Educator Licensure in Elementary and Early Childhood Education
An individualized UWW degree allows for more flexibility
in transferring previous college credits. Most courses that
are completed with a C- or higher from accredited colleges will be
transferrable. Some kinds of courses not normally accepted by UMass
Amherst—such as vocationally oriented courses, internships, or unaccredited
certificate programs—can be transferred once they have been approved as
part of a UWW degree plan. UMass Amherst does not limit transfer courses
based on the dates when they were taken, so many courses completed long
ago will still transfer.
Learn more…
Contact information:
Educator Licensure in Elementary and Early Childhood Education - weeknights on-campus at UMass Amherst
Elizabeth Brinkerhoff, Ed.D.
413.545.1378
ebrinkerhoff@uww.umass.edu
The University Without Walls (UWW) and the School of Education at UMass Amherst have developed a special UWW degree program to prepare public school paraprofessionals and others interested in becoming early childhood and elementary teachers licensed in Massachusetts. This degree completion program is appropriate for those wishing to earn a first ever bachelors degree.
The UWW core courses, offered on weeknights, in an on-campus format at UMass Amherst, enhance skills in critical thinking, research, and writing so important within this profession. Educator Licensure students also enroll in a set of science, social science, and humanities courses that provide a foundation in the liberal arts. Through this program students develop a deeper understanding of the social and cultural issues teachers encounter in the classroom and gain increased knowledge about children’s learning and education. These courses also prepare students for the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) exams.
Special Funding Available
Participants in this program with two or more years of experience as paraprofessionals may be eligible for Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program funding through the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). For more information about this program call OSFA (617) 727-9420 or see the OSFA web site.
Students in this program who are not public school paraprofessionals are eligible for the same financial aid other UMass students receive. Some of this aid comes in the form of grants and some in the form of loans. Some loans are “forgiven” if students remain working in inner city schools after graduation. The UWW tuition rate for the courses offered through the UMass UWW Educator Licensure program is $450 per credit for the 2007-2008 academic year. Learn more about costs…
