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All candidates seeking Massachusetts Educator Licensure are advised to check with their individual education departments or the College of Education and Allied Studies offices regarding regulation changes that may have an impact on their licensure program.
The College of Education and Allied Studies offers the following state-approved programs leading to Massachusetts licensure through the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and eligibility for licensure in participatory states and territories according to the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Information on undergraduate and graduate programs leading to licensure is found in appropriate departmental sections.
Administrator of Special Education (all levels)
Early Childhood, Teacher of students with or without Disabilities (PreK-2)
Elementary (1-6)
Reading Specialist (all levels)
School Business Administrator (all levels)
School Counselor (PreK-8 or 5-12)
School Principal/Assistant Principal (PreK-8 or 5-12)
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor (all levels)
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent (all levels)
Supervisor/Director (all levels)
Teacher of Biology (8-12)
Teacher of Chemistry (8-12)
Teacher of Dance (all levels)
Teacher of Earth and Space Science (8-12)
Teacher of English (5-12)
Teacher of English as a Second Language ESL (PreK-6 or 5-12)
Teacher of Health/Family and Consumer Sciences (all levels)
Teacher of History (5-12)
Teacher of Mathematics (5-8 or 8-12)
Teacher of Music (all levels)
Teacher of Physical Education (PreK-8 or 5-12)
Teacher of Physics (8-12)
Teacher of Spanish (5-12)
Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12)
Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (all levels)
Teacher of Theatre (all levels)
Teacher of Visual Art (PreK-8 or 5-12)
Undergraduate students who wish to be elementary, early childhood, secondary or special education teachers are required to select a major in elementary, early childhood, secondary or special education and a second major in the liberal arts or sciences.
The full list below identifies majors that meet the requirement for a second major in the liberal arts or sciences at Bridgewater State University for early childhood, elementary and special education; those marked with an asterisk (*) identify approved content-area majors for secondary education.
Anthropology
Art*
Biology*
Chemistry*
Communication Studies
Dance*
Earth and Space Science*
Economics
English*
Geography
History* (also requires completion of a Social Studies minor)
Mathematics*
Music*
Philosophy
Physics*
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Spanish*
Students should consult with both their liberal arts or sciences advisor and their education advisor each semester (with a final check the semester prior to their last semester) to ensure that all licensure and academic degree requirements have been successfully met.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required course work is successfully completed for the core curriculum, the liberal arts and sciences major, and the state-approved education major that leads to licensure. Students must additionally assume responsibility for submitting all materials to appropriate offices by the established deadlines.
Students having questions regarding their licensure and/or academic requirements should consult with their advisor, the appropriate department chairperson or the graduate program coordinator for additional information.
Admission to and Retention in Professional Education Programs
Undergraduate Students
All undergraduate students preparing for a career in education which requires licensure must formally apply, satisfy all selection criteria, and be recommended for admission into professional education programs in the College of Education and Allied Studies. Students may not enroll in education courses beyond the introductory level until they have met all admission criteria and are officially admitted to the program.
Criteria for Admission
The following criteria have been established as minimum requirements for admission to a professional education program:
- Candidates must be matriculated into an undergraduate arts or sciences degree program.
- Candidates must provide proof of having attained a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL).
- Candidates must have a minimum 2.8 overall cumulative grade point average. This minimum GPA must be maintained throughout the professional education program.
- Candidates must demonstrate proof of proficiency in written English (minimum grades of “C” in ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 or equivalent).
- Candidates must provide evidence of early field-based experiences working with children or youth in schools or other agencies as part of an introduction to education course (ECED 230, EDHM 210, ELED 220, PHED 205, SPED 202 or SPED 211). The number of hours and placement are determined by the department.
- Candidates must have a complete health record (Immunization Record) on file with the Wellness Center.
- Candidates must provide two faculty recommendation ratings of at least “recommend” or “highly recommend” on the forms provided with the application packet.
- Candidates must complete the CEAS Disposition Survey. Sign, date and attach the confirmation page found at the end of the survey to their professional education program application.
- Candidates must submit a complete Application for Admission to a Professional Education Program. The application includes biographical data, information on employment and volunteer experiences, and verification of completion of all criteria above. The application will be reviewed to determine competency in written expression of the English language and should reflect the candidate’s commitment to a career in education. Therefore, candidates should pay particular attention to correct spelling and the proper use of grammar when completing the application.
Candidates seeking admission to the professional education block in elementary or early childhood education should consult the Elementary and Early Childhood Education section of this catalog regarding additional admission requirements.
Note: Teacher licensure candidates will be asked to authorize a Criminal Offender Record Inquiry (CORI) as a requirement for access to public and private schools and agencies during their prepractica and practica field experience. Also, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all candidates to sign an affidavit that states they “have not been convicted of nor are currently charged with any crime (misdemeanor or felony)” as part of their application for a Massachusetts educator’s license. Additional criminal background checks, including Statewide Applicant Fingerprint Identification Services (SAFIS), are required for field placement in schools and agencies according to Massachusetts laws and regulations. Teacher candidates who are rejected for field placement by public school districts or other educational institutions due to CORI or SAFIS results or professional dispositional concerns may be unable to successfully complete the teacher preparation curriculum at BSU.
Admission Deadlines
Students must apply and be admitted to a professional education program before they may enroll in upper-level (beyond the introductory level) professional education courses. Students are responsible for maintaining communication with their academic advisors and for preparing and submitting the completed application packets. Applications are accepted at any time. To ensure adequate time for processing, however, the application should be made several weeks in advance of the anticipated date of registration for professional education courses.
