School of Education

View Programs and Courses

Associate Dean: Mary-Lou Breitborde

The School of Education has a proud 150-year-plus tradition of preparing new educators in more than 25 teaching and specialty fields in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Our award-winning graduates are educating children and adults across the globe in a variety of roles and contexts. Students may choose to pursue an educator license or complete a non-licensure program in educational studies. Programs leading to licensure are nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In addition to courses aligned with national standards taught by expert and experienced faculty, Salem State education students reap the benefit of strong relationships with more than 50 area school systems from Boston to the New Hampshire border. Among them are our four laboratory schools on or near campus: Prizing community involvement and service, faculty and students in the School of Education participate in projects, grants, and professional development in local schools, districts and agencies through fieldwork and service and through programs offered by the Center for Education and Community, the Northeast Regional Readiness Center, the Northeast Global Education Center, and the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Program.

The School of Education is organized in three departments:

Childhood Education Department
Adolescent Education and Leadership Department
Literacy, Counseling and Learner Development Department

The Childhood Education Department houses the Bachelor of Science in Education programs in early childhood and elementary education, as well as graduate programs in those areas. Students seeking to become middle or high school teachers, or leaders in education at any level, complete programs housed in the Department of Adolescent Education and Leadership. The Literacy, Counseling and Learner Development Department offers graduate programs in school counseling, reading, teaching English as a second language, educational technology, library media studies, and special education and provides literacy and special education courses that support the undergraduate education programs. Students already holding a bachelor’s degree should explore our graduate-level programs offering licensure in various educational fields. catalog.salemstate.edu/content.php

Programs Offered

Bachelor of Science in Education

Concentrations

Early Childhood Education

Elementary Education

Middle School Education

Teacher Licensure Programs

Early Childhood Education (Grades Pre-K-2)

Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)

Middle School Subject Matter Teacher (Grades 5-8)

History or Mathematics

Other subject areas available at the graduate level.

Licensure in conjunction with a major in the School of Arts and Sciences:

Subject areas requiring the Secondary Education Minor :

Biology, Chemistry, English, Earth Science, History, Mathematics, or Theatre Arts

Subject areas requiring an education concentration within the major:

Art (Grades Pre-K-8 or5-12 )

Physical Education (Teacher Licensure )

Spanish (Grades Pre-K-6 or 5-12 )

Educational Studies Minor

The Educational Studies minor consists of five (5) courses (15 credits) in Education, selected with the approval of a chair in the School of Education. The minor is available to students in any major.

Resources for Learning and Educational Practice

Students are encouraged to use the many resources supporting their learning and development as future educators. These include the Office of Licensure and Field Placement, the Education Resource Library (part of the University Library), the SELECT Children’s Literature Review Center, the MTEL Teacher Preparation Center, and the Classroom for Technology-Enhanced Pedagogy.

The School of Education supports two student societies: the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Pi Lambda Theta, an international honor society in education; and the Future Educators Association, open to all students considering a teaching career.

Salem State University Laboratory Schools

The University hosts four laboratory schools on or near campus where Education students may complete field work at any level of their program, from introductory observation experiences to full-time student teaching. The Salem State Pre-School, offering a Reggio Emilia-style curriculum and the literacy-themed Horace Mann Laboratory School are located on campus. The Saltonstall School, a year-round, multiple-intelligence-based school, is a few blocks away. The Robert Ford School in nearby Lynn provides an opportunity for students to experience an urban multicultural community school with extended services for children and families. Students may request placements at these schools depending on course and teacher licensure requirements.

Student Teaching in England

Students who qualify may elect to do one-half of their student teaching Practicum in Yorkshire, England. Supervision of the experience is under the direction of faculty from both Salem State University and Bradford College in the U.K. This program meets all requirements for licensure programs in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, or Secondary Education.

Licensure Program Requirements

Acceptance into an Education major, minor, or concentration does not automatically enroll a student in a licensure program. Admission into and completion of licensure programs require minimum grade point averages, passing scores on Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), completion of a major in the School of Arts and Sciences, and completion of professional course sequences, including a full semester of student teaching.

Admission to licensure programs and student teaching practica is a multi-step process. These requirements apply to all students wishing to be accepted into the licensure program, whether they be Education majors, Secondary Education minors, or concentrators within an Arts or Sciences major. Transfer students will complete the requirements according to the number of credit hours accepted for credit upon acceptance in the major.

Additionally, Massachusetts law requires that all schools conduct criminal background checks on current and prospective employees, volunteers, school transportation providers, and others who may have “direct and unmonitored contact with children.” Students must meet the Criminal Offender Records Information (CORI) requirements set by local school districts in order to complete pre-practicum field work and student teaching practica. Students unable to meet those requirements will be unable to complete School of Education licensure programs.

Step I

By the completion of 30 credit hours students should:

Meet with their advisor.
Complete a practice test for the Communication and Literacy portion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL).

Step II

By the completion of 60 credit hours students are eligible to apply for the licensure program. Admission requirements include:

Grades of “C” or better in Composition I and II and a Speech Communication course.
A 2.75 overall grade point average.
A passing score on the Communication and Literacy portion of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
Successful completion of at least one course in Education.

