Education, MEd (Boston)

ESL Instruction Concentration

The English as a Second Language Instruction concentration allows teachers with an initial teacher license in Massachusetts to earn an additional license in English as a Second Language (grades PreK–8 or 5–12). The coursework engages graduate students in subject-based knowledge and field experiences. There is a need for more Massachusetts teachers licensed in English as a Second Language, which makes this concentration an essential pathway for teachers to deepen their expertise to meet the broad range of students they work with.

Learning and Instruction Concentration

The learning and instruction concentration in the MEd program is designed for teachers and leaders in K–12-focused schools and community organizations that want to lead change and expand equity in their classrooms, schools, or educational communities. Graduate students examine the impact of local, national, and global changes on educational policy and practice. They deepen their ability to effectively engage diverse students in meaningful learning through coursework focused on curriculum and assessment, teaching and learning, and experiential education.

Students pursuing Massachusetts ESL, preK–12, initial licensure: This program meets Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education standards and competencies for licensure as an English as a Second Language Teacher, pre-K–6 and 5–12.

Special Education Concentration

Demand for graduate-level-prepared special education practitioners is on the rise, driven by heightened degree requirements and a shortage of licensed, qualified teachers. In response, the College of Professional Studies is pleased to offer the Master of Education with Concentration in Special Education. Designed for educators who are licensed in Massachusetts at the initial or professional level in another discipline, this innovative master’s degree program seeks to prepare you to meet the special needs of students across a variety of school environments.

This program meets Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education standards and competencies for licensure as a Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities, preK–8 and 5–12.

In this advanced program, you have an opportunity to explore specific topics on modifying curriculum, designing curriculum-based assessments, managing severe behaviors, developing individualized education programs, leveraging community resources, and improving literacy. As a result, you have an opportunity to enhance your ability to meet the needs of a diverse student population and to achieve the competencies required for this specialized license.

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
EDU 6050		5
EDU 6051		4

Concentration

Complete one of the following concentrations. Students must successfully complete all licensure courses with a grade of B or better in order to progress into their next licensure course.

• ESL Instruction
• Learning and Instruction
• Special Education

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

45 total quarter hours required (additional hours may be required for endorsement for Massachusetts licensure)
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

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Concentration in ESL Instruction

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
EDU 6185		4
or EDU 6513
EDU 6300		4
EDU 6310	1	4
EDU 6319		4
EDU 6336		4
EDU 6415		4
EDU 6426		4
EDU 6517	2
Practicum
EDU 6874		4

¹

For students who do not pass or complete their Gateway Performance Task I in EDU 6310 , complete EDU 6995 Project to meet programmatic and licensure requirements.

²

For students who do not pass or complete their Gateway II assessment in EDU 6517 , or early fieldwork, complete EDU 6995 Project to meet programmatic and licensure requirements.

³

Required for nonlicensure and licensure programs of study except ESL Massachusetts Licensure Pathway. ESL Massachusetts Licensure Pathway students may substitute EDU 6410 with the completion of all ESL Massachusetts Licensure Pathway courses .

Concentration in Learning and Instruction

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
EDU 6319	How People Learn	4
EDU 6336	Data Literacy for Data-Driven Decision Making	4
EDU 6410	Instructional Leadership 5	4
EDU 6415	Law, Policy, and the Ecosystem of Education	4
Capstone
EDU 6225	Capstone (to be taken last) 1	4
or EDU 6874	Practicum, Portfolio, and Panel Review
Electives
Complete 16 quarter hours at the EDU 6000 level. Below is a list of elective options:		16
Experiential Teaching and Learning Electives
EDU 6001	Experiential Learning Theory and Practice
EDU 6002	Culturally Responsive Experiential Teaching and Learning
EDU 6003	Applied Research in Experiential Teaching and Learning
EDU 6004	Leading Experiential Teaching and Learning
Learning Experience Design Technology Electives
EDU 6331	E-Learning Design as a Collaborative Profession
EDU 6332	Open Learning
EDU 6333	Social Media and Beyond
Generalist Electives
EDU 6182	Educational Statistics
EDU 6227	The New Supervisor
EDU 6228	Supervising Through Change
EDU 6229	Challenges in Supervision
EDU 6231	Crisis Management
EDU 6329	Connecting Theory and Practice
EDU 6340	Learning Analytics Concepts and Theories
EDU 6558	Issues in Education
ESL Massachusetts Licensure Pathway
EDU 6300	Introduction to Language and Linguistics
EDU 6310	Literacy Development and the Academic Domains 2
EDU 6426	Developmental Language, Literacy, and Writing: Assessment and Instruction
EDU 6513	Sheltered English Immersion in the General Classroom 4
or EDU 6185	English-Language Learners in the General Education Classroom
EDU 6517	Foundations of Teaching English as a Second Language: Research and Practice 3

¹

Complete EDU 6874  instead of EDU 6225  if pursuing Massachusetts ESL Licensure Pathway courses.

²

For students who do not pass or complete their Gateway Performance Task I in EDU 6310 , complete EDU 6995 Project to meet programmatic and licensure requirements.

³

For students who do not pass or complete their Gateway II assessment in EDU 6517 , or early fieldwork, complete EDU 6995 Project to meet programmatic and licensure requirements.

⁴

EDU 6513: For students pursuing emergency secondary teaching licenses or ESL+ licensure in Massachusetts.

⁵

Required for nonlicensure and licensure programs of study except ESL Massachusetts Licensure Pathway. ESL Massachusetts Licensure Pathway students may substitute EDU 6410 with the completion of all ESL Massachusetts Licensure Pathway courses .

Concentration in Special Education

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
EDU 6425	1	4
EDU 6426		4
EDU 6438		4
EDU 6528		4
EDU 6569	2	4
EDU 6874		4
Electives
Complete 12 quarter hours at the EDU 6000 level.		12

¹

For students who do not pass their Gateway Performance Task I in this course, complete EDU 6995 to meet programmatic and endorsement requirements.

²

For students who do not pass their Gateway Performance Task II in this course, complete EDU 6995 to meet programmatic and endorsement requirements.