Graduate Study

Graduate work at Springfield College began in 1890 with the completion of the graduate requirements—one year of “advance work” plus a thesis—acceptable for a diploma. In 1905, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts authorized the College to grant the degrees of Master of Humanics and Master of Physical Education. In 1926, the College was granted the power to confer the Master of Education degree. The degree of Doctor of Physical Education and the Master of Science degree were approved by the Board of Collegiate Authority of Massachusetts in 1950. On January 13, 2006, the Chancellor of the Board of Higher Education approved the request to retitle the Doctor of Physical Education Degree to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physical Education. The Master of Social Work degree was approved in 1993. The Physical Therapy program transitioned to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) curriculum in 2008. A Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree program with concentrations in management and nonprofit management began offering courses in the summer of 2010.

While different departments offer and supervise graduate programs at Springfield College, coordination of these is effected through the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs along with the College’s general regulations, academic policies, and philosophy of education.

Graduate students are urged to familiarize themselves with the Student Handbook and Catalog.

This page contains information on the following topics:

Graduate Course Information
Graduate Majors, Concentrations and Degrees
Degree Requirements

Graduate Course Information

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Graduate courses at Springfield College are numbered as follows:

500-level:		These courses are generally introductory or entry level graduate courses. Undergraduates ready for graduate level work may take these courses for undergraduate credit. Undergraduates seeking graduate credit must petition to do so. The course may apply to only one degree.
600-level:		These courses are more advanced, in-depth and specialized graduate study associated with a profession or discipline. Undergraduates who qualify may petition to take these courses and must specify whether the credits will be undergraduate or graduate. The course may apply to only one degree.
700-level:		These courses are highly specialized doctoral study associated with a profession or discipline.

The following is the minimum number of class hours of attendance required per semester to earn the indicated number of semester hours of academic credit:

Fifteen hours for 1 credit
Thirty hours for 2 credits
Forty-five hours for 3 credits
Sixty hours for 4 credits

Not every course is offered annually. Definite information about course offerings and class hours is available at the time of registration through the Office of the Registrar. Insufficient enrollment or changing conditions may occasionally necessitate the cancellation of scheduled courses.

Graduate Majors, Concentrations and Degrees

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Major	Concentration	Required Credit Hours	Degree or Certificate

Art Therapy/Counseling	Art Therapy Counseling	60 - 67	MS

Business Administration	Management Nonprofit Management	30 30	MBA MBA

Education	Education Department Graduate Programs Educational Studies.	32 - 39	MED or MS
	*Graduate Initial Teacher Licensure Programs
	Early Childhood Education (PreK—2) Elementary Education (1—6) Secondary Education (8-12) Special Education (PreK—8, 5—12)	24 21 23 21-23
	*These licensure programs can be completed for the stated number of credits if prerequisites are met prior to the start of the program. Eight to eleven additional credits are needed to complete the master’s degree.

	Special Education (PreK-8, 5-12)	32	CAGS

Exercise Science & Sport Studies	Athletic Training Exercise Physiology Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Health Promotion Track Clinical Exercise Physiology Track Sport and Exercise Psychology Strength & Conditioning	36 37 — 36 39 36 36	MED or MS MS MED or MS MED or MS MS MED or MS

Health Studies	Health/Family Consumer Sciences Teacher Licensure Program	32	MED or MS

Occupational Therapy	Entry Level Master’s Degree Program	85	MS

Physical Education	Adapted Physical Education Advanced Level Coaching Athletic Administration Physical Education Teacher Licensure Program Physical Education Teaching Professional Licensure Program Physical Education Teacher Licensure only Physical Education Health Education	32 32 35-36 37 – 32 30 35 35	MED or MS MED or MS MED or MS MED or MS – MED or MS Lic. only CAGS CAGS

Physical Education Doctoral Specializations	Exercise Physiology Sport and Exercise Psychology Teaching & Administration (Generalist)	86 90 90	Ph.D Ph.D Ph.D

Physical Therapy	—	Determined by PT Department	DPT

Physician Assistant	—	116	MS

Psychology & Counseling	Athletic Counseling Athletic Counseling Clinical Mental Health Counseling Mental Health Counseling Industrial/Organizational Psychology Industrial/Organizational Psychology Marriage & Family Therapy Marriage & Family Therapy School Counseling School Counseling Student Personnel Administration Student Personnel Administration	48 32 60 51 38 38 60 48 48 32 48 32	MED or MS CAGS MED or MS CAGS MS CAGS MED or MS CAGS MED CAGS MED or MS CAGS

Rehabilitation Counseling & Services	General Counseling and Casework Pediatric and Developmental Disabilities Counseling Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Substance Abuse Counseling Alcohol and Substance Abuse Service Pediatric and Developmental Disability Services Special Services	48 - 54 60 - 66 60 - 66 36 36 - 42 36	MED or MS MED or MS MED or MS MED or MS MED or MS MED or MS

Social Work	Advanced Generalist Practice Combined Degree with Law Degree	60 124	MSW MSW/JD*

Sport Management & Recreation	Recreation Management Therapeutic Recreation Mgmt Child Life Specialist Sport Management	34 - 36 34 - 36 34 - 36 34 - 37	MED or MS MED or MS MED or MS MED or MS

*Combined degree program with Western New England College School of Law.

MS: Master of Science; MED: Master of Education; CAGS: Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies; MSW: Master of Social Work; PHD: Doctor of Philosophy; DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy

Graduate programs are also offered through the School of Human Services (SHS) and are included in the SHS catalog. The SHS catalog can be obtained from the School of Human Services Admissions Office (413-748-3204).

Degree Requirements

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Please refer to the appropriate section below

Academic Catalog

Graduate Study

Graduate Course Information

Graduate Majors, Concentrations and Degrees

Degree Requirements