2024-2025 Graduate Academic Catalog

M.Ed. in Early Childhood (PreK-2) with Add-License Preparation for English as a Second Language (PreK-6)

The early childhood portion of this program is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Initial Teacher License in Early Childhood (PreK-2) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

This program consists of courses that lead to an Initial teacher license in early childhood education, with an emphasis on the inclusion of all children. In addition to challenging and engaging coursework, students will gain a rich and relevant preparation for teaching by participating in a full-time practicum in early childhood classrooms.

While this program endorses candidates for only the early childhood license, it prepares them well to add the English as a Second Language (ESL) license through a year-long internship in a diverse school/classroom, which includes field experiences in PreK-2 classrooms with ESL, sheltered English immersion, or bilingual learners.

  • The year-long internship aspect of the program more than addresses the required 100-hour pre-practicum experience taken concurrently with EEDUC 6310.
  • Program language requirement: Documentation of having earned a minimum of 3 college credits in a language other than English or equivalent must be submitted prior to program completion. For non-native English speakers, English is considered to be the foreign language.
  • 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 of Study

With the exception of EECLD 6002, EECLD 6004, EECLD 6007, and EECLD 6012, all courses must be taken prior to EEDUC 7733, unless approved by academic advisor, and many courses include field-based assignments.

Required Courses

EECLD 6001Culturally Responsive Pedagogies: Equity & Agency

3

EECLD 6115Sheltered English Instruction PreK-12

3

EEDUC 5122Child and Adolescent Development

3

EEDUC 5128Early Childhood Social Studies, Families and Communities

3

EEDUC 5130Early Childhood STEAM and Health

3

EEDUC 5138Literacy and the Arts in the Early Childhood Classroom

3

EEDUC 5139Learning Mathematics in Early Childhood

3

EEDUC 6109Observation, Documentation, and Assessment

3

EEDUC 6310Design for Learning: Inquiry, Equity & Inclusivity

3

EEDUC 7733Seminar and Practicum for Educator Initial Licensure

6

The content from EECLD 6115 may be waived with documented state approved Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) endorsement, and another course can be selected with advisor approval.

Add ESL Courses

EECLD 6002On Languages: What Educators Need to Know about Linguistics

3

EECLD 6004Language Acquisition, Oral Development & Bilingualism

3

EECLD 6007Content Language, Literacies & Literature PrK-12

3

EECLD 6012Assessment for Equity & Inclusion of Multilingual Learners

3