2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Oct 12, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Earth System Science with General Science Licensure (5-8), B.S.


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Westfield State University’s educator preparation programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

Requirements for General Science Licensure


Students seeking initial licensure in General Science (grades 5-8) must satisfy the following requirements prior to practicum placement:

  • Completion of all courses required for the Earth System Science major with General Science Licensure (5-8), B.S.
  • Overall GPA of 2.8, plus a 3.0 in all pedagogical coursework.
  • Completion of the appropriate professional sequence of education courses for the Middle and Secondary Education certification program, including the appropriate academic Methods course: either GNSC 0371 - Methods of Science Education for the Middle School  or GNSC 0373 - Methods of Chemistry Education .
  • Achievement of a passing mark on both the Commucation and Literacy test and the appropriate subject matter exam of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
    • Students attempt the Communication and Literacy MTEL exam during their first year, and the subject matter MTEL exam during the fall term of the junior year.

Students enter Advanced Standing in the Education Department’s licensure programs as juniors, after they have passed the Communications and Literacy portion of the MTEL and have met all other requirements. In addition to on-campus work, the professional sequence also includes an extensive student teaching practicum, completed in the spring semester of the senior year. Please refer to the Licensure for Teaching   section of the Academic Policies for specific requirements pertaining to (1) attaining Advanced Standing and (2) practicum placement.

Middle School Licensure in General Science (5-8)


Professional Sequence: Middle and Secondary (Grades 5-12)


The Professional Sequence for Middle and Secondary must be completed by students intending to teach an academic subject area in the Middle or Secondary School. Students must complete an academic major in the subject area in which the licensure is sought.

Practicum


Appropriate academic Practicum and Seminar, such as the following:

Additional Graduation Requirements


All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements  and complete a general education or common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in General Education: WISE  or Common Core .

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