Computer Science Education Certificate

Program Overview
Admissions Requirements
Courses

Develop future generations’ technological knowledge and skills!

Lipscomb’s Computer Science certificate program offered by the College of Education is for educators seeking the endorsement for the Tennessee employment standard for computer science education. Graduates will satisfy the requirements to serve as a computer science teacher in Tennessee.

Our program is designed for:

Undergraduate students pursuing a Tennessee teaching license and degree who want the additional computer science endorsement.
Post-baccalaureate candidates pursuing computer science as an additional endorsement.

Coursework in this program provides educators with classroom strategies, as well as necessary knowledge in scripting and special topics in computer science. You will teach students to use digital tools for research and collaboration, to become familiar with systems, and to use computational thinking in our technological world. Foster student curiosity and mastery through hands-on experiences such as coding, robotics, and gaming and help them to learn to make creative ideas tangible.

Complete this endorsement certificate in just two semesters through our online, synchronous modality. Then, pass the Computer Science Praxis exam to add this to your teaching license.

* The Tennessee Department of Education issued employment standards for Computer Science in 2019 requiring teachers seeking to teach computer science in the K-12 setting to obtain the computer science endorsement. This program is a state approved program to satisfy the requirements for the endorsement.

Program Outcomes

Individuals enrolled in this program will gain the skills and pedagogical strategies to effectively teach computer science courses. Specifically, graduates will:

Demonstrate knowledge of content in Computer Science
Demonstrate effective content pedagogical strategies that make the discipline comprehensible to students
Apply their knowledge of learning environments by creating and maintaining safe, ethical, supportive, fair and effective learning environments for all students
Demonstrate professional knowledge and skills in their field and readiness to apply them

Stackable M.Ed.

FAQ's

How long does the program take to complete?

The program is 12 credit hours (four courses) and can be completed in as little as two semesters.

How are the courses delivered?

The courses are delivered in a hybrid, synchronous format.

Is there a Praxis exam required for the endorsement?

Yes, there is a Praxis exam associated with this program. Praxis exam 5652 is required for program completion and the computer science endorsement.

Admissions Requirements

A formal application for admission into the Teacher Education Program
Successful completion of:
- three (3) semester hours of LU 1203/Lipscomb Experience and
- three (3) hours of EN 1313 University Writing with a minimum grade of C
Successful completion of ED 2313 Schooling in America with a minimum grade of C and an overall grade point average of 2.75
Full attendance at one of the Teacher Education Orientation sessions (offered once per semester, Fall & Spring)
Satisfactory scores on the:
- SAT [1020] or
- ACT [21] or
- Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) Tests
A satisfactory interview with university faculty, practitioners, and/or supervisors
A professional portfolio
Three professional or academic references
Satisfactory fingerprinting and criminal background check

Courses

Contact Information

Grad Ed - Education Leadership

Lance Forman
Assistant Dean, Education Specialties
(615) 966-5033
lance.forman@lipscomb.edu

Small Class Sizes

You’ll have opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion, receive one-on-one faculty mentorship and ask difficult questions in our small class sizes. Plus, you’ll feel supported in a tight-knit learning community.

Flexible Learning

Our program is offered in a hybrid, synchronous format, at times designed to work with your busy schedule. This class model allows you the best of going to school as a working professional.

Networking

Our deeply connected faculty and experiential learning opportunities offer myriad ways for you to form relationships with leaders in the industry. These connections will serve and support you throughout your career.

Our Faculty

Lance Forman

Assistant Dean, Education Specialties

Lance Forman served for 13 years in the Metro Nashville School District as an elementary teacher, assistant principal, and executive principal prior to joining the College of Education in 2017....
Meet Lance Forman

Career Paths

High School Teachers

High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.

Middle School Teachers

Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades. They help students build on the fundamentals they learned in elementary school and prepare them for the more difficult curriculum they will face in high school.

Postsecondary Teachers

Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.