Master of Education, Elementary Education, Initial Licensure

Program Features 

• Tailored for students, career changers, and education professionals: The program is designed for people new to the field of education and those who have previously worked in school settings (e.g., paraprofessionals).

• Cohort model: Small class sizes and cohort-based learning help to foster a tight-knit community between students and faculty.

• Online modality: All online program with synchronous and asynchronous coursework

• Exciting full-year teaching practicums where students gain experience working in public schools under the supervision of a supervising practitioner. Students can complete the full-year practicum by applying to our fellowship program (the sponsoring school district pays the candidate's tuition and fees for the fall/spring terms), being employed as a paraprofessional, or being placed in a traditional student teaching role.

• Special education add-on license option: Students interested in a license in both elementary general education (grades 1-6) and special education contexts (grades PK-8) can do so.

• Faculty: Internationally renowned faculty focused on co-constructing educational experiences contextualized in transformational learning of educational theory, content, pedagogy, and practice.

• Concurrent enrollment opportunities: Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders; Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages; and more.

• Culturally sustaining practices: Our teacher candidates are trained to create equitable learning environments for children in public schools. They learn how to design and implement culturally responsive lessons, manage classrooms of diverse learners, respond to the needs of all students and increase equitable access to learning for all students. Our dedicated faculty are committed to promoting social justice and equitable access to learning for all students.

• Graduate assistantships: Opportunities to apply for graduate assistantships, grants and scholarships 

Curriculum 

Most of our online courses are synchronous and meet after 4:30 pm on weekdays. Some online courses are asynchronous and do not have set meeting times. Professors have weekly online office hours for real-time meetings.

• Stage 1: Foundation courses (available fall, spring, and summer, depending on pacing)

• Stage 2: Methods/pre-practicum full-time in an actual classroom setting (fall)

• Stage 3: Methods/practicum (spring) 

If electing to add on a special education license: 

• Second Summer: Special education coursework 

• Second Fall: Special education practicum and seminar 

Pacing and Time Commitments 

Students can select full-time or part-time plans based on work-life commitments to best meet their needs.

_{*All programs are based on the student’s previous coursework.} 

One-year Accelerated 

Beginning in May and completing the program by the following May. 

Summer: Stage 1 foundation courses 
Fall and Spring: Stage 2 and 3 coursework (methods and seminars) and experiential portion (full-year, full-time on-site placement pre-practicum and practicum) 

Two-year Option 

Begin in September or January and complete the program at the end of the second spring term. 

First Fall/Spring/Summer: Stage 1 foundation courses
Second Fall and Spring: Stage 2 and 3 coursework (methods and seminars) and experiential portion (full-year, full-time on-site placement pre-practicum and practicum) 

Three-year(+) Option 

You can take the program slowly, and your full-year experiential/on-site placement would be your last year.  

Full-Time Experiential Placement Options 

There are three options for fulfilling your full-time placement. 

Existing Job

An existing job as a para, emergency hire teacher, or a full-time teacher position. 

Placement Without Pay 

A placement without pay is where we find a full-time position for the teacher candidate in an elementary classroom.  

Fellowship

A limited number of fellowships may be available each year to qualified applicants, and partner school districts fund them. Fellowships pay a comparable stipend to para positions, but few teaching fellowships pay a teacher's salary.

Fellowship applications are due March 1 before the full-time fall-spring on-site placement. Paid fellowships are competitive. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for entry into a fellowship.

Licensure Opportunities*

We offer the opportunity to progress from your preliminary license through your professional license within one program. As soon as you pass your MTELs (state teacher tests), you can apply for your preliminary license and begin your career as a school librarian. You will be endorsed for your initial license once you have completed your core classes and practicum experience.

Upon completing your MEd and finishing at least three years of teaching under your initial license, you will be eligible for your professional license. This means that graduates of our program can complete all licensure requirements without needing to pursue additional coursework.  

_{*Please be aware that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may change licensure requirements. Students are advised to contact the state for specific, current licensure requirements. Students may access that information at the Department for Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).}

Careers 

The program is designed to prepare teacher candidates to become successful, culturally responsive, and reflective elementary school educators for grades 1-6 in the diverse public schools across Massachusetts. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Massachusetts elementary school teachers earn an average annual salary of $71,309. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development projects 141 average annual job openings due to growth and 573 average annual job openings due to replacements for elementary school teachers.