Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)
To qualify for licensure, a student must complete the major concentration and a minor program in elementary education and take appropriate course work in the interdisciplinary field of elementary education. He or she must also pass the following three Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure: MTEL Communication and Literacy, MTEL Foundations of Reading and MTEL General Curriculum Test.
Major requirements for Elementary Education
A Wheaton student will complete a major concentration (usually equivalent to at least 36 semester hours of credit) in a liberal arts subject-matter field relevant to elementary education. Please consult the departmental coordinators to determine appropriate subjects for the major.
Print a minor planning worksheet
Minor requirements in Elementary Education
A student must complete the prepracticum and the practicum. The prepracticum consists of courses and experiences specifically designed to meet the licensure standards. The practicum involves full-time student teaching and practice in the role of a classroom teacher at cooperating schools. The following prepracticum courses are required: two of the three courses Educ 240, Educ 250 and Educ 260; Educ 251; Educ 385 and Educ 390. All of these, as well as required arts, sciences and humanities distribution course work, must be completed before the two practicum courses, Educ 496 and Educ 495. Also required are Math 133 and Math 141, Psy 203 and one of the following: first aid, lifesaving or CPR training. Licensure regulations are determined by the state of Massachusetts; thus, students must stay abreast of possible changes.
Practicum requirements
During the senior year, a student will complete a semester-long two-and-one-half-credit student teaching practicum plus a one-credit seminar in reflective teaching practices. While student teaching, Wheaton students will be at the cooperating school for the entire school day and will follow the public school calendar. They may take only one additional Wheaton credit during the semester and this must be fulfilled after the regular school hours. A student must notify the department chair of any incomplete grade from the previous semester. An incomplete may disqualify the student from admission to the practicum.
Arts, sciences and humanities distribution course work in the field of elementary education
A student must also take approximately nine semester courses equivalent to 36 semester hours of credit in the following areas: literature, the sciences, mathematics and the social sciences. These requirements are normally met by careful selection of liberal arts courses that fulfill Wheaton's general distribution requirements. Consult the Education Department faculty for a list of courses that are especially recommended. Specifically, students are also required to take Math 133 and Math 141 to fulfill their mathematics requirement, unless a waiver is granted by the Mathematics Department. Licensure regulations are determined by the state of Massachusetts; thus, students must stay abreast of possible changes.