2006-2007 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Education
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 Return to: Academic Programs of Study
Program Components
Liberal Studies Major
The Liberal Studies major consists of eight core courses, each of which covers a subject that early childhood and elementary education teachers must be prepared to teach, including history, literature, science, math, and geography. Students integrate these areas into their education courses, applying their understanding of subject matter to the art of teaching. Endicott Education faculty work closely with the Arts and Sciences faculty to provide the very best combination of content and skills that prepare students for the challenges and the rewards of the teaching profession.
Education Curriculum
In addition to liberal arts courses, extensive classes in education are completed as part of the program. ED 101 Introduction to Education and ED106 Curriculum Frameworks provide an overview of the field of Education as well as the history and current state of education reform. ED 106 Curriculum Frameworks also introduces the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, giving students a context through which to explore the competencies and standards by which today’s teachers are expected to work. As students progress through the Education program, they acquire the professional knowledge they need to succeed as teachers. Methods courses cover subject areas such as Language Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies. Classes address the professional standards expected of teachers as well as specific areas of interest such as special needs, reading, creative arts, technology, and evaluation and assessment.
License Areas: Early Childhood (PreK – Grade 2) and Elementary (Grades 1 – 6)
Declaration of a license area, in either Elementary (Grades 1 – 6) or Early Childhood (PreK – Grade 2), takes place in the second year of the program. At this point, individuals interested in teaching elementary school take ED 220 Strategies of Teaching in the Elementary Classroom while those wishing to pursue a license in early childhood education (PreK – Grade 2) enroll in ED 207 Strategies of Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom. Once in these classes, a Declaration of Major form is completed and turned in to the Registrar’s Office, officially identifying the student’s license field. From that point on, the program of study for the specific license is followed. In accordance with state regulations, the Elementary Education program of study incorporates specific courses in the arts and sciences with education classes such as ED 300 Integrating Language Arts and ED 400 Practicum and Seminar in Elementary Education. The Early Childhood program of study includes electives in the liberal arts, ED 221 Emergent Literacy Instruction and ED 401 Practicum and Seminar in Early Childhood Education. Upon graduation, a license application will be filed for the field in which the student has studied and completed the practicum.
Field Experience
Endicott’s Education program integrates theory with practice as students observe and teach in some of the many school systems with which the College has formal partnerships. Through a combination of internships and practica, classroom experiences are a key component of each of the four years at Endicott. Other opportunities available to students in the School of Education include participation in America Reads, leading after-school science programs, collaborating with the Beverly Historical Society in social studies instruction, visits to early childhood and elementary schools both at home and abroad, and volunteering with the Special Olympics. The School of Education also works with the Foundation for Excellent Schools, a national organization that promotes early college awareness and goal-setting in local elementary schools. Through this partnership, Endicott students visit k-5 classrooms to talk about going to college and they arrange for the elementary age students to visit the Endicott campus. Finally, students find positions as substitute teachers in local school settings.
Internships
INT 100 Internship I and INT 200 Internship II take place during the first and second years of the program and include school settings in the public and private sectors, as well as charter and Montessori school placements. Internship opportunities in both London and Mexico are also available. The latter involves a community service project in Mexican pre-schools. Preparation for internships takes place in internship seminars and education classes. Successful completion of both INT 100 and INT 200 is marked by a reflective paper, journal, supervisor evaluation, and seminar meeting with a faculty advisor.
Examples of Internship and Student Teaching Field Sites:
School Systems
Beverly Danvers Essex
Georgetown Hamilton-Wenham Lynn
Manchester Medford Merrimac
Middleton Newburyport No. Andover
No. Reading Peabody Reading
Revere Rockport Salem
Tewksbury Wakefield Waltham
West Newbury Winthrop Gloucester
Pre-Practicum
In the third year, Education students participate in ED 305 Pre-Practicum and Seminar, a course that places them in a local classroom during the school day. Observations, reflections, and teaching experiences during the pre-practicum are discussed in a weekly seminar with a faculty advisor.
Practicum
Education program seniors complete a full-semester practicum in their license field of either early childhood or elementary education. They are placed in local Massachusetts schools and closely supervised by a licensed cooperating teacher and a college supervisor. Weekly seminars bring all student teachers together with faculty who provide supervision and mentoring throughout the practicum. For those pursuing licensure in early childhood education, ED 401 consists of a minimum of 300 practicum hours, including 100 hours in a PreK or K classroom and 200 hours in a Grade 1 or 2 classroom during their practicum. At least one of these settings must include children with disabilities. Elementary education students complete ED 400, a 300-hour practicum in a Grade 1 – 6 classroom.
Other Program Components
Portfolio
ED 321 Portfolio is completed during the spring semester and is required of all juniors. The class provides third year education students with a semester-long focus on the transition to the senior year. Particular attention is given to the expectations of student teaching, the requirements of LST 489 Senior Thesis I and LST 490 Senior Thesis II. Students read weekly issues of Education Week, write response papers, and discuss current issues in education during class. They also develop a resume, write a philosophy of teaching statement, and create an electronic portfolio. Cooperating teachers, principals, and other individuals visit class over the course of the semester to provide juniors with input on student teaching, job-hunting, and other professional issues. At the end of the course, students receive their student teaching placements for the fall semester and set up meetings with their cooperating teachers. They also present their chosen thesis topic and electronic portfolio. ED321 meets once a week, with additional out-of-class time spent on creating an electronic portfolio.
