English / Education / Elementary and/or Special Education Teacher Licensure Program

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Degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in English

(a minimum 129 credit hours) Requirements are subject to change.

Students selecting this program will also major in Education and seek licensure as an elementary and/or special education teacher. The English major is designed to increase students’ abilities in oral and written expression, to develop their proficiency in reading and analyzing literature, and to stimulate their appreciation, awareness, and understanding of the fundamental human problems and situations revealed in great literature. It also seeks to further develop their skills and techniques in the communicative arts. English majors select from one of three concentrations: American literature, British literature, or generalist. Effective for students entering in Fall 2002, English majors must successfully complete the department’s writing portfolio requirement.

For more information about the English major, contact Dr. Alice Knox Eaton, chairperson of the Humanities Department, at (413) 748-3669 or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257.

Download an English / Education / Elementary and/or Special Education Teacher Licensure Program Sequencing Guide

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

General Education Program (40 - 46 credits)

The General Education program at Springfield College is informed by its century-old Humanics tradition of educating the whole person in spirit, mind, and body, for leadership in service to humanity. These requirements have the goal of developing literate, thoughtful, socially responsible students, and instilling in them a spirit of inquiry into the nature of humankind and the universe. Towards those ends, the requirements emphasize and encourage: the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and competency essential for the improvement of the human condition in a diverse society; a search for personal and spiritual values; and the development of an understanding and appreciation of physical well-being. For specific requirements, see the General Education Program section or the Sequencing Guide for this major.

II. Major Requirements (English)

Additional courses

One ENGL course at 300 level or above Credits: 3

and

EDUC 210 - Children’s Literature Credits: 3
or
- One ENGL course at 200 level or above Credits: 3

III. Electives (to complete a minimum of 120 credits)

Completion of the following requirements ensures successful completion of the Education major with a specialization in Elementary and/or Special Education Teacher Licensure.

Required courses:

A. Related Arts and Sciences

ENGL 113 - College Writing I Credits: 3
ENGL 114 - College Writing II Credits: 3
HIST 103 - World History Credits: 3
HIST 105 - Colonial America to the Civil War Credits: 3
HIST 106 - The Civil War to Modern America Credits: 3
HLTH 100 - Wellness: A Way of Life Credits: 3
MATH 101 - Foundations of Mathematics Credits: 3
MATH 105 - Survey of Algebra and Geometry Credits: 3
MATH 201 - Contemporary Applications of Mathematics Credits: 3
PHSC 105 - Physical Science and the Environment Credits: 4
or
PHSC 110 - Earth Science Credits: 4
SCIE 144 - Best Practices in Learning and Teaching Science Credits: 4

Recommended but not required:

MOSK 140 - Skill Themes and Movement Concepts Credits: .5

B. Elementary and/or Special Education Teacher Licensure

EDUC 101 - Schools, Society, and Diverse Learners Credits: 3
EDUC 162 - Exceptional Children Credits: 3
EDUC 232 - Teaching Elementary Mathematics through the MA Curriculum Frameworks Credits: 3
EDUC 237 - Foundations of Multicultural Education Credits: 3
EDUC 238 - Pre-Practicum in Special Education (PreK-8) Credits: 1
EDUC 250 - Childhood and Adolescent Development in Educational Settings Credits: 3
EDUC 327 - Methods of Teaching Reading and Language Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms Credits: 4.5
EDUC 329 - Sheltered English Instruction across the Curriculum Credits: 3
EDUC 330 - PrePracticum in Literacy Instruction for PreK-8 Credits: 1.5
EDUC 342 - Curriculum and Assessment in Special Education Credits: 3
EDUC 362 - Instructional Strategies to Support Exceptional Learners Credits: 3
EDUC 461 - Moderate Disabilities (Pre K-8) Practicum and Seminar Credits: 4-12
(Note: Must be taken for 12 credits if pursuing Special Education licensure only)
EDUC 468 - Elementary (1-6) Practicum and Seminar Credits: 4-12
(Note: Must be taken for 12 credits if pursuing Elementary Education licensure only)
- For students pursuing dual licensure in Elementary and/or Special Education, EDUC 461 and EDUC 468 must be taken for a total of 8 credits each (16 credits total for both).

Admission to Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Programs

Once admitted to Springfield College, the student must meet the following requirements in order to become an official candidate for licensure and get formally admitted to a specific teacher preparation program. This typically occurs prior to the student’s junior year or the equivalent for transfer students.

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 and/or special education; biology, English, history or mathematics for secondary; movement and sports studies for physical education or dual health & physical education; art or art therapy for art education; and health promotion for health education.
Complete, or be in the process of completing, all prerequisites identified for the specific program.
Earn a minimum 2.750 (3.250 MOST-PHE) cumulative grade point average for all designated licensure courses. This includes all subject matter knowledge coursework as well as teacher preparation professional coursework. See educator preparation homepage on our website for specific lists of ‘Prerequisites and Program Requirements’ for each licensure program. [Note: In all programs except physical education and health, the grade point average for the student’s major is calculated separately from the grade point average for professional preparation courses.]
Earn a minimum 2.500 (3.250 MOST-PHE) cumulative grade point average and minimum grades specified for designated courses
Demonstrate the personal characteristics/professional behaviors needed to become a quality teacher (i.e., 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 health and physical education, the only recommendation required is from the Physical Education and Health Education Department.
Receive a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills Tests (reading and writing) of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).

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 and must maintain cumulative GPA’s in order to successfully complete the program.

Once all admissions requirements have been met, the student must fill out the application for admission. Applications are available from advisors, departments, or the Educator Preparation Office.

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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