Partnership with the Fall River Public Schools

The partnership between Bridgewater State University and the Fall River Public Schools offers participants the opportunity to join graduate cohorts in one of the following areas:

• M.Ed. Moderate Disabilities (PreK–8 or 5–12)
• M.A.T. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
• Autism Spectrum Endorsement (MA DESE)

Program Details:

• Format: 100% online coursework
• Tuition: $1000 per 3-credit graduate course for the duration of the cohort
• Start Date: Fall 2025

Participants who successfully meet all program requirements (Special Education Moderate Disabilities and TESOL) will earn a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree and a Massachusetts DESE Initial License in their selected area of specialization. Participants in the Autism Endorsement Certificate will be receive an Autism Spectrum Endorsement added to their pre-existing license. 

Projected Course Sequence for Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12)
Fall 2025-Fall 2028 (Includes M.Ed. and Licensure Requirements)

Projected Course Sequence for TESOL (Initial License)
Fall 2025-Spring 2028 (Includes M.Ed. and Licensure Requirements)

Projected Course Sequence for Autism Spectrum Endorsement (Graduate Certificate)
Fall 2025-Fall 2026

Graduate Admissions - gradadmissions@bridgew.edu or 508-531-1300
 

MEd in Special Education - Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12) Initial License

Graduate Chair - Dr. Ashley Rodrigues

Application Deadlines

Rolling admission for Fall, Spring and Summer enrollment.
Applications that are not completed prior to the start of the semester will need to be moved to the next applicable semester

Admissions Requirements

• Online application and $50 application fee
• Resume
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8
• A qualifying score on the Communication and Literacy Skills (both Reading and Writing subtests) Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Massachusetts Education Personal ID (MEPID)
• Personal statement

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), TESOL, Initial License

Graduate Chair - Dr. Emily Spitzman

Application Deadlines

Rolling admission for Fall, Spring and Summer enrollment.
Applications that are not completed prior to the start of the semester will need to be moved to the next applicable semester

Admissions Requirements

• Online application and $50 application fee
• Resume
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Three appropriate letters of recommendation
• Massachusetts Education Personal ID (MEPID)
• Personal statement

Autism Spectrum Endorsement

Graduate Chair - Dr. Ashley Rodrigues

Application Deadlines

Rolling admission for Fall, Spring and Summer enrollment.
​​​​​​​Applications that are not completed prior to the start of the semester will need to be moved to the next applicable semester

Admissions Requirements

• Online application and $50 application fee
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Existing initial or professional license in one of the below areas and a minimum of 3 credits in special education. Qualifications for endorsement by the DESE requires a pre-existing license from which the transition specialist endorsement may be added.
  • Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities
  • Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities
  • Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
  • Teacher of the Visually Impaired
• Massachusetts Education Personal ID (MEPID)

Students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid before June 30, 2025.

There are 7 steps required to fill out the FAFSA Form for BSU. A summary of the process has been detailed below, but be sure to visit the Federal Student Aid website for the more information. Para más información en español: studentaid.gov/es.

BSU Financial Aid Forms & Brochures
 

(To change closed captioning language on the videos, click on Settings, Subtitles/CC, Auto-translate, and choose the appropriate language.)

Create an account
Every BSU student should create a FSA ID before filling out the FAFSA Form for the first time. If you are a dependent student, one of your parents whose information you reported on your application will also need to create an FSA ID in order to sign your application electronically. If your parent does not have a Social Security Number (SSN) you will need to select the option to print out the signature page at the end of the FAFSA Form instead.

Gather documents needed to apply
You will need several documents in order to accurately fill out your FAFSA Form, depending on your circumstances. These can include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

• Your Social Security Number and your parents' Social Security Numbers, if you are a dependent student
• Your driver's license, if you have one
• If you are not a US Citizen, your Alien Registration Number
• Tax documents, including Federal tax information, tax documents, tax returns, and IRS forms such as W-2 information and Form 1040 or 1040-NR (if you are a dependent student)
• Records of untaxed income such as child support, interest income and veterans noneducation benefits.
• Information on cash, savings/checking accounts, investments; including stocks, bonds, and real estate (not including the house you live in), and business/farm assets if applicable

Start the FAFSA Form and provide basic personal information
Begin filling out the FAFSA Form as soon as it is available, usually on October 1st. You have three options to fill out your FAFSA Form:

• Apply online at fafsa.gov
• Print out and mail a FAFSA PDF
• Request a printed copy of the FAFSA PDF you can fill out and mail in by calling FAFSA, at 1-800-433-3243.

List Bridgewater State University on your FAFSA Form
While completing the FAFSA form, you must list at least one school to receive your information. You can include BSU on your FAFSA using Federal School Code 002183-00. Please note that in Massachusetts Grant Aid Awards will be made for the first eligible college on your FAFSA Form, however, this can be changed if necessary.

Determine dependency status and list parents' information if necessary
The FAFSA Form asks several questions to determine whether or not you are a dependent student. If you are a determined to be a dependent student, you will be asked to provide your parents information, as well as your own. For more information on this process, please see the Dependency Status Page.

Provide financial information to FAFSA
Using the documents  you gathered earlier, provide FAFSA with any relevant financial information requested, including information from tax forms and the balances of savings or checking accounts.

Sign and submit your FAFSA Form
Once complete, you'll need to sign and submit your FAFSA Form so the application can be processed. If you are a dependent student, your parents will need to sign the application as well. If you are, for any reason, unable to sign the form using your FSA ID, you will have the option to print out and mail a signature page instead.
 

Prospective students should plan to schedule and take the Communication and Literacy MTEL this summer in order to apply for their respective program.

The College of Continuing Studies offers a variety of MTEL Preparation courses throughout the year. 
Check out their website for additional information and upcoming courses. 
 

Apply to your Bridgewater State University M.Ed. or M.A.T. or Graduate Certificate program for the Fall 2025 semester.

Graduate Admissions - gradadmissions@bridgew.edu or 508-531-1300
 

MEd in Special Education - Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12) Initial License

Graduate Chair - Dr. Ashley Rodrigues

Application Deadlines

Rolling admission for Fall, Spring and Summer enrollment.
Applications that are not completed prior to the start of the semester will need to be moved to the next applicable semester

Admissions Requirements

• Online application and $50 application fee
• Resume
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8
• A qualifying score on the Communication and Literacy Skills (both Reading and Writing subtests) Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Massachusetts Education Personal ID (MEPID)
• Personal statement

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), TESOL, Initial License

Graduate Chair - Dr. Emily Spitzman

Application Deadlines

Rolling admission for Fall, Spring and Summer enrollment.
Applications that are not completed prior to the start of the semester will need to be moved to the next applicable semester

Admissions Requirements

• Online application and $50 application fee
• Resume
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Three appropriate letters of recommendation
• Massachusetts Education Personal ID (MEPID)
• Personal statement

Autism Spectrum Endorsement

Graduate Chair - Dr. Ashley Rodrigues

Application Deadlines

Rolling admission for Fall, Spring and Summer enrollment.
​​​​​​​Applications that are not completed prior to the start of the semester will need to be moved to the next applicable semester

Admissions Requirements

• Online application and $50 application fee
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Existing initial or professional license in one of the below areas and a minimum of 3 credits in special education. Qualifications for endorsement by the DESE requires a pre-existing license from which the transition specialist endorsement may be added.
  • Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities
  • Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities
  • Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
  • Teacher of the Visually Impaired
• Massachusetts Education Personal ID (MEPID)