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Dec 03, 2024
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2004-2005 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Early Childhood Teacher Licensure Program
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Return to: Undergraduate Curricula
(130 semester hours) Requirements are subject to change.
The goal of the Education Department is to prepare undergraduate students for
teacher licensure in one of the following areas: early childhood (PreK–2); elementary
(1–6); or secondary (5–8 and/or 8–12) in biology, English, history, or mathematics.
Additional teacher licensure programs offered by the College include health/family
and consumer sciences (all grades), physical education (PreK–8 and/or 5–12), and
visual arts (PreK–8 and/or 5–12). Students seeking teacher licensure should begin
their program upon their admission to the College, but in order to be considered
teacher candidates and to complete the professional preparation requirements,
they must apply for official admission to the teacher preparation program and
be accepted. Application to the teacher preparation program typically occurs prior
to the junior year. More information about requirements for admittance to the
teacher preparation program can be found in Section V below.
To comply with Massachusetts Department of Education regulations, students seeking
early childhood licensure (teacher of students with and without disabilities,
PreK–2) must earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an arts and sciences major,
additional coursework to meet the subject matter knowledge requirements and coursework
to meet the professional standards for all teachers. In order to facilitate completion
of the early childhood licensure program, it is recommended that students major
in psychology (130 s.h. with licensure requirements). More information about requirements
for the psychology major, including special requirements for students seeking
licensure can be found in the psychology section. Professional courses required
for licensure are listed below.
For more information about education programs, contact Dr. Linda Davis-Delano,
director of educator preparation programs, at (413) 748-3155 or the Admissions
Office at (800) 343-1257.
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I. General Education Program (47 s.h. included in total credit hours)
To integrate the humanics philosophy into their lives, Springfield College students
engage in the search for knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of values
through a variety of courses in the sciences and humanities. In addition to those
General Education courses, students must complete 6 s.h. of Writing-Across-the-Curriculum
(WAC) courses. For more information see the General Education Program and WAC courses. In the major requirements listed below, selected courses which fulfill General
Education categories are marked with an asterisk; selected WAC courses are marked
with a “W”. II. Major Requirements
See the psychology requirements. III. Arts and Sciences Requirements For Early Childhood Licensure
In addition to the requirements below, early childhood licensure students must
fulfill the Computer Science, Literature, Second Language/ Culture, Religion,
Philosophy, and the remainder of the Physical Education General Education categories. Selected courses which fulfill General Education categories are marked with an
asterisk; selected WAC courses are marked with a “W”.
- _____* - Natural Science General Education course Credits: 4 s.h.
- _____* - Visual and Performing Arts General Education course Credits: 3 s.h.
IV. Early Childhood Teacher Professional Preparation Requirements
V. Admission to Teacher Preparation Program
Once admitted to Springfield College, the student must meet the following requirements
for admission to undergraduate teacher preparation programs:
- Follow the appropriate course of study based on the field the student is interested
in teaching. This includes majoring in an acceptable major for that licensure
area and taking the required teacher preparation courses. This enables the student
to fulfill the prerequisites needed to gain admission to a teacher preparation
program. Examples of acceptable majors and licensure areas are psychology for
early childhood; American Studies, English, or mathematics and computer technology
for elementary; biology, English, history or mathematics for secondary; movement
and sports studies for physical education; art/studio art concentration or art
therapy for art; and health studies.
- Complete, or be in the process of completing, all prerequisites identified for
the specific program.
- Earn a minimum 2.750 cumulative grade point average for all designated licensure
courses. See teacher preparation handbook for a list of these courses for each
licensure program.
- Earn a minimum 2.500 cumulative grade point average.
- Receive a score of 70 or higher on the Communication and Literacy Skills Tests
(reading and writing) of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
- Earn minimum grades specified for designated courses.
- Demonstrate the personal characteristics needed to become a teacher (for example,
responsible, dependable, hard working, professional, committed to the teaching
profession, etc.).
- Be recommended for admission into a teacher licensure program by the appropriate
major department and the Education Department. (For students in physical education
and health, the only recommendation required is from the Physical Education and
Health Eductaion Department.)
Note: Students who have been admitted to a teacher preparation program must maintain
all the admissions requirements listed above through the semester preceding the
practicum (student teaching) in order to be eligible to begin the practicum experience.
Once all admissions requirements have been met, the student must:
- Fill out the top portion of the application for admission into a teacher licensure
program. Applications are available from advisors, departments, or the Educator
Preparation Office. Bring the application to the appropriate department(s) for
recommendation(s)/signature(s) and attachment of required documents.
- Completed applications must be returned to the Office of Educator Preparation
& Licensure (Administration Building, room 209). Applications are complete
once they have all necessary signatures and have required documentation attached.
This typically occurs prior to the student’ s junior year (or the equivalent for
transfer students).
The Director of Educator Preparation & Licensure will review the completed
application and notify the candidate of the admission decision. If a student wishes
to appeal this decision, a written appeal must be submitted to the Educator Preparation
Council. |
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