Early Childhood Education

Learning Format

On-Campus

Types

Bachelor's, Certificate
Early Childhood Education

Teach Children During Their Formative Years

The learning and development that takes place during a child’s formative years is crucial to their future success and wellbeing. If you love working with young children and want to have a positive impact on generations of students, Framingham State University’s nationally accredited major in Early Childhood Education is a great option.

FSU is home to the Jeanne M. Canelli Child Development Lab, which serves as a teaching laboratory for our students interested in teaching young children and conducting research in child development, psychology, and sociology. As the nation’s oldest public college for the preparation of teachers, FSU also has relationships and alumni working at school districts across the Commonwealth and beyond.

The Department of Education’s programs are designed to prepare you to become a knowledgeable and skillful professional, committed to serving learners of all ages, families, and communities. Successful Early Childhood majors meet the requirements for initial license as an Early Childhood Teacher (Pre-K to grade 2).

Programs Leading to Educator Licensure

At Framingham State University, students may meet the requirements for the Initial license as an Early Childhood Teacher (Pre-K - 2) or Elementary Teacher (1 - 6) through completion of a major in education with a concentration in Initial Licensure. Secondary Education students minoring in Education may obtain an Initial license in the following fields: studio art, biology, chemistry, English, French, history, mathematics, Spanish, and world languages. Students may obtain middle school level licensure in earth science (5 - 8) or in the secondary subjects listed above with the completion of additional requirements. Students may also obtain the Teacher of Visual Art (Pre-K - 8) by special arrangement with the Art and Music Department. Since 1998, students seeking initial licensure at any level have been required to obtain a satisfactory score on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL), formerly named the Massachusetts Educator Certification Test.

Program Information 
Framingham State University, the first public institution in America to offer teacher preparation, continues to be in the forefront in teacher education, most recently in the area of teaching with technology. Teacher preparation students use wireless laptop computers and digital cameras in their technology-enhanced courses and student teaching. The teacher preparation programs listed above include a series of pre-practicum courses that enable students to address subject matter defined in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks while preparing for the student teaching experience. The success rate of our students on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure is rooted in a strong liberal arts and sciences curriculum, supported by excellent education courses and academic support services that include test preparation workshops.

All programs of teacher preparation at the University are approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Major Core Requirements

COMMON CORE:

DOMAIN I-A:

  • Any Course from Domain I-A                    

DOMAIN I-B:

  • Any Course from Domain I-B

DOMAIN I-C:

  • Any Elementary or Intermediate Language Course

DOMAIN II-A:

DOMAIN II-B (2 courses required):

DOMAIN III-A:

DOMAIN III-B:

DOMAIN III-C:

All students pursing teacher licensure must take one course that includes study of both United States and Massachusetts constitutions. Early Childhood and Elementary Education majors meet this requirement through HSTY 111 United States History to Reconstruction. Secondary education minors may choose from among the following course:

Program in Early Childhood Education

All candidates for educational licensure shall be required to pass the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL), which will assess communication and literacy skills; subject matter knowledge; and foundations of reading. The Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure is administered in the months of September, November, February, May, and July. The University will comply with state-mandated licensure requirements, which are subject to change.

The Education Department is proud to continue Framingham State University’s long-established tradition of excellence in teacher preparation. Students seeking licensure in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education are encouraged to pursue one of our programs below. Students who wish to become single content area teachers at the elementary level, such as in Spanish or mathematics, are encouraged to major in those subjects and consider pursuing educator licensure at the post-baccalaureate or graduate levels. The Department’s commitment has been stated as follows:

  • To encourage students in their continuing adult development toward becoming self-directing, professional persons.
  • To foster an enthusiasm for scholarly investigation and intellectual pursuit which will be reflected by students in professional field settings.
  • To assist students in broadening their communication skills in order to enhance both their personal and professional advancement.
  • To raise students’ social and cultural awareness through a professional program which reflects a philosophy of equal access to educational opportunity for all.
  • To help students gain an understanding of human behavior, especially that of children and young people, that will aid them in working effectively with a variety of life styles and modes of
  • learning.
Teachers and students in Child Development Lab

Jeanne M. Canelli Child Development Lab

This CDL serves as an on-campus teaching laboratory for FSU students interested in teaching young children and conducting research in child development, psychology, and sociology, and offers quality early childhood education to preschool-age children

Career Opportunities

There are multiple career paths FSU Early Childhood graduates pursue, including:

Early Childhood Education

Childcare Provider

Work with students outside of a traditional classroom.

Kindergarten Teacher

Build on the foundations taught in preschool, including social, emotional and academic learning.

Preschool Teacher

Foster a creative environment for children during the early stages of their development.

Special Education Teacher

Work with students who have varying mental, emotional, physical or learning abilities.

Education Director

Use organizational skills to manage the duties that come with running a childcare center.

School Counselor

Work with students outside of the classroom to develop skills needed to succeed in their education.

Meet Your Faculty

Photo of James Cressey, Ph.D.

James Cressey, Ph.D.

Professor, Education Department Chair, Education Department
508-626-4928
jcressey@zb-fc.com
O'Connor Hall
Photo of Mary Grassetti, Ed.D.

Mary Grassetti, Ed.D.

Professor, Education Department
(508) 626-4859
mgrassetti@zb-fc.com
O'Connor Hall
Photo of May Hara, Ph.D.

May Hara, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Education Department and Director of Mentoring, CELTSS
508 626 5803
mhara@zb-fc.com
O'Connor Hall
Kelly Kolodny

Kelly Kolodny, Ph.D.

Professor, Coordinator of Core Education Courses, Education Department
(508) 626-4567
kkolodny@zb-fc.com
O'Connor Hall
View All
Jessica De Jesus Acevedo

Jessica De Jesus Acevedo '17, Early Education

“My campus tour sealed the deal, and I knew that FSU was the type of University I wanted to go to. Most importantly, I knew Framingham State had historical and impactful ties to education.”

Learn More

If you are interested in learning more about the Education Programs at FSU, contact Admissions at admissions [at] zb-fc.com (admissions[at]framingham[dot]edu) or 508-626-4500.

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