Certificate in Early Childhood Education

Teacher Education

Students may elect to participate in an early childhood certificate program, an elementary education program, or seek licensure in a major subject area on the secondary level in the areas of English, History, Mathematics Education, or Spanish.

Admission to Licensure Programs

Admission to licensure for elementary or secondary schools begins with ED 103, Initial Field Experience, which is completed in January of the first year. This experience requires the student to spend five full days in a school setting, to complete required paper work, and to participate in an interview with the program director following the experience. Formal acceptance into the program occurs in the second semester of the second year, contingent upon maintaining a grade point average of 3.00 or better and successfully competing the Communication and Literacy subtest of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL).  In addition the candidate must receive a formal recommendations from his/her major department advisor and from the faculty of the Education Department.

Retention in Licensure Programs

To be considered a member of the teacher education program, a student must meet program requirements. These include:

• Maintaining a grade point average of 3.00 each semester. If the GPA is less than 3.00 in a semester, the student has one semester to raise it to the standard.
• Successfully completing the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL), Communication and Literacy Subtest before entering sophomore year, the subject area test and Foundations of Reading (elementary) before entering junior year.
• Scheduling an interview each semester with his/her advisor in the Education Program. Receiving an initial recommendation from his/her major department advisor in the second semester of the second year.
• Receiving a recommendation from his/her major department advisor prior to placement for student teaching.

Requirements for Elementary Education

(In conjunction with a liberal arts major in English, History, Mathematics Education, Liberal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, or Individually Designed)

• ED 100 Teaching and Learning Today
• ED 101A Educational Psychology
• ED 103 Field Experience in Education
• ED 202 Elementary School Mathematics: Instruction
• ED 207 Elementary School Mathematics: Curriculum
• ED 208 Literacy Development Including Special Needs
• ED 308 Educating Children with Special Needs in the Regular Classroom
• ED 401 Student Teaching and Seminar: Elementary
• ID 208 Integrating the Elementary Curriculum
• PS 203 Introduction to Psychology I
• PS 204 Introduction to Psychology II
• PS 307 Child Development

Requirements for Secondary Education

(In conjunction with a liberal arts major in English, History, Mathematics Education, or Spanish)

• ED 100 Teaching and Learning Today
• ED 101B Educational Psychology
• ED 103 Field Experience in Education
• ED 205 Principles and Methods of Secondary Education
• ED 306 Instructional Strategies in Specific Subjects Offered in Secondary Schools
• ED 308 Educating Children with Special Needs in the Regular Classroom
• ED 403 Student Teaching and Seminar: Secondary
• PS 203 Introduction to Psychology I
• PS 204 Introduction to Psychology II
• PS 310 Psychology of Adolescence

Requirements for Early Childhood Education
Certificate of Qualification—Department of Early Education and Care

Teacher

• PS 307 Child Development
• ED 399A Early Childhood Practicum/Seminar

Lead Teacher

• PS 307 Child Development
• PS 314 Childhood and Adolescent Abnormal Psychology
• SO 212 Children in Society
• ED 206 Early Childhood Education: Curriculum Areas
• ED 399A Early Childhood Practicum/Seminar
• ED 400 Early Childhood Practicum

Director

• PS 307 Child Development
• PS 314 Childhood and Adolescent Abnormal Psychology
• SO 212 Children in Society
• ED 206 Early Childhood Education: Curriculum Areas
• ED 399A Early Childhood Practicum/Seminar
• ED 400 Early Childhood Practicum
• MT 206 Administration and Supervision of Early Childhood