Post Bacc "Road Map"

Apply to the Graduate School: Choose either Post Baccalaureate in Elementary Education (Grade 1-6) or Early Childhood Education (Preschool to Grade 2).

You must have a GPA of 2.8. You will have to pass the first half of the MTEL before actually being admitted. You can contact the Graduate School at 508-531-1300 for an application.

Take the first part of the MTEL -- Communication and Literacy (certification test)

Bridgewater and the Mass. Dept. of Education have practice tests on their website. The registration booklet can be obtained on campus outside the Elementary Education office, from the Graduate School (in the Maxwell Library) or from the Professional Education Office (The Dean’s Office, located in Hart Hall). You may also call the test administrators (National Evaluation Systems, Inc.) at (413) 256-8221. (Test dates are typically in September, December, February, May, and July.)

GP501 Advising: Once admitted to the Post Bacc program you will be assigned an advisor. Call and make an appointment. Even though you have this road map, talk with your advisor.

The First Course:

EE 220 Introduction to Elementary Education (for Elementary Ed student)

EA 230 Basics of Early Childhood Education (for Early Childhood students)

This course requires 40 hours of fieldwork in a classroom at the appropriate grade-level(s). Please keep in mind that when you select a site in which to do your 40 hours, some of your prepracticum fieldwork must be conduct in a diverse (multicultural) environment.

This course (EA 230 or EE 220) may be taken prior to taking the Communication and Literacy portion of the MTEL. However, it is important to note that it is the only course that can be taken before you pass this exam. In other words, you must pass the MTEL before being allowed to register for any of the professional education courses.

Apply to Professional Education: After you have passed the Communication and Literacy portion of the MTEL (you must have your results), completed the 40 hour prepracticum and met the other requirements stated in the Professional Education application, you may submit your application to the Dean’s office (which is located in the Burnell School. Go through the front doors of the Burnell School and the Dean’s office is directly in front of you).

Professional Education Courses and the Content section of the Teacher Test (MTEL)

Before you can student teach you must complete the professional education courses (see below) and pass the appropriate CONTENT section of the MTEL. (Elementary Ed take the Elementary Ed content. Early Childhood take the Early Childhood content, both will eventually need to take the Foundations of Reading.)

The following courses may be taken at night in any order.

*Important note: Early Childhood classes are offered on alternating semesters in the evening. These classes are not offered during the summer.

Early Childhood Education must take the following courses:

EA 300 Elementary Arts (.5 credits offered in 2 nights) – typically available either fall or spring

EA 311 Science and Social Studies Inquiry for the Young Child – typically offered in the spring.

EA 332 Reading Development for the Young Child – typically offered in the spring.

EA 342 Language Arts for the Young Child – typically offered in the fall.

EA 352 Developmental Mathematics for the Young Child – typically offered in the fall.

EA 361 Planning and Programming for the Young Child – typically offered in the fall.

*Important note: All Elementary classes are offered every semesters in the evening. These classes are not typically offered during the summer.

Elementary Education must take the following courses:

EE 300 Elementary Arts (.5 credits offered in 2 nights)

EE 310 Teaching Science and Social Studies in the Elementary School

EE 330 Teaching Reading in the Elementary School

EE 340 Teaching Language Arts in the Elementary School

EE 350 Teaching Math in the Elementary School

EE 360 Teaching in a Standards-Based Inclusive Elementary Classroom

These courses may be taken part time at night or full-time during the day. (We do not recommend that student go full-time in the evening, although it is possible to do.) If you choose to take these during the day, you are required to take the entire block of classes. If you are interested, contact the Elementary & Early Childhood Education Department during regular registration time.

Please note: If you choose to take day classes, you are expected to be available for classes and prepracticum experiences from 9:00 to 3:00, Monday through Friday. If you are taking evening courses, you are required to arrange your own prepracticum experiences (although in some cases, you professor may make arrangements). Please keep in mind when selecting a site to do your 40 hours – some of your prepracticum experiences must be conduct in a diverse (multicultural) environment.

Prior to student teaching, GP 501 must be completed, ALL coursework must be completed, and you must have passed ALL sections of the MTEL (the Communication & Literacy and the appropriate Content section).

Student Teaching:

Applications to student teach are available in the Professional Education office (the Dean’s office) at the beginning of each semester. Documentation of your prepracticum experiences is required. You will also need to document medical information (i.e., recent TB test). The applications are due early in the semester (usually within the first month of the semester prior to the semester you wish to student teaching).

Elementary Education candidates will be placed in a grade 1-6.

Early Childhood Education candidates will have TWO (8-week placements): one placement will be in an Integrated Preschool or Kindergarten (this is a placement with children with special needs) and one placement in either a first or second grade.

It is important to note that the School of Education determines your student-teaching placement. We have contracts with specific school-districts to provide these services. These sites are geographical located throughout southeastern Massachusetts. Please DO NOT contact a school regarding your student-teaching placement.