Post-baccalaureate Program Leading to an Initial Teaching License

Westfield State University has a history and abiding commitment of preparing educators who serve the educational needs of prekindergarten through secondary school students in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The shared vision of  Westfield’s education programs is articulated as “Educators as Leaders Building Learning Communities.”  Themes that support this vision are community building, reflective practice, diversity, and social justice.

Westfield State University teacher education programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Westfield is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Westfield State is working toward accreditation of its educator preparation programs under AAQEP standards with an anticipated Quality Assurance Review in 2020.

Post-baccalaureate programs leading to teaching licensure are offered through the Department of Graduate and Continuing Education, and are designed for individuals holding a baccalaureate degree who wish to obtain an initial teaching license, without obtaining an additional degree.  Post-baccalaureate initial licensure programs are offered in

Biology 8-12, Initial Post-baccalaureate Licensure  
Early Childhood PreK-2, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure  
Elementary 1-6, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure  
English 5-12, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure  
History 5-12 Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure  
Mathematics 5-8* or 8-12, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure  
Moderate Disabilities PreK-8, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure   
Moderate Disabilities 5-12, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure  
Music Education, All Levels, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure  
Physical Education PreK-8 and 5-12, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure  

*Programs marked with an asterisk are not accepting new candidates as of spring 2016.

Applicants may be required to take additional courses and/or document professional experiences in the cognate area of the license, in addition to the pedagogical and professional courses required for licensure. See Programs of Study for individual programs.

Students who satisfactorily complete program requirements leading to a teaching license are recommended for licensure to the Massachusetts Department of Education. Program requirements include completion of all coursework, passage of Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTELs) and completion of a practicum experience.

Program Description

The post-baccalaureate Physical Education program leads to initial licensure to teach PreK-8 or 5-12 grade levels, but does not confer a degree. Applicants to this program must have:

• a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college of university with a GPA of 2.6 or greater;
• passed the MTEL Communications and Literacy test; and
• a 2.7 GPA in undergraduate English courses, including English Composition I & II or equivalent.

Program of Study

A. Prerequisite coursework or experience

Content knowledge in the following areas must be documented in the student’s undergraduate academic record. Any gaps in coverage must be fulfilled as determined by the student’s advisor. Courses referenced below are from the Westfield undergraduate program, but equivalent coursework from another institution will be accepted.

• MOVP 0100 Introduction to Exercise Science
• MOVP 0105 Foundations of Movement Science I
• MOVP 0106 Foundations of Movement Sci. II
• MOVP 0202 Introduction to Motor Learning
• MOVP 0203 Motor Development and Behavior
• MOVP 0204 Kinesiology

B. Required Courses for Licensure

• EDUC 0380/0580 Critical Multicultural Education
• EDUC 0363/0631 Sheltered English Immersion
• MOVP 0103 Introduction to Teaching Physical Education
• MOVP 0260 Analysis of Teaching Selected P.E. Skills I: Elementary
• MOVP 0261 Analysis of Teaching Selected P.E. Skills I: Secondary

• MOVP 0264 Theory and Practice of Games II: Analysis if Net/Wall and Target Games in Elementary and Secondary Physical Education

• MOVP 0262 Analysis of Teaching P.E. Skills II
• MOVP 0302 Measurement & Evaluation in P.E.
• MOVP 0311 Adaptive Physical Education
• MOVP 0314 Physical EducationTeaching Methodology: Elementary /Secondary
• MOVP 0316 Curriculum Planning and Implementation
• MOVP 0348 Practicum I: Elementary OR

• MOVP 0350 Practicum I: Secondary

• MOVP 0349 Practicum II: Elementary OR
• MOVP 0352 Practicum II: Secondary
• MOVP 0355 Practicum Seminar: Physical Education

Additional Requirements

A 30-hour diversity experience is required before or during practicum.

Students must pass the required MTEL subject matter test (Physical Education), and have a GPA of 2.8, for admission to practicum.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 in the concentration and a minimum grade of 2.7 or higher in MOVP 0313 Physical Education Teaching Methodology: Elementary/MOVP 0314 Physical Education Teaching Methodology: Secondary are required for a practicum placement.

Candidates approved for a practicum must achieve advanced standing which includes the following:
1) complete an application (available from advisor);
2) submit three favorable recommendations from department faculty and two favorable recommendations from supervising practitioners;
3) hold a current First Aid Certificate; 4) demonstrate student membership in a professional society for two years.

Additionally, the student must submit a self-evaluation which includes: a) reasons for choosing the concentration; ; b) contributions made or projected to the field; c) strengths and/or weaknesses; d) a resume listing activities of a professional nature. 

Practicum placements are generally within a 30-mile radius of the university unless otherwise specified and approved.