Initial Licensure Candidate Low GPA Recommendation

This advising sheet has been prepared for candidates wishing to be admitted to a graduate degree initial licensure program or a post-baccalaureate initial teacher licensure program who have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of less than the required 2.8.

Candidates must attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a total of nine credits beyond the bachelor's degree in order to be considered for admission.  The GPA in these nine credits will not be combined with the candidate's undergraduate GPA.  The nine credits must consist of the following course selections:

I.  One, three-credit "introduction to education" course:

	Early Childhood Education	ECED 230 Basics of Early Childhood Education
	Elementary Education	ELED 220 Principles of Teaching
	Middle School Education (5-8)	EDHM 210 Introduction to Teaching
	High School Education (9-12)	EDHM 210 Introduction to Teaching ELED 510 Fundamentals of Elementary Education (Introduction Course) ECED 510 Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education (Introduction Course)
Specialist Areas:
	Special Education (moderate)	SPED 202 Introduction to Schools and Dual License
	Special Education (intensive)	SPED 202 Introduction to Schools and Dual License
	Special Education (moderate - M.Ed)	SPED 510 Exceptional Children in the Schools
	Foreign Language (Spanish, 5-12)	EDHM 210 Introduction to Teaching
	Health/ Family and Consumer Sciences (all)	EDHM 210 Introduction to Teaching
	Music Education (all)	EDHM 210 Introduction to Teaching
	Physical Education (prek-8, 5-12)	PHED 205 Introduction to Teaching Physical Education (2 credits)
	Visual Arts (prek-8)	EDHM 210 Introduction to Teaching
	Visual Arts (5-12)	EDHM 210 Introduction to Teaching

II.  Six credits of upper level (usually 3-400 level) courses in the following specific Arts or Sciences areas:

• English Literature
• History/Political Science/Geography
• Mathematics (100, 200, 300 or 400 level)
• Sciences (biology, chemistry, earth science, physics)  (100, 200, 300 or 400 level)

Candidates seeking initial licensure in a specific subject area (e.g. history, biology, physical education, etc.) should make their course choices in consultation with the appropriate arts and sciences faculty education liaison or, for Physical Education and Health, faculty from the Department of Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies.

Please note the following additional restrictions:

• Candidates may not "retake" a course that they have taken in their past academic history to reestablish a GPA.
• Candidates must achieve a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA through the above nine credits in order to request consideration based on GPA.
• Candidates may not apply more than three credits of education coursework when requesting GPA reconsideration. 

Once a candidate has "reestablished" a GPA based on the above recommendations, he/she must submit the applicable transcripts to the School of Graduate Studies. 

Please note: Students may not enroll in education courses beyond the introductory level without being matriculated into a post baccalaureate/graduate teacher preparation program through the School of Graduate Studies and the School of Education and Allied Studies.

Admission to a Professional Education Program

Initial licensure programs

1. Candidates must be matriculated into a post-baccalaureate/graduate teacher licensure program (contact the School of Graduate Studies for admissions information and application, 508 531-1300).
2. As part of the application to the post-baccalaureate/graduate licensure program submitted to the School of Graduate Studies:
   1. Candidates must provide proof of having attained a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
   2. Candidates must have a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.8 (through all previous undergraduate coursework).  This minimum GPA must be maintained throughout the professional education program.
   3. Candidates must interview, if required, with their individual education departments (check with department).
   4. Candidates must provide three appropriate letters of recommendation.
3. Candidates must submit evidence that they have completed a minimum of 40 contact hours (20 hours for secondary education and middle school) working with children or youth in schools or other agencies as part of an introduction to education course (ECED 230, ELED 220, EDHM 210, SPED 202, SPED510 or PHED 205) to the Office of Professional Education (Burnell room 128).

Admission to Student Teach

All Initial Licensure Candidates (Criteria effective with the Fall 2003 student teaching cohort)

1. Candidates must satisfy all admission criteria for professional education programs (MTEL passing scores, English proficiency, prepractica hours, health records), and maintain continued good standing in the School of Education and Allied Studies.
2. Candidates must have a 2.8 overall cumulative grade point average with a 2.8 grade point average in the Arts and Sciences major and the Education major, minor or concentration required for teacher licensure.
3. Candidates must submit evidence of having passed all required portions of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), including the appropriate subject test and the Foundations of Reading test (for early childhood, elementary education and moderate disabilities candidates).
4. Candidates must have successfully completed all prerequisite courses and prepractica field experiences.
5. Candidates must provide evidence of a negative TB test, valid through the end of the student teaching semester.
6. Candidates must obtain departmental approval (via the signature of Chair or Graduate Coordinator on their student teaching application).
7. Candidates must file their application with the Field Experience Office by February 1, if planning to student teach in the Fall Semester, and by September 30, if planning to student teach in the Spring Semester.

 

Last Modified: September 24, 2007