About Secondary Education 4+1 programs

Overview

Our Secondary Teacher Education programs prepare students to be effective, socially just and critically conscious educators. UMass undergraduate students accepted into the 4+1 will matriculate into one of two pathways (180 Days or UTS) towards teacher certification in Massachusetts. 

Our secondary teacher education training is comprised of three parts:

  1. Graduate coursework
  2. Student teaching in Massachusetts public schools
  3. Initial Licensure (required credential to teach)

The 4+1 option provides candidates with the opportunity to earn academic credit (up to 12) towards their undergraduate degree, while at the same time fulfilling some of the course requirements of the graduate degree. The 4+1 program enables candidates to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree and a MEd in less calendar time and less out-of-pocket tuition expenses.

Application:

The Secondary Education 4+1 application is now open.  The deadline to apply is January 21, 2025.  

The foundation of the program is our commitment to equitable and inclusive teaching practices that are responsive to diverse learners, communities, and a global society. As such, we seek motivated applicants with a strong commitment to equity, respect for diversity, an ability to demonstrate initiative, highly effective interpersonal and communication skills, and a strong desire to become a secondary classroom teacher.  

To be eligible, applicants must be able to complete all degree requirements for their undergraduate program and are able to transfer up to 12 credits for the graduate program by the end of their senior year.  

To ensure students have the required foundational knowledge to prepare them for the +1 year.  Applicants take courses in following areas:

  1. Foundational 
  2. Moderate Disabilities (Special Education)
  3. Digital Literacy
  4. Human Development
  5. Multicultural/Social Justice Education

Applying to the 4+1 program is a two-step process. By mid-January of their junior year, students apply to the College of Education Secondary Education 4+1 program. If accepted, in their senior year, students must then submit an application to the graduate program through the Graduate School in order to officially be accepted to the Secondary Education 4+1 MEd program. 

  1. Junior year: Students apply to the Secondary Education 4+1 program.  The deadline to complete the application is mid-January. Students will be notified of the decision by mid-late February. 
  2. Senior year: In the fall, students attend an advising/overview session with pathway coordinators for 180 Days and UTS to learn more about the process for applying to the graduate school and preparing for the +1 year.  Students must also submit the standard Graduate School application by January 1st of their senior year to officially apply to the MEd program.  Once admitted, students will matriculate into one of the two graduate pathways to continue on in their +1 year.