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. Our teacher education programs embrace this vision, Education Leaders Building Inclusive Learning Communities, a vision grounded in our department’s 5 foundational pillars: Critical Engagement with Diversity, Community Building, Social Justice, Scholarship, and Reflection. 

Westfield State University’s teacher education programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Westfield State University’s educator preparation program is fully accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Westfield State University was awarded full accreditation for seven years in June 2020. AAQEP also awarded our educator preparation program with a commendation for our work in anti-racist education.

Post-baccalaureate programs leading to teaching licensure are offered through the Office 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.  

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), a demonstrated ability to meet program dispositional standards, and completion of a practicum experience.

Program Description

The post-baccalaureate English Education program leads to initial licensure to teach 5-12 level English, but does not confer a degree. Applicants to this program must have:

• a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or 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 & 2 or equivalent.

Program of Study

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.

Coursework meeting subject matter outcomes: 

• ENGL 0206 Principles and Applications of Grammar
• ENGL 0210 British Literature to 1603
• ENGL 0211 British Literature, 1603-1780 OR
  ENGL 0212 British Literature from 1780 to Present
• ENGL 0216 American Literature to 1865
• ENGL 0217 American Literature since1865
• ENGL 0221 World Literature
• ENGL 0295 Gateway to Advanced Literary Study
• ENGL 0300 Development of the Novel
• ENGL 0317 Shakespeare: Trag. & Histories OR
  ENGL 0318 Shakespeare: Comedies & Romance
• ENGL 0338 Young Adult Literature in the ELA Classroom
• ENGL 0348 History of the English Language
• ENGL 0383 Teaching Writing: Issues in Rhetoric and Composition
• One (3 credit) 200 or 300-level writing course
• One (3 credit) course in diverse literary traditions
• One additional (3 credit) course in advanced coursework

Required Courses for Licensure

• EDUC 0220 Schools in American Culture OR
  EDUC 0633 Social Cultural Theories: Foundations of Education
• EDUC 0221/0540 Foundations of Special Education
• EDUC 0321/0521 Middle School & Its Students
• EDUC 0380/0580 Theory of Critical Multicultural Education
• EDUC 0354/0554 Educational Planning & Evaluation: Middle and Secondary Schools
• EDUC 0363/0631 Sheltered English Immersion
• PSYC 0203 Adolescent Development
• PSYC 0101 Introduction to Psychology (Required as prerequisite to PSYC 0203)
• ENGL 0322/0522 Practicum Seminar
• ENGL 0350/0550 Methods of Teaching English 5-12
• EDUC 0568 5-12 Practicum
• EDUG 0527 Practicum Seminar

*Seminar hours will be required during practicum.

Additional Requirements

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

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

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