The Early Childhood Education major prepares candidates for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Initial License as a teacher of children in public school classrooms, PK through grade 2. The program of study is based on a broad liberal arts foundation and an integrated professional teacher preparation program. A course waiver process is available for transfer students where appropriate. Fieldwork accompanies most education courses and is a necessary component of the program. Student prepracticum experiences include a wide variety of field settings. Students attend different and varied schools in urban, rural, and suburban settings. They also vary their placements and grade levels in different school buildings within districts to ensure a well rounded experience.

Preparation for the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) is embedded in the program at various stages and must be passed to obtain the initial license.

Stages of the Early Childhood Education Program

There are three stages of the Early Childhood Education major.  Requirements for each stage must be successfully completed before student can proceed to the next stage.

Early Childhood Education Major Teacher Licensure Program (Massachusetts Public Schools, PK-2)

Requirements for a Major in Early Childhood Education leading to MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Initial Licensure (PK-2):

48 credits

Prerequisite Courses

Required Courses

Recommended Courses

Students are required to take specific liberal arts and science courses to satisfy foundation and distribution requirements.

Students who major in early childhood education must also complete a minor or second major. Early childhood education students must meet with an advisor in the education department in order to choose an appropriate minor or second major that aids the student in at least one of the following areas: gaining subject matter knowledge relevant to what they will teach in the future, enhancing pedagogical skills, and/or understanding the diverse students in their future classrooms. 

Admission to the Early Childhood Education Major

Early Childhood Education majors seeking the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Initial License will progress through a three-stage process. Each stage must be satisfactorily completed before passage to the next stage.

Stage I: Early Childhood Major

1. Students demonstrate competence in communication skills by completing the following course with a grade of C or higher.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   EN-102	College Writing II (or equivalent)	3

2. Students demonstrate competence in math with a grade of C or higher in the following course:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   MA-125	Mathematics for Early Childhood Education	3

3. Students must submit a Criminal Offender Records Information (CORI) application and be approved prior to beginning classroom observations in the Worcester Public Schools. No student is allowed to do fieldwork unless approval of the CORI has been received from the state. Before completion of ED-160 or ED-150, students must be fingerprinted through the Massachusetts designated agency (MorphoTrust USA IdentoGO). Additional information regarding fingerprinting is available in the Education Department.

4. Students demonstrate potential for teaching children by completing all of the following courses with a grade of C+ or higher and earning a cumulative GPA of 2.5.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   PS-210	Developmental Psychology	3
   or ED-125	Principles of Child Growth and Development From Birth-8
   ED-261	Introduction to the Foundations of Reading	3
   ED-160	Early Childhood Education Today (5 hours fieldwork)	3
   or ED-150	Introduction to the Teaching Profession
   ED-206	Development and Learning of Typical and Atypical Children Birth to Age 8 (10 hours)	3
   ED-211	Integrating Science, Social Studies and the Fine Arts in Early Childhood Curriculum (10 hours fieldwork)	3
   ED-214	Emergent Literacy (10 hours fieldwork)	3

5. Students must receive a passing score on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication and Literacy Skills Test. MTEL preparation courses are available in the fall and spring semesters. 

6. Any departure from the prescribed program of study for teacher licensure must have Waiver Committee approval prior to advancement to Stage II.

Stage II: Admission into the Early Childhood Licensure Program

1. Upon satisfactory completion of Stage I requirements, students are eligible to apply for formal admission to the Early Childhood Education Licensure Program. The application must include MTEL test results and transcripts of all previous course work. Approval by the Education Department is necessary for a student to progress to Stage II.
   
   During Stage II, students must complete all of the following courses with a grade of C+ or higher AND earn a cumulative GPA of 2.7. Fieldwork accompanies the following methods courses.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   ED-304	Best Practices for English Language Learners	3
   ED-307	ECE - Science (10 hours fieldwork)	3
   ED-308	ECE - Mathematics (10 hours fieldwork)	3
   ED-313	Practicum in Early Childhood Education: Preschool/Kindergarten	3
   ED-340	Language Arts & Literacy for the Primary Grades (10 hours fieldwork)	3
   ED-386	Assessment and Adjustment in Practice In Early Childhood Education (5 hours fieldwork)	3
   ED-400	Inclusive Early Childhood Education: Preschool Through Grade 2	3

2. After completing 90 credits of academic work, students may apply for formal admission into ED-313 (corerequisite ED-400). This application will be reviewed and acted upon by the Licensure Officer. Additional information regarding formal application for  Practicum in ECE is available from the Education Department.

Stage III: Early Childhood Education Major – Practicum

1. Upon satisfactory completion of Stage II requirements, students are eligible to apply for formal admission into ED-430 (corequisite ED-405).
2. Students must have received a passing score on all portions of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (Communication and Literacy, Early Childhood, and Foundations of Reading).
3. Students must have attained senior standing (90 credits of course work) to complete the Primary Practicum.
4. This application will be reviewed and acted upon by the Licensure Officer.
5. Students convicted of a felony may be denied admission to student teaching.
6. Any departure from the prescribed program of study must be approved by the Department Chair and/or Dean of Education and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Additional information regarding formal application for the Primary Practicum is available from the Education Department.

Department of Education: Early Childhood Education & Sociology Minor Sample Timeline For Completion of Degree

¹

EN-101 & EN-102 satisfies LASC writing. 

MTEL Timeline:

• After completing EN-102, students should take the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL.
• By the beginning of their Junior Year, students should take the Foundations of Reading MTEL.
• By the end of their Junior Year, students should take the Early Childhood MTEL.
• In order to enroll in  ED-405 and ED-430, students must successfully complete all MTEL requirements.  

Students are required to meet with their academic advisor to review their courses for the upcoming semester. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.  First-year and transfer students with 45 or fewer credits at the time of admission shall complete two academic programs (a major/major or major/minor) to qualify for graduation.  For more information, please view the MajorPlus section of this catalog.