Masters for Initial  License "Road Map"

Apply to the Graduate Admissions Office:  Choose either 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 Communication and Literacy and content area  MTEL (Elementary Education or Early Childhood) before actually being admitted. This is in lieu of the GREs, which you do not need to take.   You can contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 508-531-1300 for an application.

 

Take two of the  MTEL tests -- Communication and Literacy and Content Area 

Bridgewater and the Mass. Dept. of Education have practice tests on their website for Communication and Literacy.   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 (You may also call the test administrators (National Evaluation Systems, Inc.) at (413) 256-8221 or look MTEL up on the web.

 

GP501 Advising:  Once admitted to the Masters for Initial License you will be assigned an advisor.   Call and make an appointment.  Prior to being admitted Dr. Nancy Witherell, Coordinator (nwitherell@bridgew.edu or 508-531-2397) is the contact person/temporary adviser.

 

The First  (and second) Course:  

EE 510 Fundamentals of  Elementary Education  (for Elementary Ed student)

EA 510 Fundamentals of  Early Childhood Education  (for Early Childhood students)

ED 530 Research Methods can be taken prior to admittance to the program.

 

This introductory course requires 40 hours of fieldwork in a classroom at the appropriate grade-level(s). When you select a site in which to do your 40 hours, some of your prepracticum fieldwork must be conducted in a diverse (multicultural) environment. Almost all school systems are requiring a criminal background check (CORI).  This may take 3 to 4 weeks, so get in touch with  a school system early, if possible before the course begins!

 

These courses (EA or EE 510, ED 530) may be taken prior to passing the first two MTEL tests. However, it is important to note that these are the only courses that can be taken prior to passing the two exams.  You must pass Communication and Literacy and the Content MTEL before being allowed to register for any of the professional education courses , and to get accepted into the Masters for Initial License.   

 

Acceptance to  Professional Education:  After being admitted into the Masters for Initial License, Elementary or Early Childhood,  as long as you are enrolled in EA  or EE 510, you can hand in your documentation to be admitted into Professional Education. Once you have completed the 40 hour prepracticum, even though the course may not be over, you may submit your documentation of the 40 hours to Professional Education (in Dean’s Office) to be admitted.

 

Professional Education Courses and the Foundations of Reading  (MTEL)           

Before you can student teach you must complete the professional education courses (listed ).   Early Childhood and Elementary majors will need to take the Foundations of Reading prior to licensing.  We recommend taking this test close to the end of, or directly after the Reading course.

 

Masters for Initial is a evening program with the exception of  the student teaching experience.     The following courses may be taken at night in any order.

 

 

Early Childhood Education must take the following courses: 

Important note:  some classes will be offered alternating semesters

EE 511 Theory and Practice in Teaching Reading

EE 513 Mathematical Applications for the School Classroom

EE 514 Exemplary Practice in Science and Social Studies Classrooms

EA 515 Inclusive Early Childhood Classrooms: Instructional Practices and Assessment  

EA 563 Early Childhood Curriculum

ED 530 Research Methods

 

Elementary Education must take the following courses:

 

EE 511 Theory and Practice in Teaching Reading

EE 512 Theory and Practice in Teaching Language Arts

EE 513 Mathematical Applications for the Elementary School Classroom

EE 514 Exemplary Practice in Science and Social Studies Classrooms

EE 515 Differentiating Instruction:  Creating Inclusive Classrooms

ED 530 Research Methods

These courses are offered at night only.  We recommend that you take these part time.  If you prefer the day certification program, ask for information on the Post Bacc in Early Childhood or Elementary.

 

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

 

Student Teaching        EE 592 for Elementary ;  EA 596 & 597 for Early Childhood

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 grades 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.

   School of Education determines your student-teaching placement within a 40 minutes travel  

      time radius.   We have partner school systems where we place our students.