School of Education

The School of Education at Endicott prepares tomorrow’s teachers to make a difference in the world, one child at a time. Through a deep understanding of current best practices in teaching and research-based knowledge of child development and learning theories, Endicott education students learn to be responsive, reflective, and ethical decision makers who are committed to empowering all learners. Coursework and field experiences help students move theory into practice, value diversity, and provide opportunity for practical application of national and state standards in key subject areas. Students are expected to become active contributors to their profession and to view themselves as socially responsible citizens in a democracy that values educational opportunities for all students.

The School of Education offers licensure programs in early childhood (PreK-grade 2), elementary (grades 1-6) and secondary education (depending on the subject matter: 5-8; 5-12; and 8-12). Students pursuing secondary education can major in the following areas leading to licensure: bio/biotech (biology license in 8-12), environmental science (earth science license in 8-12), English (English license in 5-12), history (history license in 5-12), and math (math license in 5-8; 9-12). These programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and lead to the state’s initial teaching license. Upon graduation, Endicott education students have completed all of the requirements necessary to receive an initial license in the state of Massachusetts and are eligible to pursue licensure in many other states.

For students who wish to work in the field of autism and applied behavior analysis (ABA), a minor is available that, combined with internships, prepares students for pursuing a master’s in ABA to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

The educational studies concentration is a non-licensure option for those students interested in working with children in an educational setting not requiring state licensure, such as a private school, museum education, or day care.

Students in Endicott’s School of Education complete education field experiences beginning with two 120-hour internships, usually done in the January of freshman and sophomore years. During these internships, students are encouraged to explore a variety of educational settings related to their area of interest. Students pursuing licensure complete a pre-practicum field experience during their junior year and a semester-long student teaching practicum in the fall of their senior year. Educational studies majors pursue a semester-long internship in the fall of the senior year. Many education courses also integrate field experience into the curriculum, enabling education students to partner with local schools running after-school programs, leading literacy groups, creating museum education curriculum, and developing after school science programs.

Education students are encouraged to study abroad through Endicott’s short-term programs or semester-long experiences. Opportunities outside of the classroom also include the Education Club, the Autism Awareness Organization, the Endicott chapter of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and other campus clubs and organizations. Education students may also be nominated for Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education.

In keeping with best practices in education, the School of Education is committed to ongoing assessment of its program. Students are expected to participate in formal and informal assessment of courses, field experiences, and other elements of their undergraduate experience. Information collected from such assessments is used to make effective programmatic changes.

Students who complete the early childhood and elementary licensure programs and are interested in special needs can work with their advisors to take a series of courses senior year leading to the Massachusetts license in moderate disabilities (Pre-K-8). Licensure program students may also apply to one of Endicott’s Fifth Year Master of Education programs, which allow them to complete an M.Ed. in approximately one year. Graduates may also choose to apply to Endicott’s Teaching Fellows Program, a year-long residency in a partnering school while completing the M.Ed.