Admission Process
The following is the established process for admission to an initial licensure program in the College of Education and Allied Studies:
- The student downloads a professional education admission application from the College of Education and Allied Studies website.
- The student completes the application as directed and returns it to the Office of Professional Education in Hart Hall, room 124.
- Students will be notified via their BSU email address of the status of their application.
Postbaccalaureate/Graduate Students
All graduate initial teacher licensure candidates must be admitted to a graduate degree or postbaccalaureate licensure program through Graduate Admissions.
Note: Teacher licensure candidates will be asked to authorize a Criminal Offender Record Inquiry (CORI) as a requirement for access to public and private schools and agencies during their prepractica and practica field experience. Also, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all candidates to sign an affidavit that states they “have not been convicted of nor are currently charged with any crime (misdemeanor or felony)” as part of their application for a Massachusetts educator’s license. Additional criminal background checks, including Statewide Applicant Fingerprint Identification Services (SAFIS), are required for field placement in schools and agencies according to Massachusetts laws and regulations. Teacher candidates who are rejected for field placement by public school districts or other educational institutions due to CORI or SAFIS results or professional dispositional concerns may be unable to successfully complete the teacher preparation curriculum at BSU.
Retention and Exit Requirements
Students must remain in full compliance with all regulations, requirements, policies and procedures of the College of Education and Allied Studies, the College of Graduate Studies, the university and the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Admission/Retention Appeal Process
A student who wishes to request reconsideration of a professional education program admission/retention decision may submit a written letter of appeal to the dean of the College of Education and Allied Studies.
Professional stage licensure, specialist programs, school counseling and school administration programs
All graduate students seeking licensure must formally apply, satisfy all selection criteria and be recommended for admission into professional education programs in the College of Education and Allied Studies and the College of Graduate Studies.
Application for Practicum – Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
Admission Criteria
The following criteria must be met for admission to the practicum (student teaching):
- Candidates must be matriculated into an undergraduate arts and sciences degree or graduate licensure program
- Candidates must be admitted to a professional education program.
- Candidates must have a minimum 2.8 overall cumulative grade point average.
- Candidates must submit evidence of having passed all applicable Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL).
- Candidates must have successfully completed all prerequisite courses and field experiences.
- Candidates must obtain approval from their education department to participate in a practicum.
Admission Deadline
The deadline for completing and submitting the online practicum application is in the month of February for a fall practicum and in the month of September for a spring practicum.
All practica are completed within the university’s service area at centers and sites established by the College of Education and Allied Studies. Students are supervised by appropriately qualified faculty.
Criminal Offender Record Inquires (CORI) are conducted by placement sites. An unsatisfactory CORI or SAFIS report is a reason for refusal of placement by the Bridgewater State University Office of Field Placement and cooperating school districts and agencies. Additional criminal background checks, including Statewide Applicant Fingerprint Identification Services (SAFIS), are required for field placement in schools and agencies according to Massachusetts laws and regulations. Teacher candidates who are rejected for field placement by public school districts or other educational institutions due to CORI or SAFIS results or professional dispositional concerns may be unable to successfully complete the teacher preparation curriculum at BSU.
Complaints filed by schools or agencies relative to a student teacher will be reviewed by a committee from the College of Education and Allied Studies. In instances where the student teacher has not met the procedures, policies, standards and/or expectations of the university as set forth in this catalog, the Practicum Handbook and/or other university documents, the student may be removed from the field placement and the program.
The College of Education and Allied Studies is under no obligation to make a second placement for a student who has been removed from his/her field assignment for cause.
Licensure Application
Bridgewater State University participates in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s online Educator Licensure and Recruitment system (ELAR). Candidates can access ELAR via the following Web address: www.doe.mass.edu/licensure.
BSU program completers seeking licensure through the batch submission process must submit a BSU Endorsement of Educator Licensure and Transcript Release form to the Office of Professional Education.
All candidates seeking Massachusetts Educator Licensure are required at the time of application to sign an affidavit indicating that they have not been convicted of and are not under charges for any crime (misdemeanor or felony) and have not been identified by any child protection agency as a perpetrator of child abuse.
Licensure Tests
Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL)
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has contracted with the Evaluation Systems Group of Pearson to offer the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL) program. Students may contact Pearson to obtain information regarding upcoming test administrations and registration at www.MTEL.nesinc.com. Registering for and achieving passing scores on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL) are the students’ responsibility and are required for educational licensure in the state of Massachusetts. In order to complete educator preparation programs in a timely manner, candidates should plan to pass all required MTELs® early in the program.
Students must provide evidence of having attained a passing score (as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) on the Communication and Literacy portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL), as part of the professional education admission criteria of the College of Education and Allied Studies.
Students must provide evidence of having attained a passing score (as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) on the appropriate subject tests of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL) prior to being placed for student teaching.
Elementary and Early Childhood Education students have additional MTEL® requirements for entry into the professional block of courses and should consult with the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education regarding additional tests and deadlines.
Substitutions/Waivers for Licensure
Undergraduate and graduate students with prior courses and/or experiences that are equivalent to or exceed those required in a particular state approved program may request a substitution by way of their academic advisor through their department. Students should contact their advisor for a copy of this institutional process. Grades of “D” and “F” cannot be used. This procedure is for licensure programs only; consult the major department for the process to amend the degree audit.
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