Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Early Childhood PreK–2

Learning Format

Hybrid

Types

Certificate/PBTL
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Early Childhood PreK–2

Teach young children in their first years of school

The Early Childhood PreK–2 track prepares you for the Massachusetts Initial Teaching License in Early Childhood, preschool through grade 2. It's designed for people who already hold a bachelor's degree in any field and want to teach young children as they learn to read, count, and explore the world.

You take the shared PBTL education core and a sequence of methods courses, each with time in a real public school classroom, and finish with a full semester of student teaching.
 

Why choose Early Childhood PreK–2?

  • You want to teach the youngest learners. The PreK–2 license covers preschool, kindergarten, and the first two grades. For grades 1 through 6, compare Elementary 1–6.
  • You teach every subject. Early childhood teachers cover literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts, so your coursework does too.
  • You get more classroom time. Early childhood students complete three field experiences before student teaching, one more than the secondary licenses.
  • You might want a master's too. FSU also offers this license through an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Initial Licensure. Ask your coordinator which path fits your goals.
Program Requirements

Courses for this license

CourseTitle
ECED 921Foundations of Literacy PreK–2 with Field Experience 1 (fall only)
ECED 931Social and Emotional Learning and Inclusive Practices for Students with Disabilities in PreK–2 with Field Experience 1 (fall only)
ECED 942ELA, Art, Social Studies, and Culturally Responsive Teaching PreK–2 with Field Experience 2 (spring only)
ECED 953MCurriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Practices: Mathematics PreK–2 with Field Experience 3 (fall only)
ECED 953SCurriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Practices: Science PreK–2 with Field Experience 3 (fall only)
ECED 980AEarly Childhood Education Professional Practicum A (first half of the semester)
ECED 980BEarly Childhood Education Professional Practicum B (second half of the semester)

Student teaching is offered in both fall and spring. At least two of your methods courses, and both practicum courses, must be taken at FSU.

Subject-matter requirements
Early childhood teachers need a broad liberal arts foundation. The state requires two courses in each area below. Courses you've already taken, at FSU or another college, may count, and your transcript review shows which areas, if any, you still need to fill. For help planning, contact the Center for Academic Support and Advising (CASA) at 508-626-4540.

Requirement areaCourses neededFSU courses that count
Literacy, languages, and literature2COMM 115, COMM 215; CSCI 111; DFST 101; INTD 160; MUSC 171; any 200- or 300-level ENGL course; any Chinese (CHIN), French (FREN), Spanish (SPAN), or American Sign Language (ASGN) course. Graduate options: LTRC 901, LTRC 907, or any 800- or 900-level ENGL course
Mathematics2MATH 110, 120, 200, 206, 208, 215, 219, 220, 221, 222, 226, 317, 319, 322, 427; STAT 157
Science and technology/engineering2, at least one with a labASTR 218, 230; BIOL 101, 160, 161, 203, 208, 230, 262, 402; CHEM 107, 108, 207; CSCI 120, 130, 215; EASC 118, 201, 208; ENVS 101, 202; FDSC 151, 161, 351; GEOG 235, 375; GEOL 108, 233; PHSC 109; PHYS 201. Graduate options: STEM 915, STEM 929
History and social science2ANTH 161, 172; BUSI 200; CRIM 121, 301; ECON 100, 102; GEOG 101, 110, 211; HSTY 105, 106, 111, 112, 165; POSC 110, 120, 200; PSYC 101, 200; SOCI 101, 130, 212. Graduate options: any 800- or 900-level HSTY course

Plan to finish any subject-matter courses you still need before student teaching. Exceptions need your coordinator's approval.

Admissions Requirements

To apply, you'll need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.00 GPA, a statement of purpose, and two recommendations. Your transcript is reviewed course by course against the state's subject-matter requirements for this license. Full admissions detail, including how transcripts from outside the U.S. are handled, is on the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure (PBTL) program page.

Core Courses

Every student on this track takes:

  • EDIL 910 Education Foundations
  • EDIL 920 Learning and Human Development
  • TESL 910 Sheltered English Immersion

EDIL 910 and EDIL 920 are offered online three times a year. Take them before your methods courses, since they're prerequisites.

Field Experience

Field Study I is observation. Field Study II and III are part of your methods courses, where you take on real teaching. Then comes a full-time, semester-long student teaching practicum. Already working in a school at this level? You can apply to use a semester of that job in place of the practicum.

Application details and deadlines are on the Field Placement & Licensure Information page.

Tests You Will Need

You do not need to pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) to apply. You do need these before student teaching and before the state issues your license:

  • Communication and Literacy Skills
  • Foundations of Reading (190)
  • Early Childhood (72), for subject matter knowledge

For registration dates and preparation materials, see Field Placement & Licensure Information.

Meet your Coordinator

Photo of Stavroula Gurguliatos

Stavroula Gurguliatos

Visiting Lecturer, Education Department
508 626 4569
sgurguliatos@framingham.edu
O'Connor Hall

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