UMA Undergraduate Guide 2011-2012 Schools and Colleges School of Education Educator Licensure Programs
Educator Licensure Programs
Individuals who teach in the PreK-12 schools must have a license granted by the state in which that individual is employed. The Educator Preparation programs in the School are approved by the Massachusetts Board of Education and lead to teacher licensure in Massachusetts. Massachusetts regulations for the Licensure of Educational Personnel require that candidates for Initial Educator Licensure complete a major in the liberal arts and sciences or an approved interdisciplinary major appropriate to the license sought, as well as complete an approved Educator Preparation program. Candidates must also pass a two-part examination in Communication and Literacy Skills and one or two examinations in the subject content of the license sought. Students who completed licensure requirements at the university in 2008-09 had the following pass rates on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure: Communication & Literacy Skills: Academic Content Areas*: To earn a Professional License, individuals who hold the Initial License must complete an approved master’s or equivalent program. The school offers approved educator licensure programs leading to an Initial Educator License in Early Childhood Education (undergraduate only), Elementary Education, and in a variety of academic subject areas in Secondary Education at the graduate level. Students interested in the Early Childhood Education undergraduate program should contact the Education Licensure Officer, Kim Drake at educba@educ.umass.edu. Admission to Educator Preparation Programs Educator Information Office Elementary Education Secondly, students must complete the Elementary Licensure Program, which offers a Masters of Education degree leading to Initial Licensure in Massachusetts. This one-year program requires 39 credits, 15 of which are field-based in schools. It is designed for dynamic students interested in an intensive, full-time program rooted in the ideas of constructivism. The program is planned to meet the needs of three groups of individuals who desire a teaching license: 1) graduating seniors at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; 2) seniors from other institutions; and 3) second-career professionals. Admission is competitive. Students must make formal application to the Graduate School by January 15 of their senior year. Admissions criteria include a minimum grade point average of 2.75, a written personal statement, letters of recommendation, previous experience working with children, pre-requisite coursework, and a personal interview. Students are encouraged to seek advising in the Educator Information Office, 121 Furcolo Hall, for information regarding the Minor in Education and the Elementary Licensure Program. Middle and Secondary Education Completion of EDUC 524 The Work of Middle and High School Teachers is prerequisite to applying to the program. Criteria for admission includes the strength of the applicant’s personal statement, recommendations, relevant experience, and grade point average. A passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure is also required. Completion of licensure courses, the program, and the academic major usually requires a minimum of nine semesters of academic work. The program is geared to prospective teachers who combine a strong academic background in their field with a commitment to working with young people. STEP is guided by the belief that teaching is a creative, intellectual and moral endeavor. STEP emphasizes the importance for prospective teachers of examining their own educational and life experiences and developing the insight and skills necessary to teach all young people effectively, creatively and equitably, regardless of their race, gender or social class. The program focuses on teaching approaches that engage students in active learning, critical thinking, and the construction of their own meaning. Students who complete the requirements for their academic degree before completing the STEP licensure requirements may receive their baccalaureate, and continue in the STEP program. For more information contact the Educator Information Office, 121 Furcolo Hall, tel. (413) 545-2002. Post-baccalaureate Teacher Licensure |
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