Education, Middle School (5-8) and High School (8-12) Licensure, B.A.

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 124

Minimum cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum number of credits to complete the major: 54 (this does not include the content-area course requirements)

School: School of Education and Social Policy

Department: Education

Learn more about the program

A co-major in Education consists of courses within the Department of Education and Community Studies as well as a set of additional courses across the arts and sciences to fulfill the Subject Matter Knowledge requirements outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (“DESE”). Please refer to each specific program chart to determine the exact set of required courses. All Teacher Education Program students will have an advisor who will work closely with them to identify the best program of study for their licensure concentration.

Practicum Information: In order to be eligible for practicum and complete our Massachusetts state-approved programs, students must have full acceptance to the Teacher Education program by meeting the following requirements:

EDU 2500 Pre-Practicum Methods
EDU 2510 Pre-Practicum Moderate Disabilities
EDU 2520 Pre-Practicum English Learners
3.0 GPA in program
Attendance at all orientation and advising sessions
Satisfactory dispositions based on PDQ survey from professors
B- or better in method courses

Ultimately, Massachusetts state licensure depends on completion of aforementioned state-approved programs and passing scores on all MTELs. More information can be found in the School of Education and Social Policy’s Teacher Education Handbook that students receive as part of the Teacher Education orientation and as part of the Teacher Education seminar.

Merrimack College has a Massachusetts DESE state-approved educator preparation program and as such has program and licensure reciprocity as outlined by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (“NASDTEC”) Interstate Agreement. Some states have additional requirements for full licensure.

All students in the middle school/high school Teacher Education Program must have a content-area as a second major, and choose the particular licensure area and the grade level in which they ultimately want to teach. This will become your concentration. Students can choose from the following:

Math (5-8, 8-12)
Biology (8-12)
Chemistry (8-12)
English (5-12)
History (5-12)
Physics (8-12)

See STEM Education, with Education as a Co-Major, B.A. for a K-5th STEM Education degree.

Major Requirements

The following courses are required for licensure in Middle School (5-8) and High School (8-12) per the regulations outlined by the Department for Elementary and Secondary Education (“DESE”). Program requirements may change to accommodate updated regulations. Students will be notified by the School of Education and Social Policy when changes are made, and students will work with their academic advisor to modify course sequence when applicable.

Required Courses

Complete the following thirteen required courses:

EDU 2110 - Foundations and Principles of Education Credits: 4
EDU 2410 - The Exceptional Learner Credits: 4
EDU 3480 - Curriculum and Content Specific Pedagogical Methods Credits: 4
EDU 4040 - Reading, Writing and Literacy for Secondary Education Credits: 4
EDU 4220 - Differentiation & Instruction Credits: 2
EDU 4221 - Positive Learning Environments and Behavior Interventions Credits: 2
EDU 4582 - Sheltered English Instruction Credits: 4
HDE 1020 - Introduction to Human Services Credits: 4
HDE 2130 - Diversity, Social Justice, & Ethics Credits: 4
HDE 2230 - Applied Adolescent Development Credits: 4
HDE 3210 - Psychology of Learning and Assessment Credits: 4
ESP 1000 - Career Design: Explore, Plan, Develop Credits: 1
ESP 1050 - Career Readiness: Professionalism, Dispositions, Prospects Credits: 1

Practicum Requirements

The following courses are required for students who seek licensure in Middle School (5-8) or High School (8-12). Please consult with your advisor for sequencing and/or substitutions.

EDU 2500 - Pre-Practicum Methods Credits: 0
EDU 2510 - Pre-Practicum Moderate Disabilities Credits: 0
EDU 2520 - Pre-Practicum English Learners Credits: 0
EDU 4921 - Seminar: Practicum Implementation Credits: 0
EDU 4901 - Practicum - Middle Schools Credits: 12
OR
EDU 4902 - Practicum - Secondary Schools Credits: 12

Middle School/High School MTELs

Communication and Literacy Skills (01)
- Reading sub-test
- Writing sub-test
Subject Matter

For more information about the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (“MTELs”) and the preparation workshops available, please visit www.merrimack.edu/mtel.

Note

Additionally, please note that students gaining middle- and secondary-school licenses should follow the College-wide Foundations and Connections Core Curriculum requirements. Students working towards early childhood, elementary, and moderate disabilities licenses are required to take additional courses which fulfill ESE Subject Matter Knowledge requirements as well as all of the Merrimack College’s Foundations and Connections Core Curriculum requirements.