Early Childhood Education Major

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.

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):

45 credits

Prerequisite Courses

MA-130Number and Operations for Teachers3
PS-210Developmental Psychology3
Total Credits6

Required Courses

ED-160Early Childhood Education Today3
or ED-150 Introduction to the Teaching Profession
ED-206Development and Learning of Typical and Atypical Children Birth to Age 83
ED-211Integrating Science, Social Studies and the Fine Arts in Early Childhood Curriculum3
ED-214Emergent Literacy3
ED-304Best Practices for English Language Learners3
ED-307ECE - Science3
ED-308ECE - Mathematics3
ED-313Practicum in Early Childhood Education: Preschool/Kindergarten3
ED-340Language Arts & Literacy for the Primary Grades3
ED-386Assessment and Adjustment in Practice In Early Childhood Education3
ED-400Inclusive Early Childhood Education: Preschool Through Grade 23
ED-405Classroom Management and Child Guidance Techniques3
ED-430Practicum in Early Childhood Education: Grade 1 or Grade 29
Total Credits45

Recommended Courses

EN-102College Writing II (or equivalent)3
MA-132Geometry, Measurement, Probability and Statistics for Teachers3
HE-100Personal Health3
HE-120Health and Nutrition3

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.
    EN-102College Writing II (or equivalent)3
  2. Students demonstrate competence in math with a grade of C or higher in the following course:

    MA-130Number and Operations for Teachers3
  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.

    PS-210Developmental Psychology3
    ED-160Early Childhood Education Today (5 hours fieldwork)3
    or ED-150 Introduction to the Teaching Profession
    ED-206Development and Learning of Typical and Atypical Children Birth to Age 8 (10 hours)3
    ED-211Integrating Science, Social Studies and the Fine Arts in Early Childhood Curriculum (10 hours fieldwork)3
    ED-214Emergent 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.
    ED-304Best Practices for English Language Learners3
    ED-307ECE - Science (10 hours fieldwork)3
    ED-308ECE - Mathematics (10 hours fieldwork)3
    ED-313Practicum in Early Childhood Education: Preschool/Kindergarten3
    ED-340Language Arts & Literacy for the Primary Grades (10 hours fieldwork)3
    ED-386Assessment and Adjustment in Practice In Early Childhood Education (5 hours fieldwork)3
    ED-400Inclusive Early Childhood Education: Preschool Through Grade 23
  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 & Second Major Sample Timeline For Completion of Degree

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
ED-160 Early Childhood Education Today 3
EN-101 College Writing I 1 3
LASCFirst-Year Seminar 3
MA-130 Number and Operations for Teachers (LASC QR) 3
PS-101 General Psychology (LASC HBS) 3
 Credits15
Semester Two
EN-102 College Writing II 1 3
HI-111 US History to 1877 (LASC Const) 3
ED-206 Development and Learning of Typical and Atypical Children Birth to Age 8 (LASC DAC) 3
PS-210 Developmental Psychology 3
GS-101 Physical Geography (LASC NSP) 3
Second Major Requirement
 Credits15
Year Two
Semester Three
ED-211 Integrating Science, Social Studies and the Fine Arts in Early Childhood Curriculum 3
HI-112 US History 1865 to the Present (LASC USW) 3
HE-100 Personal Health (LASC ICW) 3
MA-132 Geometry, Measurement, Probability and Statistics for Teachers (LASC QR) 3
LASC QLAC or Second Major Requirement
 Credits12
Semester Four
ED-214 Emergent Literacy (LASC WAC) 3
EV-120 Integrated Environmental Science for Educators 4
ED-339 Children's Literature: Multicultural Literature for PK-9 ( (or other LASC Elective TLC)) 3
Second Major Requirement
Second Major Requirement
 Credits10
Year Three
Semester Five
ED-307
ECE - Science
or ECE - Mathematics
3
ED-340 Language Arts & Literacy for the Primary Grades 3
MU-237 Music in the Elementary School (LASC CA) 3
HI-103 Connecting Ancient Worlds: World History to 1500 (LASC GP) 3
Second Major Requirement
Second Major Requirement
 Credits12
Semester Six
ED-308
ECE - Mathematics (LASC QLAC)
or ECE - Science
3
ED-386 Assessment and Adjustment in Practice In Early Childhood Education 3
Second Major Requirement
Second Major Requirement
Second Major Requirement
 Credits6
Year Four
Semester Seven
ED-304 Best Practices for English Language Learners (LASC DAC) 3
ED-400 Inclusive Early Childhood Education: Preschool Through Grade 2 3
ED-313 Practicum in Early Childhood Education: Preschool/Kindergarten 3
Second Major Requirement
Second Major Requirement
 Credits9
Semester Eight
ED-405 Classroom Management and Child Guidance Techniques 3
ED-430 Practicum in Early Childhood Education: Grade 1 or Grade 2 9
 Credits12
 Total Credits91
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.