Early Childhood Education, M.Ed., (Pre-K-2), Professional Licensure

Graduate Curriculum Committee

William Cortezia, PhD
Danette Day, EdD
Janna Heiligenstein, PhD
Anne Howard, PhD, Chair
Ruth Joseph, EdD
Richard Masciarelli, MEd
Nancy Murray, EdD
Robert Shapiro, PhD, BCBA-D
Annette Sullivan, EdD

Professional Licensure Concentration

Program Objectives

The professional licensure concentrations are designed for initially licensed teachers who wish to pursue advanced levels of reflection, knowledge, skill, and professionalism.

Program Descriptions

The Professional Licensure Programs of study enable educators to:

• Reflect on historical, philosophical, and theoretical perspectives related to current educational issues and practice
• Examine empirical research and engage in the scientific reasoning process
• Acquire and apply advanced knowledge of child development theory and research in the design and implementation of education curricula, practices, and environments
• Acquire knowledge of how children develop as thinkers and learners
• Acquire and apply advanced knowledge of emerging, research-based educational principles in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the educational environment and instructional program
• Become more aware of societal demands on the curriculum as they relate to meeting the diverse needs of students
• Investigate effective educational partnership models, which focus on family strengths, circumstances, and cultural experiences
• Demonstrate effective strategies and techniques for working with diverse populations of students in integrated learning environments
• Examine the shared values, ethics, purposes and commitments, which bond the educational community
• Acquire a professional orientation of collegiality and support, whereby contributions can be made to the improvement of education through the construction of knowledge and application
• Broaden curriculum content knowledge and skills

Admissions Standards and Criteria

To apply for enrollment, a student must submit documents as outlined in the graduate admission section as well as:

• An appropriate teacher license (An Initial or Professional License is required for admission).
• Personal Statement
  Students must complete an essay of no more than one page in response to one of the following questions/statement:
  1. Tell about a positive situation in which you helped a person and made a significant difference in that person’s life.
  2. What are the most important factors in establishing a long-term working relationship with students, friends, etc.?
  3. Tell us about a significant event that involved you in a teaching or helping role.
     • Describe the situation as it occurred at the time.
     • What did you do in that particular situation?
     • How did you feel about the situation at the time you were experiencing it?
     • How do you feel about the situation now?
     • What would you change, if anything?

For more information regarding licensure requirements for teacher preparation programs, contact the Educator Licensure Office at 978-665-3233 or visit their web site at http://www.fitchburgstate.edu/edunit.

Program Requirements

The M.Ed. professional licensure concentrations require that 36 semester hours be acquired in a suggested sequence within six years or less. The course sequence has been designed to ensure quality and provide flexibility to serve the variety of student interests and professional needs. A program advisor assists each student with the planned sequence and advises the selection of electives to meet individual goals, interests and licensure requirements.

Each program is composed of:

• Three required common core courses
• Designated specialized courses from the selected disciplines of early childhood education, elementary education or middle school education
• Content elective courses to fulfill licensure or recertification requirements and to compete the 36-semester hour program.

Core Requirements

• EDUC 9300 - Educational Research (*C)
• EDUC 9005 - Dynamic Perspectives in Education
• EDUC 9510 - Capstone: Implementation of Best Practices (*C)

Required Courses, Early Childhood Education, Professional Licensure

• EDUC 7300 - Advanced Child Development (*A)
• EDUC 8200 - Qualitative Reading Assessment and Analysis (*C)
• EDUC 8270 - Collaborating with and Involving Parents in Early Childhood Settings (*C)
• EDUC 8450 - Literacy in Early Childhood Education (*B)
• EDUC 8500 - Developmental Assessment in Early Childhood Education (*B)

Content Elective Courses, 12 credits

Students in each discipline, with the recommendation of an advisor, select a combination of content elective credits, which serve the individual’s professional goals, interests and licensure requirements, and complete the 36 semester hour program. It is required that students seek approval of their advisor before selecting content electives.

Total for Degree: 36 credits

Note: (*A) (*B) (*C) indicate sequence suggested to strengthen knowledge, skills and dispositions. It is strongly recommended that students follow this sequence in order to gain the necessary knowledge and competencies for more advanced courses.