TEACH 180 Days in Springfield Secondary Teacher Education Pathway
“My favorite thing about 180 Days in Springfield was that it gave me a job that I love to go to every day. These kids don’t have a lot of mentors. So I like to think that they will take a piece of me with them when they leave here and go on to high school and college. I love that they might think, 'I had this guy in middle school and he was a pretty good guy. And he was a math teacher.'"
Richard Malinoski
180 Days in Springfield student and middle school math teacher in Springfield, MA
The TEACH 180 Days in Springfield Pathway is a one-year, 36-credit pathway leading to a Master’s degree and teacher licensure at the middle or high school level.
It is offered by the School of Education in partnership with the Springfield, Massachusetts school district. TEACH 180 Days in Springfield combines graduate course work with full time teaching at one of four urban schools in Springfield.
As a TEACH 180 Days in Springfield licensure candidate, what will you do?
Beginning at the end of August, you will work with urban middle or high school students as a micro-teacher or student teacher. By mid-year, as a clinical teacher, you will become part of a middle school team or high school department. Throughout the academic year, you will learn the skills and competencies needed to be a successful teacher, including:
- Motivating students
- Sharing different cultures
- Planning instruction and designing curriculum
- Developing professional portfolios
- Teaching and team teaching classes
- Assessing student learning
- Building problem-solving techniques
- Collaborating with other TEACH 180 Days candidates
You will also take graduate classes related to your teaching level, participate in seminar discussions about effective and equitable teaching strategies, and develop a community service “legacy project” that supports student leadership.
Applying for TEACH 180 Days in Springfield
TEACH 180 Days in Springfield is designed for graduating college seniors, college graduates and second career professionals of any age who:
- have a record of leadership and achievement
- have an interest in a career in education
- would like to teach for a year in an urban middle or high school
Individuals interested in applying to the 180 Days in Springfield program should have an undergraduate degree in the subject they wish to teach. Majoring or having a degree in the intended licensure area ensures that candidates have completed the necessary subject matter requirements in that area. If candidates do not have a degree in the subject they wish to teach, they may have to fulfill the subject matter requirements by taking additional undergraduate coursework before entering the program. For more information on subject matter requirements, click here.
Admissions Process
You must complete the University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School application which is available at www.umass.edu/gradschool.
Include the following with your application:
- Personal Statement that includes your goals as well as your beliefs about teaching and learning.
- Two recommendations – one academic and one highlighting your work with children and adolescents.
Application Deadline
January 15 is the formal deadline for application.
Contact Information
For questions about the 180 Days in Springfield program, or if you would like to make an advising appointment, please contact the Educator Information Office.
