The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate for Initial Teacher Licensure in Middle or Secondary School Education program at Worcester State University provides you with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience to obtain your initial teacher license in Massachusetts. The program is designed for recent college graduates with non-education degrees in one of the following content areas: English, history, mathematics, biology, chemistry, or Earth sciences. It also is for people with professional or technical experience who are seeking to change careers.
In classes conveniently offered in the evening and taught by our experienced faculty, you will gain a thorough understanding of the state-mandated standards for teachers. You will then translate theory into practice through hands-on practicum experiences in one of the region’s middle or secondary public schools. In fact, your studies culminate in a semester-long student-teaching practicum under the supervision of a teacher. Or you will be supervised by a Worcester State faculty member at your job site, if you are employed with a preliminary teacher license.
At Worcester State, our Education Department has a long history of teacher education, and graduates of the post-baccalaureate certificate program are ready to meet the challenges of teaching in today’s diverse middle and secondary public schools. Most graduates continue their studies toward professional teacher licensure, and credits earned through this program are easily transferred to Worcester State’s master of education programs in middle school education or secondary education.
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In addition to the general admission requirements, one of the requirements for an initial license is demonstrated knowledge in the content area. Thus, candidates for this program must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 in the chosen content area. A preliminary license in the desired content area or a passing score on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) in the content area is also acceptable for admission to the program if a candidate holds a bachelor’s degree in the arts and sciences or an inter-disciplinary major.
In addition to the content area MTEL, candidates for this program must also pass the Communication and Literacy Skills test.
An undergraduate or graduate course in adolescent development / psychology is a prerequisite for stage 3 of the program or a CLEP exam in Human Growth & Development with a score of 50 or higher.
Candidates may be required to take additional courses in the content area. After reviewing the student’s undergraduate transcript(s) and MTEL scores, the program coordinator will determine if the student must take additional content courses.
Courses in this program prepare middle and secondary school teachers to demonstrate competency in the 5 professional standards for teachers as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. These are planning curriculum and instruction, delivering effective instruction, classroom management, promoting equity, and meeting professional responsibilities. Each course addresses specific standards, while the entire program prepares candidates for the challenges of responding to the needs and developmental characteristics of middle and secondary school students.
This program also has a field-based component: 75 hours of pre-practicum fieldwork involving guided school observation, and a practicum (student teaching) experience of 300 clock hours in a middle or secondary school classroom under the supervision of a teacher and a university faculty member. The 75 hours of pre-practicum fieldwork is completed over 3 pre-practicum courses. The practicum / student teaching experience is a full semester-long experience. The practicum can be completed at the candidate’s school where he/she is employed as the practicing teacher of record. A seminar course is offered concurrently with the teaching practicum to provide students the opportunity for reflection and shared experiences.
It is recommended that the courses in the program be taken in sequence.
