Teaching Education Degrees in Massachusetts

Teachers in Massachusetts earn wages higher than in most of the nation. According to a May 2014 wage report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts was the 5th-highest state for both elementary and secondary school wages and 4th-highest state for middle school wages.

Students who are interested in becoming a teacher or in obtaining additional certifications have many schools and teaching programs from which to choose.

In Massachusetts, there are various graduate and post baccalaureate certification programs both online and on campus.

• 125 teaching programs in Massachusetts accredited by CAEP
• 50 CAEP-accredited Bachelor's degrees
• 33 CAEP-accredited Master's degrees in Massachusetts

There are a few universities in Massachusetts that offer both the curriculum & instruction and the special education programs at the doctoral degree level for individuals interested in careers teaching college students or working in research, a post baccalaureate certification program in special education (although not a master's degree, this program prepares students to work with children with disabilities in grades PreK-12, depending on their area of interest.

Requirements to Teach in Massachusetts

The most significant step to becoming a fully licensed teacher in Massachusetts is completing the approved teacher preparation program from an accredited school. Candidates who complete online or out-of-state teacher preparation programs must ensure the institution has regional accreditation.

Massachusetts does not grant certification unless the school has accreditation from one of the six U.S. regional accrediting agencies. Programs in any state that has an unexpired CAEP (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) or the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation certification qualify Massachusetts graduates for licensure. The CAEP is not a requirement but highly regarded for the rigidity of its standards.

The level of education needed to teach in a Massachusetts classroom varies with the kind of licensure sought. Career teachers continuously undergo education to attain and move up through the tiers of licensure. The highest level is a Professional license. The tiered system requirements are

• Preliminary License: Bachelor's degree and passage of appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator License
• Initial License: Preliminary License and approved teach preparation program completion
• Professional License: Initial License and completion of one of the following

• Three years of teaching and completing a one-year induction program
• Earning National Board Certification
• Completion of an alternative approved plan
• Completing a Master's degree

Scholarships/Financial Aid Available

There are private and public scholarships available in Massachusetts. The government of Massachusetts has financial aid programs that include:

• Scholarships
• Grants
• Loans
• Tuition waivers
• Post-graduation tuition reimbursement

Examples include the Early Childhood Educators Program that was funded by a Legislature pilot initiative for the purpose of increased availability and quality of care providers and teachers to work with youth and young children in settings that include school age, preschool's, and infant/toddler programs.

The award is meant to provide financial assistance for out of school time educators and those currently employed early childhood providers. Applicants must be enrolled in a Master's, Bachelor's, or Associate's degree program in or related to Early Childhood Education.

There is a Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program that provides financial assistance to residents of Massachusetts that are employed as paraprofessionals in public schools and want to be certified as full-time teachers. It is meant to reduce the financial burden and address the current teacher shortage in the Commonwealth.

Requirements to Qualify for In-State Tuition

Students can be enrolled in school during the one-year domicile period. There are financial requirements many find to abide to be difficult. No financial support whatsoever is allowed by parents. Parents are permitted to provide as much moral, psychological, and emotional support as possible.

Non-parent support is allowed. Every Massachusetts university has unique interpretations and policies regarding state law. Massachusetts is a Regional Student Program member that has a limited regional agreement of reciprocity.

Many restrictions apply, but favorable tuition rates are sometimes possible in nearby states. The student must enroll in an RSP approved major that is not available to the student in his or her home state. Proximity is also a determining factor. Students may receive a tuition break if the Massachusetts college is closer to the student than the college in their home state.

List of the Best CAEP Accredited Teaching Degrees in Massachusetts

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Bachelors in Early Education and Care NAEYC
• Bachelors in Elementary Education - Bacc K-6 ACEI
• Masters in Elementary Education - Bacc K-9 ACEI
• Post Bachelors in Elementary Education - Masters ACEI
• Masters in English as a Second Language (Master's) TESOL
• Bachelors in English Language Arts NCTE
• Bachelors in Foreign Language ACTFL
• Masters in Master of Education in Reading ILA
• Bachelors in Mathematics Secondary NCTM
• Bachelors in Physical Education NASPE
• Post Bachelors in Physical Education NASPE
• Endorsement only in Reading ILA
• Post Bachelors in Social Studies NCSS
• Masters in Special Education (Masters) CEC
• Bachelors in Special Education (Undergraduate) CEC

