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Early Childhood and Elementary Education Programs Overview
The teacher preparation programs in Early Childhood and Elementary are licensure master's programs within the Teaching, Curriculum, and Society department.
For more information on each of the aspects of each degree program, please see below or select the appropriate link.
If you continue to have questions, please contact the Graduate Student Services team (gadofc@bc.edu).
Your Support Team
Your Support Team
Program Coordinators and Faculty Advisors
Program Coordinators and Faculty Advisors
The Program Coordinators are the best resource for students pursuing a master's in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education. Oftentimes the Program Coordinators serve as the student's faculty advisors.
Each student is assigned a Faculty Advisor. Your advisor will help you choose your courses and plan your Program of Study. They will provide guidance about course waivers, transfer credits, and leaves of absence, as needed. Additionally, they are a great resource to discuss your career and long-term plans as well as your goals for the program and should be your main point of contact once assigned.
It is crucial to stay in contact with your faculty advisor as you move through your program. Please schedule regular meetings to discuss academic and professional plans. This includes drafting your Program of Study for review, sharing details about your career goals, discussing academic options (substituting a course, taking a course outside of BC, transferring credits, etc.), and checking in to ensure you are meeting program milestones.
Not sure who your Faculty Advisor is?
Email the Graduate Office (gadofc@bc.edu) and our team is happy to connect you with your advisor.
Graduate Student Services
Graduate Student Services
The Graduate Student Services team supports students with everything from course registration to financial aid, and general student support. Please contact us with any questions.
Carolyn Looker
Graduate Financial Aid
Kaitlyn Solano
Graduate Student Services
Bella Esposito
Graduate Student Support
Carolyn McDonald
Graduate Student Services
Not sure who to reach out to?
Our team manages different inboxes that are the fastest way to get in touch.
General Student Inquiries: gradoffice@bc.edu
Graduate Student Support: gsehdstudentsupport@bc.edu
Registration Requests: lynchgradcourseregistration@bc.edu
Financial Aid Questions: gsoe@bc.edu
Academic Planning & Advising
Academic Planning & Advising
Students should reach out to their advisor or the Graduate Student Services team to begin planning their program as soon as possible. We highly recommend meeting with a member of our team prior to registering for your first semester. The following information should guide your academic planning, but each student's experience is unique and it is important to review your plan with your advisor prior to making any final decisions.
Program of Study
Program of Study
Please review the appropriate Program of Study for your program. You will find all of the requirements for your degree listed.
Please see Programs of Study for more information on how to complete and submit your final Program of Study.
Depending on your graduate program, you may plan to complete your degree in as few as three semesters, however, some students choose to complete their degree in two years, over four to five semesters.
Course Planning Sheets
Course Planning Sheets
Each program provides students with a course planning sheet in order to help them make decisions for their course registration. Please note that these planning sheets are updated annually and the information for future semesters is tentative. Students should verify course information in Eagle Apps before each semester.
Updated planning sheets will be available in late May.
Program Completion
Program Completion
Practicum
Practicum
Each program requires the successful completion of practicum and a cumulative Master's Comprehensive Exam prior to graduation. The practicum consists of four courses: one pre-practicum (1 credit), one full-practicum (6 credits), and two Graduate Inquiry Seminars (3 credits total).
The pre- and full practicum experiences must be completed at a PK-12 school in Massachusetts that aligns with your graduate program and area of licensure. All teacher candidates who are full-time employees (e.g., teacher of record, teacher’s assistant, paraprofessional, intern, teaching fellow, etc.) who want to complete their practicum experience at their school of employment must complete an Employment Request to be reviewed by the Assistant Dean for Field Placement.
Please note that all graduate teacher candidates, even if employed, must register for the appropriate pre-practicum course and complete the Pre-Practicum Placement Application. Similarly, all graduate teacher candidates, even if employed, must register for the appropriate full practicum course and complete the Full Practicum Placement Application. After completing the application, you will be invited to a mandatory meeting with the Office of Field Placement and Partnership Outreach to discuss arrangements for your full practicum experience.
If you have questions, you can learn more through the Office of Field Placement’s advising site or by contacting the team directly at prac@bc.edu.
Master's Comprehensive Exam
Master's Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam is fulfilled through the successful completion of Graduate Inquiry Seminar II (passing grade 70%). You will register for this course during the semester in which you are completing your full practicum experience.
Professional Licensure in Massachusetts
Professional Licensure in Massachusetts
Upon completion of your licensure-track program, you will be endorsed from Boston College which signifies that you have successfully completed a state-approved program leading to licensure in Massachusetts. In addition, students can earn the SEI Endorsement, required of all educators applying for their first Initial license in Massachusetts, by completing the approved Program of Study for the designated initial licensure program and graduating from Boston College. It is important to note that your Initial license will be granted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with state law and regulations. Additional information about the endorsement process and licensure requirements are available on the Office of Field Placement’s advising site.
MTEL (Massachussetts Test for Educator Licensure)
MTEL (Massachussetts Test for Educator Licensure)
The MTELs are required of all educators seeking PreK-12 academic licensure in Massachusetts. The MTELs consist of a communication and literacy skills test as well as exams for specific subject matter knowledge. You can learn more about required MTELs and access preparation resources through the Boston College libraries on the Office of Field Placement’s advising site.
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