Teacher Licensure for Early Childhood (Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 2)
MCLA requires a major in Education or Early Childhood Education for students seeking early teacher licensure. The early childhood licensure program prepares teachers of young children pre-kindergarten through second grade.
The early teacher licensure program prepares students to educate and care for children in both public and private early childhood education settings, including public school classrooms from pre-kindergarten to Grade 2. The curriculum emphasizes the inclusive design of early childhood environments and curricula, innovative teaching strategies and practices, and authentic assessment of the whole child.
Students must apply for, and be accepted into, the Student Teaching Practicum. Acceptance requires the student to have met all requirements, including passing scores on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Please see the Education Department for all requirements. Students must have departmental approval to enroll in more than 12 credits during the Student Teaching Practicum. Upon completion of the early childhood program, the student is eligible for Initial licensure (PreK-2).
To fulfill the requirements for the early childhood licensure program, students may enroll in either the Early Childhood Education B.S. degree program, or they may major in both a liberal arts & science degree program as well as the Education B.S. degree program. Candidates for Initial licensure must also complete specific coursework in the following subject matter areas:
- English Language Arts (9 credits)
- Mathematics (9 credits)
- Science, Technology, and Engineering (8 credits)
- History and Social Science (9 credits)
- Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- First Aid/CPR (1 credit)
- Art (3 credits)
Students should meet with an Education Department advisor during their first semester to learn how these required subject matter courses may also fulfill MCLA core curriculum requirements.
Choice of Liberal Arts/Sciences Majors for Early Childhood Education Teacher Candidates:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- Environmental Studies
- History
- Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST)
- Mathematics
- Performing Arts
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Psychology
- Sociology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CCSS 269 | Education and Society | 3 |
| EDUC 305 | Early Childhood Curriculum and Design | 3 |
| EDUC 324 | Teaching Math/Science K-8 | 3 |
| EDUC 338 | Reading and Language Arts (ECHE/ELEM) | 3 |
| EDUC 340 | Field Placement I | 2 |
| EDUC 341 | Field Placement II ECHE/ELEM | 2 |
| EDUC 404 | Sheltered English Instruction ECHE/ELEM | 3 |
| EDUC 409 | Curriculum and Instruction ECHE | 3 |
| EDUC 420 | Classroom Management/Teaching Strategies (ECHE & ELEM) | 3 |
| EDUC 430 | Teaching in an Inclusive Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 550 | Student Teaching Practicum PK-K 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 560 | Student Teaching Practicum 1-2 1 | 6 |
| EDUC 561 | Student Teaching Seminar ECHE | 3 |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
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Application, interview, and passing scores on all MTELs for this license are required for admission to the Student Teaching Practicum.
All licensure courses (including subject matter knowledge) require a minimum grade of C in order to proceed through the program and be admitted to the Student Teaching Practicum.
Note: Field Placement I requires attendance at the Communication and Literacy MTEL Prep course.
Note: All Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) courses required for the license must also be completed. A list of all SMK courses is kept and maintained by the Coordinator of Curriculum and the Education Department and is incorporated into each student's degree audit (Degree Works), dependent upon their individual combination of programs.