Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary and Special Education Licensure
Description
Our dual-focus program is grounded in the principles of inclusion—that all individuals can learn and have the right to do so in a classroom within their own community and with learners their own age.
With a focus on cultivating teachers who will serve as powerful advocates for their future students, we employ recent scholarship to ensure that our students become expert in the philosophy and bases of inclusive practice and that they are able to recognize and implement excellent programming in their own classrooms. We emphasize teaching practice, and students obtain pre-practicum experiences in a variety of settings throughout the program.
Our candidates take courses to strengthen their fluency in subject matter knowledge so they will be able to offer access to curricular content to all learners. Methods courses incorporate instruction in a variety of learning styles in reading and language arts, mathematics, social studies and science. Our students also study the cultural and historical foundation of the American school, special education laws and regulations, and developmental psychology as applied to learning and teaching strategies. With special education now considered a high-need teaching area in nearly every U.S. state, our dual licensure graduates possess a highly sought-after set of skills and the flexibility to pursue jobs in many classroom settings in both public and private schools.
Upon successful completion of the program, the Simmons University Program in Education will endorse students for their Elementary Education 1-6 license, and students will apply for the Moderate Disabilities PreK-8 license immediately afterward.
Learning Outcomes
Simmons University’s Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary and Special Education Licensure program addresses the Massachusetts Department of Education’s standards for Subject Matter Knowledge and Professional Standards for Teachers.
Requirements for Entry into the Program
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A grade point average of B (3.0) or higher is preferred. A passing MTEL score for an MTEL in Communications/Literacy or in General Curriculum is required. Applicants interview with a faculty member to make certain that the program is a good fit.
Licensure
The Simmons University Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary and Special Education Licensure program is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for endorsement in Elementary License for grades 1-6 and it qualifies as preparation for Add-On Licensure in Moderate Special Needs for grades PreK-8. Teacher candidates prepared at Simmons University may take advantage of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which allows teachers to earn an equivalent license in another state or the District of Columbia pending completion of any state-specific prerequisites for the license in that jurisdiction.
Degree Requirements
Master of Arts in Teaching and Initial Licensure (52-credit program)
In this program, students complete 52 credits of coursework and participate in a year-long school placement, completing two separate full-time teaching practicums, one in Elementary and one in Moderate Special Needs. Students can expect to complete this program in 20-24 months of full-time study depending on the start date.
| SPND 446 | Learners with Special Needs | 4.00 |
| GEDUC 467 | Math Methods | 4.00 |
| TESL 417 | Sheltered English Instruction | 4.00 |
| GEDUC 430 | Inclusive Lesson Planning | 2 |
| GEDUC 445 | Educational Psychology | 4.00 |
| GEDUC 464 | Reading & Language Arts Methods | 4.00 |
| GEDUC 461 | Social Studies, Science & the Arts Methods | 4.00 |
| SPND 441 | Creating a Caring Classroom Community | 4.00 |
| SPND 436 | Formal & Informal Assessment | 4.00 |
| SPND 420 | Introduction to Assistive Technology | 2.00 |
| SPND 444 | Special Education Laws & Regulations For Teachers & Administrators | 2.00 |
| SPND 445 | Individualized Education Program: Strategies for Development, Interpretation & Implementation | 2.00 |
| GEDUC 480 | Practicum: Elementary Education (1-6) | 4.00 |
| GEDUC 401 | Seminar in Teaching and Learning at the Elementary Level | 4.00 |
| SPND 438 | Practicum: Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) | 2.00 |
| SPND 488 | Seminar & Fieldwork in Education | 2 |
| SPND 400DL | Digital Literacy Modules | 0 |