Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2020-2021 
    
Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG] See drop-down menu above to access other catalogs.

Early Childhood Education, Double Degree Concentration, BSE


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Leading to Early Childhood Education (Professional Licensure), MEd

The accelerated double degree concentration in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education leads to both a BSE in Early Childhood Education with initial license in early childhood education and a MEd leading to professional license (grades PreK-2). This program provides a seamless, accelerated process that permits candidates to finish quicker than if they completed the two programs separately. The program provides a pathway to either the MEd concentration in the applications of technology in the elementary classroom or the concentration in STEM education. These concentrations may make teacher candidates more marketable as they seek their first faculty appointments as early childhood teachers.

Early Acceptance to the MEd Program


Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education, Double Degree Concentration, may apply to the College of Graduate Studies for early acceptance into the MEd program, and no application fee will be required. Application for early acceptance requires that the student:

  • be a Bridgewater State University senior, enrolled in the Early Childhood Education, Double Degree Concentration;
  • have completed an application to enroll in the early childhood education “block” or student teaching; and
  • file an application for admission to the MEd in Early Childhood Education leading to Professional License program for the semester immediately following their anticipated BSE completion date.

Students must apply for admission and be accepted into professional education after completion of ECED 230 

Although students may be accepted into the graduate program during their senior year, they will be classified as undergraduate students until all requirements of the Bachelor’s degree have been fulfilled and the Bachelor’s degree has been awarded. Under the early acceptance program, students will be admitted and classified as graduate students in the semester immediately following conferral of the Bachelor’s degree. Students accepted under the early acceptance program must begin taking graduate courses the semester immediately after receipt of their Bachelor’s degree.

Undergraduate Program Requirements


Students who select the Early Childhood Education, Double Degree Concentration, BSE, wish to be early childhood teachers and are pursuing a public school teaching license for grades PreK-2. Students are also required to select a second major outside of the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Department. A second major is a requirement of Bridgewater State University. Students who successfully complete their Early Childhood Education major and a second major are then eligible to apply for an Initial License with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for Early Childhood Education (Grades PreK-2).

Students must apply for admission and be accepted into Professional Education after completion of ECED 230 - The Basics of Early Childhood Education  and in order to take ELED 480 - SEI Endorsement for Teachers . This requires a formal application to the College of Education and Health Sciences, a cumulative 2.8 GPA, and successfully passing the Communication and Literacy Skills Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL).

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires three Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL) for Early Childhood licensure: Communication and Literacy Skills, Early Childhood, and Foundations of Reading. All three of these exams must be passed as a prerequisite to the “block” of Professional courses.

Students must complete a series of field experiences (prepractica) throughout the Foundation courses and Professional courses. This equals over 100 hours in educational settings. After completing all Foundation courses, Cognate courses, the STEM concentration course, ELED 480  and their second major, students take the Professional courses as a “block” of courses and must register with the department. Following the Professional “block” of courses, students must complete a full-time, semester-long student teaching experience in a public school under the joint supervision of a university supervisor and a supervising practitioner.

All undergraduate students seeking licensure must consult the Educator Preparation and Licensure Policies and Procedures  section of this catalog for information pertaining to admission to Professional Education and the state regulations for the Licensure of Educational Personnel and important institutional deadlines.

Students 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 student teaching field experiences. 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. Students 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.

This program has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and includes licensure reciprocity with signatory states under the Interstate Certification Compact.

Learning Outcomes: CAEP Standards, Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers, Massachusetts Subject Matter Knowledge Requirements and Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

Grade Requirements


A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 is required for acceptance into the professional education program, and it must be maintained throughout the program.

Course Requirements


Note:


*ELED 120 and ECED 230 are to be completed prior to admission to Professional Education. ELED 120, ELED 230, ELED 222, ECED 280, ELED 480, cognate courses, concentration course, and the second major must be completed prior to enrollment in the Professional “block” of courses. ELED 222, ECED 280, ELED 480, and/or the concentration course may be taken concurrently or separately.

Note(s):


*Students with a double major in English and Early Childhood Education are not required to complete ENGL 254 ; this requirement will be met with the completion of ENGL 494 , ENGL 495 , ENGL 496 , ENGL 497  within the English major.

**Students with a double major in Mathematics and Early Childhood Education must take MATH 112 . MATH 325  will meet the requirement of MATH 113 , and MATH 403  will meet the requirement of MATH 114 .

***Students with a double major in Biology and Early Childhood Education may meet this requirement with BIOL 122/122L .

Concentration course (3 credits)


Select one course based upon the intended concentration at the master’s level.

Professional courses (15 credits)


The following courses are taught as a “block”. Students must plan to be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During this time period, students will attend classes, participate in pre-practica experiences and attend seminars.

Total minimum credits: 70 credits


Core Curriculum Requirements


A minimum of 120 earned credit hours is required for graduation. These earned hours include the Core Curriculum Requirements as specified in the Core Curriculum section of this catalog and at the Core Curriculum website, www.bridgew.edu/corecurriculum. For additional graduation requirements, see the Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.

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