Elementary Education Major
Elementary Education Major Teacher Licensure Program
The Elementary Education major prepares candidates for Initial Licensure as a teacher of children in a public school classroom, grades 1 through 6. 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 fieldwork and pre-practicum 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, which must be passed to obtain the initial license.
Admission to the Elementary Education Major
Students planning to major in Elementary Education will progress through a three-stage process. Each stage must be satisfactorily completed before passage to the next stage.
Stage I: Elementary Education Major
- Students must demonstrate competence in communication skills by completion of the following course with a grade of C or higher:
Course List Code Title Credits EN-102 College Writing II (or equivalent) 3 - Students must demonstrate competence in Math with a grade of C or higher in the following courses:
Course List Code Title Credits MA-130 Number and Operations for Teachers 3 MA-131 Patterns, Functions and Algebra for Teachers 3 MA-132 Geometry, Measurement, Probability and Statistics for Teachers 3 - Students must submit a Criminal Offender Records Information (CORI) application and be approved prior to doing classroom observations in 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-155 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.
- 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 ED-155 Teaching and Learning in Elementary School (5 hours fieldwork) 3 or ED-150 Introduction to the Teaching Profession ED-250 Educational Psychology (10 hours fieldwork) 3 ED-261 Introduction to the Foundations of Reading 3 ED-275 Curr/Instr in Elementary Ed (10 hours fieldwork) 3 - Students must receive a passing score on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication and Literacy Skills Test.
- 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 Elementary Education Licensure Program
- Upon satisfactory completion of Stage I requirements, students are eligible to apply for formal admission to the Elementary 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-306 Elementary Reading, Language Arts and Literature (20 hours fieldwork) 6 ED-320 Elementary Science (10 hours fieldwork) 3 ED-325 Elementary Mathematics (10 hours fieldwork) 3 ED-330 Elementary Social Studies and Mulriculturalism (10 hours fieldwork) 3 ED-375 Prepracticum: Instruction, Classroom Management, and Family and Community Engagement in the Elementary School 3
Stage III: Elementary Education Major – Practicum
- Upon satisfactory completion of Stage II requirements, student are eligible to apply for formal admission into the Practicum, ED-435 (corequisite ED-425).
- Students must have received a passing score on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) in Communication and Literacy Skills, Foundations of Reading, General Curriculum Multisubject subtest and Mathematics subtest for Elementary majors.
- The Stage III application will be reviewed and acted on by the Licensure Officer.
- Students must have attained senior standing (90 credits of course work) to student teach.
- Students convicted of a felony may be denied admission to student teaching.
- Any departure from the prescribed program of study must be approved by the Department Chair or Dean.
Additional information regarding formal application into student teaching is available from the Education Department.
Requirements for a Major in Elementary Education
Prerequisite Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MA-130 | Number and Operations for Teachers | 3 |
| MA-131 | Patterns, Functions and Algebra for Teachers | 3 |
| MA-132 | Geometry, Measurement, Probability and Statistics for Teachers | 3 |
| PS-210 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ED-155 | Teaching and Learning in Elementary School | 3 |
| or ED-150 | Introduction to the Teaching Profession | |
| ED-250 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| ED-261 | Introduction to the Foundations of Reading | 3 |
| ED-275 | Curr/Instr in Elementary Ed | 3 |
| ED-304 | Best Practices for English Language Learners | 3 |
| ED-306 | Elementary Reading, Language Arts and Literature | 6 |
| ED-320 | Elementary Science | 3 |
| ED-325 | Elementary Mathematics | 3 |
| ED-330 | Elementary Social Studies and Mulriculturalism | 3 |
| ED-375 | Prepracticum: Instruction, Classroom Management, and Family and Community Engagement in the Elementary School | 3 |
| ED-425 | Sem: Applying Ed Principles | 3 |
| ED-435 | Practicum in Teaching: Elementary School | 9 |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Recommended Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HE-100 | Personal Health | 3 |
| or HE-120 | Health and Nutrition | |
Students will also be required to take specific liberal arts and science courses to satisfy LASC requirements.
Students who major in elementary education must also complete a minor or second major. Elementary 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.
Department of Education: Elementary Education & Second Major Sample Timeline for Completion of Degree
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Credits | |
| ED-150 or ED-155 | Introduction to the Teaching Profession (ICW) or Teaching and Learning in Elementary School | 3 |
| MA-130 | Number and Operations for Teachers (QR) 2 | 3 |
| LASC | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| EN-101 | College Writing I (Writing) 1 | 3 |
| PS-101 | General Psychology (HBS) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| MA-131 | Patterns, Functions and Algebra for Teachers 2 | 3 |
| PS-210 | Developmental Psychology (HBS) | 3 |
| EN-102 | College Writing II (Writing) 1 | 3 |
| HI-111 | US History to 1877 (CON) | 3 |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Semester Three | ||
| ED-250 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| MA-132 | Geometry, Measurement, Probability and Statistics for Teachers 2 | 3 |
| HI-112 | US History 1865 to the Present (USW) | 3 |
| MU-237 | Music in the Elementary School (CA) | 3 |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| ED-261 | Introduction to the Foundations of Reading | 3 |
| ED-271 | International and Comparative Education (GP) | 3 |
| ED-275 | Curr/Instr in Elementary Ed | 3 |
| EV-120 | Integrated Environmental Science for Educators (NSP, LAB) | 4 |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Semester Five | ||
| ED-304 | Best Practices for English Language Learners (TLC) | 3 |
| ED-306 | Elementary Reading, Language Arts and Literature 3 | 6 |
| GS-101 | Physical Geography (NSP) | 3 |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| ED-320 | Elementary Science | 3 |
| ED-325 | Elementary Mathematics | 3 |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Semester Seven | ||
| ED-330 | Elementary Social Studies and Mulriculturalism | 3 |
| ED-375 | Prepracticum: Instruction, Classroom Management, and Family and Community Engagement in the Elementary School | 3 |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Second Major or Minor Requirement | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| ED-425 | Sem: Applying Ed Principles (LASC CAP) 4 | 3 |
| ED-435 | Practicum in Teaching: Elementary School 4 | 9 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
- 1
EN-101 & EN-102 satisfies LASC writing. Students should take the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL after completing EN-102.
- 2
Students should take the General Curriculum Mathematics Subtest MTEL after completing MA-130, MA-131 and MA-132.
- 3
Students should take the Foundations of Reading MTEL after completing ED-306.
- 4
Students must successfully complete all MTEL requirements before enrolling in ED-425 and ED-435.
Students are required to meet with their department advisor each semester to review their upcoming semester academic choices. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.