Senior Thesis
A year-long senior thesis is completed during the last year at Endicott. LST 489 Senior Thesis I, typically taken in the fall, allows students to choose and study a topic of particular interest to them in the field of education and to write a comprehensive review of the literature on that subject. In the spring of their senior year, during LST 490 Senior Thesis II, students focus on an aspect of their topic in more depth through the design and completion of a research project. Recent senior thesis projects have addressed the relationship between parenting and academic achievement, the problem of bullying, and gender bias in the classroom. Through the senior thesis, an expertise in a specific area of education is developed. Such knowledge distinguishes Endicott graduates and prepares them for further studies at the master’s level.
Global Institute for Student Aspirations
The Global Institute for Student Aspirations (GISA) brings new forms of collaboration with schools throughout the world. Endicott students have an opportunity to work with GISA on research projects, to deliver national and international presentations, and to author articles for professional journals. Such opportunities support classes, independent research, and the Senior Thesis II project.
Teacher Licensure
The four-year degree program in Education meets the most recent regulations for licensure in the state of Massachusetts: A Liberal Arts degree combined with a concentration in either Early Childhood (PreK – Grade 2) or Elementary (Grades 1 – 6) Education. The Elementary and Early Childhood programs have been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
Program Changes
Due to the changing nature of licensing regulations from state to state, students are encouraged to review the regulations from their state at the time of their entry to college. It is important for potential teachers to know the regulations and requirements for certification in the state in which they plan to teach. Licensure criteria may be modified at any time, and program requirements may be altered to reflect those changes.
Massachusetts Tests of Educator Licensure
The Massachusetts Department of Education mandates that all students pass the Massachusetts Tests of Educator Licensure (MTEL) as part of the licensing process. Endicott supports this requirement by incorporating the relevant MTEL tests into the Education program. Prior to enrollment in ED 305 Pre-Practicum and Seminar, a passing score on the Communication and Literacy test must be achieved. Prior to enrolling in ED 400 Practicum and Seminar in Elementary Education or ED 401 Practicum and Seminar in Early Childhood Education, the Foundations of Reading test and the appropriate Subject Matter test in either Early Childhood or Elementary Education must be completed with a passing score. Fees for taking the MTEL will be the responsibility of the student.
By incorporating the required exams into the program, upon graduation Endicott students have completed all of the necessary license requirements for the state of Massachusetts. License applications are completed and filed at the end of the senior year.
Those wishing to be licensed to teach in other states must still take and pass the MTEL exams as part of the program requirements. However, the department will also work closely with individuals seeking licensure in states other than Massachusetts, helping to define the requirements and procedure for receiving that license. Preparing for, taking, and passing the MTEL exam helps future teachers to pass other exams, such as the PRAXIS and many of our students are successfully pursuing licenses in multiple states.
Test Preparation Workshops
Endicott offers intensive workshops and tutoring throughout the year to help prepare students to pass the MTEL exams. Test preparation workshops are free of charge and focus on the specific skills and subjects covered on the licensure exams. Workshops are required of students enrolled in the Education program and are also available to those who want to meet the requirements to change into the program from another major.
Acceptance into the Program
Requirements for admission to the Education program include the regular admission requirements as outlined in the Catalog, and a combined SAT score of at least 1000.
Those not accepted into the program upon admission to Endicott may change into the program when they:
- pass the Communication and Literacy MTEL exam,
- maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and
- achieve at least a C in all required courses.
Due to the curriculum requirements, individuals interested in changing into the program from another major should work closely with a faculty advisor and the Dean of Education to ensure that they are completing the requirements in a timely manner.
Continuation in the Program
To continue in the teacher preparation program the following criteria must be met: a minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 and at least a C in all required courses.
Students will not be permitted to remain in the Education program if they:
- do not achieve the minimum qualifying score on the MTEL,
- fall below the required G.P.A. of 2.5, or
- receive less than a C in all required courses.
Transcripts are evaluated at the end of every semester and individuals work closely with their advisor and the dean to ensure that they meet these criteria. Those who are advised out of the program can complete the Liberal Studies major with a minor in Education. The Education minor does not lead to Massachusetts state licensure.
Program Requirements and Waiver Policy
The Education program and each of its components meets the regulations set by the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE) for Teacher Preparation Programs. Ordinarily, students who complete the Education program must fulfill each of the course and field-based requirements as outlined in the College catalog or updated in accordance with new DOE regulations. Students who do not follow the recommended course of study for either the early childhood or elementary license, or who transfer into the program, may need to make up courses that they have not yet taken, or apply to the Dean for a waiver. Doing so may extend the time it takes to complete the Education program and students should plan accordingly in close consultation with their advisor or dean.
On rare occasions, program requirements may be waived based on prior coursework or experience. The practicum may not be waived.
United States Higher Education Act (HEA)
as amended in 1998, Sec. 207, also known as Title II Public Disclosure Statement
Endicott College MTEL pass rates for the program year 2004–2005 were at 100% in the Communication and Literacy, the Early Childhood, and the General Curriculum tests. Pass rates for institutions statewide for each test were: Communication and Literacy, reading subtest, 100%; Communication and Literacy, writing subtest, 99%; Early Childhood 96%; Foundations of Reading 96%; and General Curriculum 99%. For a copy of the Endicott College Institutional Report on Title II Data for 2004–2005, please contact the Coordinator of Licensure and Assessment, Endicott College.
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