Program Description

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); moderate disabilities/special education (PreK-8); 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 below. [*Note: Completion of the special education program leads to licensure in Massachusetts as a “Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities”.]

To comply with Massachusetts Department of Education regulations, students seeking elementary and/or special education licensure must earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an arts and sciences major, at least 36 hours of upper and lower-level arts and sciences coursework covering specific content, 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 elementary and/or special education licensure program, it is recommended that students major in one of the following:

• English / Education / Elementary and/or Special Education Teacher Licensure
• Mathematics and Computer Technology / Education / Elementary and/or Special Education Teacher Licensure

More information on requirements for those majors can be found in the major specific sections.  Professional courses required for licensure are listed below and will ensure successful completion of the Education major. Elementary and/or special education licensure students are advised by a faculty member from their major department and by an advisor from the Education Department.

Note: Completion of this track leads to DESE Elementary (1-6) and/or Moderate Disabilites (PK-8) teaching licenses.  Students can also drop to a non-licensure path where SPCO 599 - Fieldwork in an Educational Setting  substitutes for either EDUC 461 - Moderate Disabilities (Pre K-8) Practicum and Seminar , EDUC 468 - Elementary (1-6) Practicum and Seminar , or both, dependent on the original certification or licensure track.  

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.

1. 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.
2. Complete, or be in the process of completing, all prerequisites identified for the specific program.
3. Earn a minimum 2.750 (3.250 for the Physical Education and Health/Family and Consumer Science major) cumulative grade point average for all designated licensure courses. This includes all subject matter knowledge coursework as well as teacher preparation professional coursework.  
4. Earn a minimum 2.500 (3.000 for the Physical Education and Health/Family and Consumer Science major) cumulative grade point average and minimum grades specified for designated courses
5. 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.).
6. 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.
7. 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.

Undergraduate Curriculum Overview

The Academic Advising Center provides the following repositories of sequencing and curriculum guides for all undergraduate majors and minors to assist with course planning:  

• Sequencing Guides - Majors 
• Sequencing Guides - Minors

Additional Notes:

• There may be circumstances where credit totals do not reflect coursework that is eligible to count towards Core Curriculum and Major Requirement sections of a major simultaneously.
• Degree requirements are subject to change. 

I. Core Curriculum (40 credits)

This Core Curriculum is faithful to the Springfield College mission and further strengthens the Humanics philosophy of educating students in spirit, mind, and body. It is a cornerstone of a Springfield College education. Regardless of one’s major, it provides a strong, developmental, and holistic foundation for leaders in service to humanity. Upon completion, all graduates will be prepared to learn, lead, and serve in diverse, multicultural, and global contexts as well as in any career path they may choose. They will have the knowledge, habits of the mind, skills, and abilities to face unexpected situations and challenges, the values and attitudes for self-motivation and a vision of service that stems from hope, optimism and making a difference, as well as the self-determination to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

View the Core Curriculum Requirements (40 credits)  section for a complete list of the domains and courses therein.

II. Major Requirements (104-108 Credits*)

*Completion of this selective will also meet the Composition I, Composition II, History and Social Literacy, Literature, Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Reasoning and Themed Exploration domains of the Core Curriculum. In addition, EDUC 250 is required of both the Professional Courses and Subject Matter Knowledge Course sections.  There are 72-76 unique credits in the Education: Grades PK-8/Elementary and/or Special Education major.

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