Partnership with the Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives (MOEC)

The partnership between Bridgewater State University and the collaboratives of MOEC offers participants the opportunity to join graduate cohorts leading to both a master’s degree and initial licensure in one of the following areas:

• Moderate Disabilities (PreK–8 or 5–12)
• Severe Disabilities (All Levels)

Program Details:

• Format: 100% online coursework
• Tuition: $900 per 3-credit graduate course for the duration of the cohort
• Start Date: Fall 2025
• Anticipated Completion: End of Fall 2027 semester

Participants who successfully meet all program requirements will earn a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree and a Massachusetts DESE Initial License in their selected area of specialization.
 

Staff from the following Educational Collaboratives are eligible:
ACCEPT Education Collaborative
Assabet Valley Collaborative
Bi-County Collaborative (BICO)
Cape Cod Collaborative
CAPS Collaborative
CASE Collaborative
Central Massachusetts Collaborative
Collaborative for Educational Services (CES)
Crest Collaborative
Keystone Educational Collaborative
LABBB Collaborative
Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative
North River Collaborative
Northshore Education Consortium
Pilgrim Area Collaborative (PAC)
READS Collaborative
SEEM Collaborative
Shore Educational Collaborative
South Coast Educational Collaborative
South Shore Educational Collaborative
Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC)
Southern Worcester County Educational Collaborative
TEC – The Education Cooperative
Valley Collaborative

Projected Course Sequence for Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8 or 5-12)
Fall 2025–Fall 2027 (Includes M.Ed. and Licensure Requirements)

Projected Course Sequence for Severe Disabilities (All Levels)
Fall 2025–Fall 2027(Includes M.Ed. and Licensure Requirements)

Important Program Notes

1. Prerequisites for Licensure Courses
   All licensure courses require completion of the following prerequisite courses (or their approved equivalents from another institution or undergraduate studies):
   • SPED 510: Exceptional Children in Schools
   • SPED 509: Teaching Reading to Students with Disabilities
     These are required by licensure regulations and must be completed before beginning the core licensure coursework.
2. Practicum Flexibility
   • The practicum experience may be reduced by 8 weeks based on the candidate’s relevant work experience.
   • If the candidate already holds an initial teaching license in another category, the practicum may be replaced with a mentored internship.

Graduate Admissions - gradadmissions@bridgew.edu or 508-531-1300
Graduate Chair - Dr. Ashley Rodrigues

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

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

MEd in Special Education - Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (All Levels) Initial Licensure

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

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. 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 Licensure

Application Deadline

Participants in the BSU/MOEC graduate cohort will need to complete their application to their respective program by August 1 in order to be considered for Fall 2025 acceptance. 

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 .

MEd in Special Education - Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities (All Levels) Initial Licensure

Application Deadline

Participants in the BSU/MOEC graduate cohort will need to complete their application to their respective program by August 1 in order to be considered for Fall 2025 acceptance. 

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