Coming soon: students will have the opportunity to earn an additional license in special education.
The MEd elementary education program is designed for career changers or recent graduates from undergraduate school who wish to pursue teaching grades 1-6 in the state of MA. If this is what you are looking for, you are in the right place.
Initial license only: This program is designed for people who studied elementary education in undergraduate school and already hold a master's degree.
MEd advanced studies in elementary education is for licensed teachers who are seeking their MEd in elementary education.
The elementary education initial licensure MEd program prepares students to become Massachusetts state licensed elementary school teachers for grades 1-6. The program is designed for both people new to the field of education as well as for people who have previously worked in school settings (e.g., paraprofessionals). The coursework provides a strong foundation in theoretical, pedagogical, and conceptual knowledge and practice.
An innovative mixture of coursework and field-based learning, our master of education (MEd) in elementary education initial licensure program is accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and prepares teacher candidates to teach in grades 1-6.
Our teacher candidates are trained to become elementary school teachers who can create and facilitate 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. Graduates are culturally responsive teachers who are prepared for the joys and challenges of public elementary school teaching.
Licensure Options
Graduates of our program are endorsed for their initial elementary school teaching license for grades 1-6. Students completing this program will simultaneously obtain their master’s degree.
Coming Soon: Option to add on a license in special education.
Program Features
- Cohort model: Small class sizes and cohort-based learning help to foster a tight-knit community between students and faculty
- Field-based: Unique and exciting one-year full-time field-based learning opportunities to bring educational theory into practice within the context of elementary schools.
- 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 (sponsoring school district pays candidate's tuition and fees for the fall/spring terms), being employed as a paraprofessional, or being placed in a traditional student teaching role.
- Options: One or two-year program options. A course sequence designed to obtain an initial license and a master’s degree in one year.
- Faculty: Internationally-renowned faculty focused on co-constructing educational experiences contextualized in transformational learning of educational theory, content, pedagogy, and practice.
- Spiraling curriculum: The program of study is designed to best meet the needs of teacher candidates building their teaching skill set.
- Graduate assistantships: Opportunities to apply for graduate assistantships, grants, and scholarships
One Year Field-Based Curriculum
Our state accredited field-based MEd licensure program follows a sequence where the cohort begins the program during the first summer with a brief pre-practicum to acclimate to elementary school classrooms, as they concurrently study educational foundation content and theory in an intensive, mostly online format.
The following fall, teacher candidates are placed in elementary schools as they take hybrid courses in elementary school teaching methods.
The final semester of the licensure portion of the program is completed with a full time teaching practicum.
The full MEd licensure program of courses, pre-practica, seminars, and practicum consists of 30-39 credits depending on what competencies they have met prior to admission. The new special education add-on option will range from 39-63 credits depending on prior coursework.
