Education - Milligan University

Every child deserves a quality teacher and caregiver, so Milligan aims to prepare professionals who integrate their Christian faith, social responsibility, and knowledge and skills to contribute to a responsible and caring community. Whether you want to teach in a public or private school, lead youth organizations or child development centers, coach or provide fitness and wellness training, or be an administrator, Milligan’s Area of Education can help you reach your goals

Bachelor’s Degrees

Teachers are required to complete certain state-mandated requirements for teaching certification.* Elementary school teaching credentials are usually general, which means the teacher can teach a wide variety of subjects. Secondary school teachers specialize in a specific subject, such as English, Spanish, mathematics, history, or biology. At Milligan, you can obtain professional licensure to teach at the following levels:

Elementary (K-5) / English as a Second Language (ESL) (P-12)
Secondary (6-12)
Secondary (6-12) / English as a Second Language (ESL) (P-12)
Specialty Fields (K-12)
Specialty Fields (K-12) / English as a Second Language (ESL) (P-12)

Licensure

For your licensure, you’ll complete teacher education courses such as Intro to Teaching, Technology in Education, Classroom Management, Psychology and Education of Exceptional Students, and Assessment, among others. You’ll also complete supervised field experiences and student teaching in public or private partner schools in nearby communities. These are wonderful opportunities to put your classroom learning into practice and further develop your professional teaching competencies.

*Professional Licensure: This program prepares students for licensure in Tennessee. A determination of eligibility for licensure in other states has not been made. Students and applicants should check specific state requirements before applying to the program and may request contact information for the applicable licensing board from Karen Presnell, Office Manager for Area of Education at kpresnell@milligan.edu.

Graduate Degrees

Master's

Doctorate

Accelerated BS + M.Ed. Plan

Earn your bachelor’s and Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in five years and get a fast start on your teaching career. This is a 4+1 (5 year) plan that gives you the opportunity to complete the M.Ed. degree in one academic year (+ May term) after receiving a bachelor’s degree.

BENEFITS

Start higher on the salary ladder with one year of teaching experience AND a master’s
M.Ed. degree will make you more competitive for job openings in most markets
Secure your spot in the M.Ed. program
Get a fast start on your career
May qualify for TEACH Grant
Continue learning from your Milligan faculty and gain the credentials and strong reputation of the Milligan M.Ed.

REQUIREMENTS & PROCESS

Major in a teacher education field at Milligan (talk to advisor about available fields and majors)
Request endorsement from your faculty advisor
Meet with Dr. Angela Hilton-Prillhart for approval to declare the Accelerated Plan by fall of junior year (preferably in sophomore year)*
Complete and Submit (to the GPS Office) the Participation form for the Accelerated plan, which requires approval signatures from both your undergraduate advisor and Dr. Hilton-Prillhart
Complete the required coursework for the Accelerated Plan
Must complete the M.Ed. admission process, be admitted, and pay deposit by Nov. 15 of senior year

*Approval to declare the M.Ed. accelerated plan is not a guarantee of your admission to the Milligan M.Ed. program.

What Makes Our Program Unique

Beginning with their first education class, our students are heavily involved in field experience in the schools. Our students gain practical, hands-on experience both in the classroom and in their field experiences. Our students are recognized as caring servant-leaders who desire to make a difference. Committed and caring faculty work with you through each step of the program. And we have fun while learning!

Outstanding Reputation

Consistently exceeds the state average on the State Board of Education Report Card
Employment retention rates consistently exceed the state average
Our employed teacher graduates “exceed expectations” on measures related to teacher observations and student-growth scores, scoring well above the state average

For many decades, Milligan has enjoyed a strong partnership with area school systems. The university’s reputation for producing well-prepared, creative, committed teachers is unparalleled. School administrators consistently look to Milligan as a resource for both hiring and training, regularly calling on faculty to lead workshops for in-services and to collaborate on various education issues. Thousands of our graduates are serving as teachers, coaches, counselors, and administrators in schools across the United States.

Quality and CAEP Annual Report Measures

Milligan is accredited by CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, which means your degree from Milligan is instantly recognized throughout the country for its quality. Research has shown that graduates from CAEP institutions significantly outperform those from other institutions on National Teacher Examinations.

The following link provides information on the Education Area’s performance in the following indicators: Impact on P-12 student learning, teacher effectiveness, employer satisfaction and employment milestones, completer satisfaction, graduation rates of candidates, undergraduate retention, ability of program completers to meet licensing requirements, employment and consumer information, and debt repayment. CAEP Annual Report Measures »