelda Braden Harner was a UTK alum, having graduated with a degree in Home Economics.
- ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship. The mission of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. This scholarship is awarded to undergraduate chemistry majors who attend one of ACS-Hach Land partner institutions and express an interest in teaching high school chemistry.
- Math Departmental Scholarships: Apply here.
- College of Education, Health & Human Sciences Scholarships: Apply here.
Coursework
Education majors-VolsTeach related concentrations
Education undergraduate teaching minors-VolsTeach related concentrations
School-Based Field Experiences
Students get a chance to learn professional skills and experience the classroom to explore if teaching is an option as a future profession. Master teachers, mentor teachers, and university facilitators are part of the school-based experiences in the program. Before, during, and after teaching, students are offered feedback and support as they plan, practice and reflect upon lessons.
The close and constant support by master teachers, mentor teachers, and UT faculty members is a unique facet of this program, as are designated instructional materials and resources devoted to VolsTeach students.
Entering the Program
VolsTeach has a variety of pathways for undergraduate students entering at any point in their academic career.
Make an appointment with a licensure advisor in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences to get information about the course sequence and program. “