Bridgewater State College (BSC) is home to the oldest permanently sited teacher educator program in the United States. Founded by Horace Mann in 1840, Bridgewater's School of Education continues to specialize in teaching degrees. Undergraduates work towards a degree and teacher licensure subjects ranging from pre-K to grade 12. BSC has specialist programs in dance education, theater arts, instructional technology, early children education and education for students with moderate disabilities.
In addition to English, chemistry, biology, history and math, BSC also offers teacher preparation programs for earth science, visual arts, music and physics. Undergraduate students can opt to do a five-year combined Master's program.
The college offers two programs for post-baccalaureate teacher licensure: a day program and an accelerated evening program. Teachers can also earn an MAT for professional Massachusetts licensure or pursue a Master of Education.
Bridgewater State College
131 Summer Street
Bridgewater, MA 02325
508-531-1000
bridgew.edu
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass Amherst) offers a range of undergraduate and graduate teaching degrees. Undergraduates major in their academic subject and minor in education through the school of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies. UMass Amherst offers teacher preparation programs in early children, elementary, secondary and special education. Secondary education programs include political science and political philosophy, physics and modern foreign languages.
For graduate students, UMass Amherst offers a number of intensive M.Ed programs including the urban teaching immersion. Doctoral degrees and advanced graduate certificate studies are also available.
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Robsham Visitors' Center
300 Massachusetts Ave
Amherst, MA 01003
413-545-0306
umass.edu
Westfield State College (WSC), in western Massachusetts south of Springfield, is known for its education department and its criminal justice program. Horace Mann, founder of the Bridgewater State College school of education, is also the father of Westfield State's teacher education program. WSC offers programs for early childhood, elementary, secondary and special education teachers. Secondary education programs notably include business management and movement science.
A post-baccalaureate licensure program is available, as are M.Ed programs leading to initial or professional licensure. WSC offers an M.Ed degree for reading specialists and for school principals. The college also has a special certificate of advanced graduate study for vocational educators.
Westfield State College
333 Western Avenue
Westfield, MA 01086
413-572-0520
wsc.ma.edu