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg

CAEP

• Bachelors in BA and BS English NCTE
• Masters in Early Childhood Education Postbaccalaureate NAEYC
• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education Undergraduate NAEYC
• Specialist or C.A.S. in Educational Leadership Building Level ELCC
• Bachelors in Elementary Education Baccalaureate ACEI
• Post Bachelors in Elementary Education Post Baccalaureate ACEI
• Bachelors in Elementary Special Education ACEI
• Post Bachelors in English Post Baccalaureate NCTE
• Post Bachelors in Middle School Education Postbaccalaureate AMLE
• Bachelors in Middle School Education Undergraduate AMLE
• Masters in Reading Specialist ILA
• Bachelors in Science 9-12 NSTA
• Post Bachelors in Science Education 9 - 12 Post Baccalaureate NSTA
• Bachelors in Social Studies Education-History, 8-12 NCSS
• Bachelors in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities CEC
• Bachelors in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities 5 - 12 Baccalaureate CEC
• Post Bachelors in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities 5- 12 Post Baccalaureate CEC
• Post Bachelors in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities PreK - 8 Post Baccalaureate CEC
• Post Bachelors in Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities Post Baccalaureate CEC
• Bachelors in Teacher of Students with Severe Disablities CEC
• Bachelors in Technology/Engineering (Baccalaureate) ITEEA/CTTE
• Post Bachelors in Technology/Engineering (Post Baccalaureate) ITEEA/CTTE

Framingham State University

Framingham

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Post Bachelors in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI
• Post Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI
• Bachelors in Modern Languages ACTFL
• Post Bachelors in Modern Languages ACTFL
• Masters in Reading Specialist ILA
• Bachelors in Secondary English Education NCTE
• Post Bachelors in Secondary English Education NCTE
• Bachelors in Secondary History Education NCSS
• Post Bachelors in Secondary History Education NCSS
• Bachelors in Secondary Mathematics NCTM
• Post Bachelors in Secondary Mathematics NCTM
• Bachelors in Secondary Mathematics (Middle School) NCTM
• Bachelors in Secondary Science Education NSTA
• Post Bachelors in Secondary Science Education NSTA
• Masters in Special Education CEC
• Masters in Teaching of English as a Second Language TESOL

Salem State University

Salem

CAEP

• Bachelors in Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Science Baccalaureate NSTA
• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education, Baccalaureate NAEYC
• Masters in Early Childhood Education, Initial Masters NAEYC
• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI
• Post Bachelors in Elementary Education-Post Baccalaureate ACEI
• Bachelors in English Baccalaureate NCTE
• Masters in English Post-Baccalaureate NCTE
• Bachelors in History Baccalaureate NCSS
• Post Bachelors in History Post-Baccalaureate NCSS
• Masters in Library Media Specialist ALA
• Post Bachelors in M.A.T. in Middle School General Science, Post-bacc. NSTA
• Masters in M.Ed. in Reading ILA
• Post Bachelors in Math (PB) NCTM
• Bachelors in Mathematics NCTM
• Post Bachelors in Middle School Humanities Math/Science AMLE
• Bachelors in Physical Education NASPE
• Post Bachelors in Physical Education NASPE
• Specialist or C.A.S. in School Principal ELCC Building Level CAGS ELCC
• Masters in School Principal ELCC Building Level MEd ELCC
• Masters in Supervisor/Director ELCC District level ELCC
• Specialist or C.A.S. in Supervisor/Director ELCC District Level CAGS ELCC
• Post Bachelors in Teacher of English as a Second Language TESOL
• Bachelors in Teacher of Spanish PK-6, 5-12 ACTFL
• Masters in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities CEC
• Post Bachelors in Teacher, PK-6, 5-12 ACTFL

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Masters in Elementary Education ACEI
• Masters in English as a Second Language TESOL
• Specialist or C.A.S. in School Psychology Advanced NASP
• Endorsement only in Secondary Teacher Ed English NCTE
• Endorsement only in Secondary Teacher Ed Mathematics-Secondary NCTM
• Bachelors in Secondary Teacher Ed Sciences NSTA
• Bachelors in Secondary Teacher Ed Social Studies History NCSS
• Endorsement only in Secondary Teacher Education Foreign Languges ACTFL
• Masters in Special Ed Teacher-Moderate Disabilities Advanced CEC

