About the Program

Students in the Initial Licensure: Elementary Track will complete a 36-credit program divided into three sequential cores of coursework and related requirements. The three cores are Foundation Courses, Content Methods Courses, and Practicum Capstone Courses

These courses were developed to aid students in their graduate level learning process. Foundation Courses include an introduction to a developmental perspective on education, research and current understandings about the methods of teaching specific fields of knowledge, classroom management, inclusive practices for meeting the needs of students with moderate disabilities and sheltering instruction of content for English Language Learners. The Content Methods Courses cover the knowledge base that teachers must bring to the classroom. For an elementary school teacher this must include enough college course work in the areas that are included in the elementary curriculum to guarantee competence and comfort with the material to be taught. The capstone of the program for the Initial Licensure is the supervised practicum and accompanying portfolio. Candidates demonstrate readiness for the initial elementary licensure by a passing score on the MA CAP (Candidate Assessment of Performance).

Teach Next Year

Students in Teach Next Year (TNY) completed the program curriculum in 12 months (from June until June). The program also offers support for add-on licensure in Moderate Disabilities and/or English as a Second Language.