Step III

By the completion of 75 credit hours students are admitted to the curriculum/methods courses if the previous requirements have been satisfied. Additional requirements include:

3.0 G.P.A. in the Education major or minor and their second major.
Please note: Students should prepare for remaining portions of MTEL and speak to their advisor about a schedule forcompleting test requirements at this time.*

Step IV

Students are admitted to a Student Teaching Practicum if they have met the following requirements:

A 2.75 overall grade point average.
A 3.00 grade point average in the Education major or minor, and a 3.00 grade point average in their major in the School of Arts and Sciences.
Completion of all prerequisite coursework, including pre-practica field experiences.
A passing score on the subject matter content portions of the MTEL.*

* One or more tests may be required at Step IV, including completion of the Foundations of Reading Test for candidates in Early Childhood and Elementary Programs. Students are encouraged to consult their advisors on a regular basis. Please note: Teacher Licensure in Massachusetts is subject to regulations by the Massachusetts Department of ESE, and those regulations are subject to change by that Department.

Teacher Licensure-Only Program (TLP)

The post-baccalaureate, non-degree, TLP program allows students who have bachelor’s degrees without licensure the opportunity to obtain endorsement for license by completing a series of professional courses and fieldwork. Requirements for admission to this program are similar to those above; including,

Grades of “C” or better in Composition I and II and a Speech Communication course.
A 2.75 overall grade point average in the bachelor’s program.
A passing score on the Communication and Literacy portionof the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure.

Particular licensure programs may have additional requirements for admission. Students apply to the Office of Licensure and Field Placement for admission to the TLP program, indicating which teaching license they would like to pursue. Faculty from the appropriate Education or Arts and Sciences department review applicants’ transcripts to assess their background knowledge and experience and to advise them in their plan of study.

Non-Licensure Options

Students completing the major or minor without licensure will be prepared to work in a variety of educational roles and settings outside public school classrooms, including child care centers, community education programs, residential centers and private industry. A major in Education also prepares students for graduate work in education and child-related fields. The major without licensure includes Education courses and field work, and a minor and/or electives. With advising, students may complete an optional series of courses in the specialty fields of early childhood/child care or special education. The early childhood non-licensure option helps students work toward Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care qualifications for day care teacher and administrator.

Childhood Education Department

Cleti Cervoni, Chairperson

Professors: R. Clarke Fowler, Louise B. Swiniarski

Associate Professors: Cleti Cervoni, Pamela Ann Halpern

Assistant Professors: Megin Charner-Laird, Jennifer Crandell, Anneliese Worster

The Childhood Education Department prepares undergraduate students to become educators of early childhood and elementary-aged students. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in early childhood and elementary education leading to teacher licensure. For information about graduate programs, consult the graduate catalog. Top

Literacy, Counseling, and Learner Development Department

Francesca Pomerantz, Chairperson

Professor: Ellen Rintell

Associate Professors: Vicky Gallagher, Janice A. Magno, Mary Ni, Francesca Pomerantz

Assistant Professor: Johannah Morgen

The Literacy, Counseling and Learner Development Department offers graduate programs in school counseling, reading, teaching English as a second language, educational technology, library media studies, and special education. It provides literacy and special education courses that support the undergraduate education programs. For information about graduate programs, consult the graduate catalog. Top

Adolescent Education and Leadership Department

Michelle Pierce, Chairperson

Professor: Jaime Wurzel

Associate Professors: A. Thomas Billings, Kevin Fahey, Michelle Pierce, Allan Shwedel

Assistant Professor: Jacy C. Ippolito

The Adolescent Education and Leadership Department prepares undergraduate students to be educators in middle and high school settings. Students wishing to teach middle school (grades 5-8) complete a major in Education along with a second major in the desired subject area. Salem State University currently offers Middle School licensure options for subject matter teachers of History or Mathematics. Students planning to teach at the high school level (grades 8-12) complete a major in the School of Arts and Sciences in the field of knowledge for which the teaching license is sought, along with a minor in Secondary Education, described below. Departments offering approved licensure programs for grades 8-12 in conjunction with the secondary education minor are Biology, Chemistry, English, Geological Sciences (Earth Science), History, Mathematics, and Theatre Arts. Additionally, the Foreign Languages Department offers licensure to teach Spanish in grades Pre-K-6 or 5-12 ; the Art Department offers Pre-K-8 or 5-12 licensure programs; and the Sport and Movement Science Department offers options for licensure to teach Physical Education at the Elementary or Secondary level. Please refer to those departmental sections of the catalog for program requirements, as they are concentrations within the major.

Faculty Emeriti

Professors: Roda P. Amaria, Stephen J. Clarke, Helen Constant, Homer J. Dietmeier, Marjorie Empacher, Edna A. Mauriello, Edwin F. Moran, Jr., Mary E. Kraft Perry, Joseph A. Sullivan

Associate Professors: Daniel L. Crotty, Geraldine A. Fera, Henry Hovanasian, William R. Stanton, Louis J. Theriault

Assistant Professors: Albert S. Commito, Ruth E. Manghue, Jo-Anne Murphy, Rose Pareti Top

Secondary Education Minor

Admission to the Secondary Education minor requires the completion of requirements previously described under “Licensure Program Requirements.” Secondary Education minors must also complete the series of courses indicated on the program page for Secondary Education. While the required courses are generally applicable to all academic departments, students are advised to consult their major departments for individual variations. The School of Arts and Sciences departments mentioned above have designated faculty coordinators for the Secondary Education minor and special concentrations.

The Adolescent Education and Leadership Department also offers graduate programs in Educational Leadership, Middle School and Secondary Education, and Higher Education-Student Affairs. For information about these programs, consult the graduate catalog.