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Lowell

CAEP

• Masters in English Language Arts 6-12 NCTE
• Masters in Science Education Middle/Secondary NSTA

Westfield State University

Westfield

CAEP

• Bachelors in Biology (Baccalaureate) NSTA
• Masters in Biology (M.Ed.) NSTA
• Post Bachelors in Biology (Post Baccalaureate) NSTA
• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education PK-2 (Baccalaureate) NAEYC
• Masters in Early Childhood Education PK-2 (M.Ed.) NAEYC
• Post Bachelors in Early Childhood Education PK-2 (Post Baccalaureate) NAEYC
• Bachelors in Elementary Education 1-6 (Baccalaureate) ACEI
• Bachelors in English Language Arts Education (Baccalaureate) NCTE
• Masters in English Language Arts Education (M.Ed) NCTE
• Post Bachelors in English Language Arts Education (Post Baccalaureate) NCTE
• Bachelors in General Science and Chemistry (Baccalaureate) NSTA
• Masters in General Science and Chemistry (M.Ed.) NSTA
• Post Bachelors in General Science and Chemistry (Post Baccalaureate) NSTA
• Bachelors in Moderate Special Needs (Baccalaureate) CEC
• Masters in Moderate Special Needs (M.Ed.) CEC
• Post Bachelors in Moderate Special Needs (Post Baccalaureate) CEC
• Bachelors in Physical Education (Baccalaureate) NASPE
• Post Bachelors in Physical Education (Post Baccalaureate) NASPE
• Bachelors in Secondary History (Baccalaureate) NCSS
• Masters in Secondary History (M.Ed.) NCSS
• Post Bachelors in Secondary History (Post Baccalaureate) NCSS
• Masters in Specialist Teacher of Reading ILA

Wheelock College

Boston

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Masters in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Masters in Early Childhood Education (PreK-K) NAEYC
• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education: Birth to Five Specialization NAEYC
• Masters in Integrated Elementary and Special Education ACEI
• Masters in Integrated Elementary and Special Education CEC
• Masters in Reading ILA
• Bachelors in Special Education Moderate Disabilities Undergraduate CEC
• Bachelors in Undergraduate Elementary Teacher 1-6 ACEI

Worcester State University

Worcester

CAEP

• Specialist or C.A.S. in School Psychologist NASP

Education Degrees in Massachusetts

Bay Path University in Longmeadow offers Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with majors in elementary education (1-6) and early childhood education (PK-2). BPU also has a Biology Secondary Education program that prepares students to teach biology to grades 9-12. Graduates can also teach biology in states other than Massachusetts once they’re passed the licensure requirements for the particular state.

Eastern Nazarene College has 4-year bachelor degree programs for initial licensure in early childhood education (PreK-2); elementary education (1-6); secondary education; and teacher of students with moderate disabilities (PreK-8 and grades 5-12). In addition to the major listed above, students can also choose second majors in specific subjects like mathematics, history, chemistry or music.

The bachelor degree programs at Fitchburg State University not only offer various majors but also offers both concentrations and minors so students can alter the studies towards their individual career goals and focus on the certifications they wish to earn.

Since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the need for highly trained teachers with master degrees has never been higher. Master degree programs provide teachers with better classroom skills and more educational theory and hands-on training. Massachusetts has several colleges offering master and graduate degree teaching programs to help teachers meet the academic demands. Bay Path University offers master degree programs in curriculum and instruction and special education.

Eastern Nazarene College offers a Master of Education program that gives students the choice of early childhood, elementary or moderate disabilities. ENC also offers master degree programs in higher education administration and early childhood education and care.

Online Teaching Degrees in MA

Bay Path University has a 100% online master degree program in higher education administration that can be completed in less than two years.. This 36-credit program is for professionals who want careers as administrators in high schools or colleges. UMassOnline, the online division of the University of Massachusetts offers many online programs at both the bachelor and master degree levels. They also offer online certificate programs requiring as few as 12 credits to complete.

Fitchburg State University has a wide selection of online and hybrid special education degree and certificate programs. These programs are offered as both licensure and non-licensure options. In addition, FSU offers various master degree teaching programs through online education. Framingham State University and Lesley University also offer varieties of online teaching programs.