Elementary Education

Licensure at the Elementary Level

For those individuals interested in pursuing licensure at the Elementary level (grades 1-6), the UMass School of Education offers the Collaborative Teacher Education Pathway (CTEP). CTEP is a ten-month, intensive Master’s degree and licensure program for prospective candidates interested in elementary education. Upon completion of the program, candidates will obtain a Master’s degree in education as well as initial licensure in the state of Massachusetts for elementary education. For more information on CTEP, please review the CTEP description and be sure to visit the CTEP website.

CTEP Prerequisites

The prerequisites for candidates interested in applying to CTEP are as follows:

• A B.A. or B.S. with a major in the liberal arts, mathematics, or sciences. For a detailed list of appropriate majors, please click here.
• A minimum undergraduate GPA. of 2.75. Please note that the average GPA of current CTEP students is 3.4.
  
• A passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Please note that although passing scores on the remaining two MTELs – Foundations of Reading and General Curriculum – are not required for application to CTEP, these two MTELs must be passed by June 1. To meet the June 1 deadline, students are encouraged to begin taking these tests during their junior year (see the MTEL guidelines for the Elementary Education Master’s Program).
• Evidence of, or a specific plan for, meeting prerequisite knowledge base in Mathematics with a grade of B or higher. At UMass Amherst, Math 113 and 114 (Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers) and Educ 463 (Principles and Methods of Teaching Mathematics) are the suggested courses to satisfy this requirement.
  
• Evidence of, or a specific plan for, meeting the prerequisite knowledge base in reading/writing methods with a grade of B or higher. At UMass Amherst, Educ 461 (Principles and Methods of Reading and Language Arts) satisfies this requirement.

CTEP and the Minor in Education

While the Minor in Education is not required for application to CTEP, UMass undergraduates interested in applying to CTEP are strongly encouraged to complete the minor. For more information on how the Minor in Education can help you prepare for CTEP, please see the Elementary Education and Minor in Education guidelines.

Questions?

For questions about Elementary Education, or if you would like to make an advising appointment, please contact the Educator Information Office at (413) 545-2002 or eio@educ.umass.edu.

Educator Information Office · 121 Furcolo Hall · School of Education · 413.545.2002 · eio@educ.umass.edu