In response to increasing demand for the need for highly effective teachers, numerous pathways to teacher certification have emerged. Consequently, teacher residencies as an alternative route to certification have grown in number and scale across the country. Due to the recent growth and expansion of teacher residencies, there is limited research on teacher characteristics that produce the most effective teachers through this certification pathway. This study examined the relationship between undergraduate academic knowledge and teacher effectiveness for first-year teachers who were trained through a particular residency program in an urban area in Tennessee between 2011 and 2019. The sample consisted of 424 teachers. More specifically, this study analyzed the relationships between undergraduate academic preparation (GPA and major) and student growth, as measured by the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment Systems (TVAAS). The study also examined the relationships between undergraduate academic preparation (GPA and major) and teacher observation scores, as measured by Teacher Effectiveness Measure (TEM) observation evaluation instrument. In exploring these relationships, the study found a significant linear relationship between undergraduate GPA and TEM observation scores for first-year teachers. However, despite a weak positive correlation between the two variables, no significant relationship was found to exist between a teacher's undergraduate GPA and their student growth scores. Furthermore, no significant relationships were generated between undergraduate major classification and teacher effectiveness operational by both student growth and teacher observation scores. Further implications of the results are discussed. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]