Academic Catalog

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
CCSS 269Education and Society3
EDUC 305Program Development: 3, 4 and 5 year olds3
EDUC 324Teaching Math/Science K-83
EDUC 338Reading and Language Arts (ECHE/ELEM)3
EDUC 340Field Placement I2
EDUC 341Field Placement II ECHE/ELEM2
EDUC 404Sheltered English Instruction ECHE/ELEM3
EDUC 409Curriculum and Instruction ECHE3
EDUC 420Classroom Management/Teaching Strategies (ECHE & ELEM)3
EDUC 430Teaching in an Inclusive Classroom3
EDUC 550Student Teaching Practicum PK-K 13
EDUC 560Student Teaching Practicum 1-2 16
EDUC 561Student Teaching Seminar ECHE3
Total Hours40

 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.