Post-baccalaureate Program Leading to an Initial Teaching License

Westfield State University has a history and abiding commitment of preparing educators who serve the educational needs of prekindergarten through secondary school students in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our teacher education programs embrace this vision, Education Leaders Building Inclusive Learning Communities,  a vision grounded in our department’s 5 foundational pillars: Critical Engagement with Diversity, Community Building, Social Justice, Scholarship, and Reflection. 

Westfield State University’s teacher education programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Westfield State University’s educator preparation program is fully accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Westfield State University was awarded full accreditation for seven years in June 2020. AAQEP also awarded our educator preparation program with a commendation for our work in anti-racist education.

Post-baccalaureate programs leading to teaching licensure are offered through the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education, and are designed for individuals holding a baccalaureate degree who wish to obtain an initial teaching license, without obtaining an additional degree.  

Students who satisfactorily complete program requirements leading to a teaching license are recommended for licensure to the Massachusetts Department of Education. Program requirements include completion of all coursework, passage of Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTELs), a demonstrated ability to meet program dispositional standards, and completion of a practicum experience.

Program Description

The post-baccalaureate Early Childhood program leads to initial licensure to teach early childhood education, but does not confer a degree. Applicants to this program must have:

• a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.6 or greater;
• passed the MTEL Communications and Literacy test; and
• a 2.7 GPA in undergraduate English courses, including English Composition I & 2 or equivalent.

Program of Study

A. Prerequisite coursework or experience

Content knowledge in the following areas must be documented in the student’s undergraduate academic record. Any gaps in coverage must be fulfilled as determined by the student’s advisor. Courses referenced below are from the Westfield undergraduate program, but equivalent coursework from another institution will be accepted.

Coursework meeting subject matter outcomes:

• ART 0106 Art Survey OR
  ART 0104 Design Fundamentals
• MUSC 0101 Music Appreciation OR
  MUSC 0110 Basic Music Theory
  (ENGL 0104 Intro to Theatre may be substituted for art or music course)
• HIST 0131 US History & Government to 1865
• PHYS 0101 Physical Science
• PSYC 0101 Intro to Psychology (prerequisite to PSYC 0202)
• BIOL 0102 Environmental Biology OR
  BIOL 0104 Human Biology OR
  BIOL 0106 Biology Today
• MATH 0153 Foundations: Number Systems OR MATH 0251 Foundations: Geometry OR

• MATH 0252 Foundations: Data Analysis & Probability

• GPS 0210 Cultural Geography OR

• GPS 0101 World Regional Geography

• HIST 0213 World History to 1600
• Mathematics or Science Elective

B. Required Courses for Licensure

• EDUC 0220 Schools in American Culture OR EDUC 0633 Social Cultural Theories
• EDUC 0201 Learning and Assessment
• EDUC 0221/0540 Introduction to Students with Exceptional Learning Needs
• EDUC 0303/0503 Early Literacy & Reading
• EDUC 0517 Laboratory in Literacy Practice
• EDUC 0305/0505 Literature & the Language Arts
• EDUC 0308/0508 Early Childhood Curriculum
• EDUC 0309/0509 Children’s Literature OR Other children’s literature course
• EDUC 0314/0514 Classroom Management
• EDUC 0319/0519 Principles of Teaching & Learning
• EDUC 0363/0631 Sheltered English Immersion
• EDUC 0380/0580 Critical Multicultural Education
• EDUC 0381/0581 Early Intervention for Young Children with Special Needs
• EDUC 0396/0596 Seminar: Recent Developments: Computers in Education OR Other ISTE standards-based technology course
• PSYC 0202 Child Development
• GNSC 0360/0560 Methods of Science Educationfor PreK-6
• EDUC 0302/0515 Methods of Teaching Mathematics PreK-6  Credits: 2 (replaces MATH 0332/0552 as of fall 2016)
• MOVP 0212 Concepts of Nutrition
• MOVP 0301 Physical Education in the Elementary School
• MOVP 0303 Health Education in the Elementary School
• EDUC 0536 Practicum I: Early Childhood PK-K*
• EDUC 0541 Practicum II: Early Childhood 1-2*

* Seminar hours will be required during practicum. Practicum includes two placements for a total of 12 credit hours.

Additional Requirements

A 30-hour diversity experience is required before or during practicum.

Students must pass the required MTEL subject matter tests (Early Childhood and Foundations of Reading) and have a GPA of 2.8 for admission to practicum.

Practicum placements are generally within a 30-mile radius of the university unless otherwise specified and approved.