Master’s in Elementary Education
Teacher Preparation Program for Initial Licensure
Core
Course
Number
Course Name
Credits
PrePrac
Prerequisites for Admission: 3.0 GPA and MTEL Passing score on
CLS Reading and Writing, Elementary Math Subtest***
Core I: Introduction to
Teaching in the
Elementary Classroom
Core IIa Content
Methods
Core IIb: Pedagogy for
Diverse Classrooms
Core II a & b Benchmark:
Passing MTELs General
Curriculum Multi-Subject
Subtest and Foundations
of Reading
3
15 hrs
EDC G 603
Developmental Stages: From Childhood to
Adolescence
Creating Effective Learning Environments
3
15 hrs
EDC G 606
Sociocultural Foundations of Education
3
15 hrs
3
3
15 hrs
15 hrs
3
3
15 hrs
15 hrs
EDC G 644
Content Methods Courses:
EDC G 619
EDC G 668
EDC-G 626
EDC G 646
Designing Instruction in Science
Math Methods and Content for Elementary
School Teachers
Integrating Social Studies and the Arts
Understanding Reading: Principles and
Practices
Pedagogy Courses for Diverse Classrooms:
EDC G 630
Inclusion, K-12
3
15 hrs
EDC G 617
Literacy Diagnosis and Instruction
3
15 hrs
EDC-G 686
Graduate Practicum: Student Teaching
6
30 hrs
EDC G 689
Teacher Research
3
15 hrs
MASTER’S DEGREE—36 Credits
***Full admission to the program requires passing scores on 3 MTEL tests: 1) The Communication and Literacy
Skills Reading, Communication and Literacy Skills Writing, Math Subtest of the Elementary General Curriculum.
Students who do not pass the Math Subtest can be admitted provisionally but are required to take Mtt 301 - Math
for Elementary Teachers 1: Reasoning About Numbers and Quantities and Mtt 302 - Math for Elementary
Teachers 2: Reasoning About Algebra, Geometry and Measurement and obtain a passing score before beginning
graduate program coursework.
Benchmark Checklists
Core I
 MTEL Communication and Literacy (Reading Score_____) (Writing Score_____)
 GPA ________
Core II
 Qualification for EDC-G 668 in Core II Successful passing of MTEL Gen Curriculum Math
Subtest or completion of Mtt 301 and Mtt 302 Core II
 MTEL General Curriculum (Score _____)
 MTEL Foundations of Reading (Score _______)
 Health Workshop (Date Attended ______________)
 75 Documented Pre-Practicum Hours
 GPA ________
Name of Faculty Advisor: _______________________________
Projected Date of Degree Completion: _________________________
Pre-Practicum Requirements
75 hours of monitored fieldwork, in association with specific courses, are required. In addition,
UMass Boston requires that at least 40 of those hours be completed in an urban setting. The
fieldwork provides preparation for student teaching by helping students make connections between
their academic coursework and classroom realities. Pre-practicum documentation and evaluations must
be submitted with practicum applications.
Practicum Requirements
A full practicum is 14 weeks (one full semester) of supervised student teaching. All candidates for
Initial Licensure are required to take the full 6-credit practicum.
Students wishing to do any form of supervised practicum must apply for approval and placement in
the semester prior to the one in which the practicum is to take place. Applications are available in the
Advising Office. For a spring semester practicum, the applications are due the previous October 1st;
for a fall practicum, they are due the previous March 1st.
Field of Knowledge
The state’s regulations for licensure covers the knowledge base that teachers must bring to the
classroom. For an elementary school teacher this must include enough college course work in the areas
that are included in the elementary curriculum to guarantee competence and comfort with the material
to be taught. As previously stated, all licensure candidates must achieve passing scores on the
Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication & Literacy, General Curriculum
(including the Math Subtest), and Foundations of Reading tests. The Massachusetts Department of
Education gives these tests several times a year.
Health Requirement
Candidates must complete a full-day health education workshop. The college offers these workshops
several Saturdays during the academic year.
*Please note that this program of study is subject to modification due to changes in regulations from the
Massachusetts Department of Education or university requirements.