M.Ed. in Elementary Education (1-6) with Add License Preparation for English as a Second Language (PreK-6) 46 credits
The elementary portion of this program of study is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Initial Teacher License in Elementary (1-6) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Upon completion of this program, students will be endorsed for the elementary license, and prepared to apply to the state to add the English as a Second Language (ESL) license. This is done through a year-long internship in a diverse school/classroom, which includes field experiences in elementary with ESL, sheltered English immersion, or dual bilingual classrooms. Key competencies relating to culturally responsive teaching, equity, inclusion, differentiated instruction, interdisciplinary teaching, and a focus on Common Core Standards are integrated throughout the program, as are related ESL competencies. The ESL-related courses, which focus on second language acquisition, linguistics, methods, and assessment, add to the skills developed through the elementary courses to assure that candidates are well prepared to address the needs of English language learners no matter what program/classroom instructional model is in place.
- The year-long internship aspect of the program more than addresses the 100-hour pre-practicum experience required for EEDUC 7733 Practicum and Seminar in Elementary Education (1-6). Pre-practicum experience is also integrated within the course EEDUC 6635.
- To obtain a Massachusetts ESL license, students will need to apply for an Initial ESL license with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and have passed the appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). DESE also requires students to complete 150 hours in an ESL classroom to qualify for add ESL license. Students will meet this requirement through a year-long placement in a district-based clinical setting.
- Program prerequisite: An approved child development course completed with a grade of B or better. Without such a course, students may be accepted into the program but must take EEDUC 5122 Development & Learning: Psycho-social Perspectives in Education in their first semester of study.
- Language requirement: Documentation of having earned a minimum of 3 college credits in a language other than English or equivalent is required for ESL Initial license and must be submitted prior to taking EECLD 7006. For non-native English speakers, English is considered to be the foreign language.
For the university's transfer credit policy for this and other programs, see the Transfer of Credits page.
Program of Study
Program phases parallel the recommended course sequence. Any changes must be approved in consultation with academic advisor. Students meet for an advising support session following each phase, and more often if needed.
With the exception of EECLD 6002, EECLD 6004, EECLD 6007, and EECLD 6012, all courses in each phase must be taken prior to EEDUC 7733, unless approved by academic advisor, and many courses include field-based assignments.
Phases I and II (15 credits):
| EEDUC 5102 | Teaching Elementary School Mathematics | 3 |
| EEDUC 5400 | Literacy and Literature: Methods and Materials (1-6) | 3 |
| EEDUC 5135 | STEAM in the Elementary School: Thinking with Evidence | 3 |
| EEDUC 5136 | Integrating Social Studies into the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| EMATH 6108 | Constructing Mathematical Understanding for Number Theory | 3 |
Phase III (16 credits):
| EEDUC 6635 | Theory and Practice: A Contemporary Context for Teaching | 3 |
| EECLD 6115 | Sheltered English Instruction (PreK-6) | 4 |
| EECLD 6001 | Culturally Responsive Teaching | 3 |
| EECLD 6002 | On Languages: What Educators Need to Know about Linguistics | 3 |
| EINSE 5037 | Strategies for Inclusive Schooling | 3 |
EECLD 6115 may be waived with documented state approved Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) endorsement, which would reduce total number of program credits by four (4).
Phase IV (15 credits):
Practicum prerequisites: Completion of a 100 hour pre-practicum experience and all practicum documentation (including applicable MTEL score reports); practicum application submitted by April 1 for Fall or November 1 for Spring; cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; completion of all pre-practicum courses with no outstanding incomplete or failing grades. This full time, semester-long experience requires an accompanying seminar course and includes a field experience fee and 6 credits of tuition. Field Placement Office must approve all practicum placements.
| EECLD 6004 | Language Acquisition, Oral Development & Bilingualism | 3 |
| EECLD 6007 | Content Language, Literacies & Literature PrK-12 | 3 |
| EECLD 6012 | Assessment for Equity & Inclusion of Multilingual Learners | 3 |
| EEDUC 7733 | Practicum and Seminar in Elementary Education (1-6) | 6 |