Early Childhood Education Requirements
Elementary Education Requirements
Music Education Requirements

Educating individuals to learn skills and gain conceptual knowledge aligns with many disciplines.  The pedagogy required to effectively teach is important to professionals in the areas of business, sports management, criminal justice, nursing, social work, human services, psychology, art therapy, music therapy, and fire science.  Understanding the foundational skills of teaching provides career opportunities across disciplines.  Professionals who can effectively teach, train, and present within their organization and community are valued. An Education Minor is designed to prepare students to understand how people learn and the strategies needed to meet diverse needs with learners who have learning disabilities, English as a second language, and social emotional needs.  The courses are designed to focus on developing well-structured lessons through Universal Design for Learning, implementing differentiated interventions, promoting a safe physical and intellectual environment, and reflective practice. Courses are designed to blend theory and practical application. The Education minor will have three required courses and three electives.  

Required:

• EDU 190 Education, Culture, and Society or EDU 202 Educator Preparedness and Professionalism

• PSY 207 Child Development or PSY 215 Psych of the Adolescence or 

PSY 217 Human Lifespan Development

• Special Education Course (choose one):
  • EDU 336/626 Psych of the Exceptional Child
  • EDU 632 Strategies for Inclusion 5th year option (90 credits and a minimum of 2.7 GPA)

Or Special Education course approved by Director of Education Programs

Three electives from the following list:

• EDU 203 Intro to Teaching

• EDU 311 Early Childhood Curriculum
• BIO 130 Nutrition and Health
• CRJ 379 Workplace and School Safety
• CRJ 383 Child Abuse
• HMS 205 Guiding Children’s Behavior
• HMS 310/EDU 320 Observation Documentation & Assessment
• HMS 315 Family and Community
• HMS 316 Mindfulness in the Classroom 
• SWK 307 Issues of Diversity
• SWK 408 Marriage and Family
• SPN 201 Spanish Outreach
• EDU 642 Early Childhood Curriculum (fifth year option)
• EDU 656 ESL Theory and Practice (fifth year option)

Or pre-approved course from the Director of Education Programs

Our goal is to cultivate educators who are supportive colleagues, maintain a high level of competence and integrity in their teaching practices, use feedback to improve their performance, embrace the diversity of their students, and ultimately serve as positive adult role models in their school community. Through coursework and real and relevant application, students will prepare for Initial Teacher Licensure as approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Students will:

• Demonstrate sound knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and the pedagogy it requires by consistently engaging students in learning experiences that enable them to acquire complex knowledge and subject-specific skills and vocabulary, such that they are able to make and assess evidence-based claims and arguments.
• Develop well-structured lessons with challenging, measurable objectives and appropriate student engagement strategies, pacing, sequence, activities, materials, resources, technologies, and grouping.
• Organize and analyzes results from a variety of assessments to determine progress toward intended outcomes and uses these findings to adjust practice and identify and/or implement appropriate differentiated interventions and enhancements for students.
• Uses appropriate practices, including tiered instruction and scaffolds, to accommodate differences in learning styles, needs, interests, and levels of readiness, including those of students with disabilities and English language learners.
• Uses rituals, routines, and appropriate responses that create and maintain a safe physical and intellectual environment where students take academic risks and most behaviors that interfere with learning are prevented.
• Effectively model and reinforces ways that students can master challenging material through effective effort, rather than having to depend on innate ability.
• Regularly reflects on the effectiveness of lessons, units, and interactions with students, both individually and with colleagues, and uses insights gained to improve practice and student learning. 

Students may begin their Education major in their freshman year. However, students are not formally admitted to education / teacher preparation until they have successfully completed 60 credits and earned an overall GPA of 2.7 and, to student teach, they need to have earned at least a 2.7 GPA in their teacher preparation courses. Admission to Anna Maria College does not guarantee admission to the teacher licensure preparation programs. Additionally, completion of the teacher licensure preparation program at Anna Maria College does not guarantee that a student will meet the State requirements for licensure.

 To be eligible for teacher preparation, students must:

• Complete a minimum of 60 credits.
• Declare a major in one of the liberal arts or sciences.
• Maintain a minimum overall Grade or Quality Point Average (GPA/QPA) of 2.7 in their major and teacher preparation courses.
• Achieve a passing score on the Communication and Literacy sections (reading and writing) of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
• Obtain the recommendation of faculty in education and liberal arts and sciences, or of employers in the field of education.

Students who may not be interested in Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education licensure may be interested in working in the field of early education and care. An option for these students includes preparation for the Early Education and Care (EEC) certification for work with children from birth to 8 years of age. These students major in Human Development and Human Services and select a minor in Education or Special Education to complete requirements for Early Education and Care Certification. See the School of Justice and Social Sciences for specifics about the major and optional minors. 

Students taking the Early Education and Care Minors will demonstrate an understanding of the growth and development of children and youth; examine methods for guiding and interacting with children and youth; explore strategies for partnering with families and communities; articulate understanding of the importance of health, safety, and nutrition in development; plan learning environments and implement curriculum; examine and develop methods for observation, assessment, and documentation; demonstrate knowledge of program planning and development; and demonstrate professionalism and leadership.

Students in the Anna Maria College Undergraduate Education Program can take three 5th year option courses towards their M.Ed. These courses will be decided in consultation with your advisor and will meet specific program licensure requirements. All educators in Massachusetts need an M.Ed. within five years of their first employment.  The 5th year option program will help you attain your M.Ed. in a shorter time to obtain this goal.

Initial License Teacher Candidate Handbook
Student Teaching Pre-Practicum Handbook
MTEL Resources

The Anna Maria Education Program is an Approved Licensure Program by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  We offer Initial Licensure in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Music Education at the undergraduate level.  On the graduate level we offer Initial licensure in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Moderate Disabilities PreK-8, and Moderate Disabilities 5-12. Add-a-License is another option for candidates who currently have Initial Licensure.