TEACHING
TEACHING
Amherst Careers in Education Professions Program supports and motivates a growing corps of prospective teachers and welcomes those who wish to reimagine education and its contribution to a democratic society. Robert A. Siudzinski, in the Loeb Center, directs the program and oversees the Ed Pro fellowship. Students interested in teaching and education can also pursue, during their four years at Amherst, Massachusetts state licensure for teaching in middle and secondary schools. Reciprocity agreements between Massachusetts and many other states permit students licensed in Massachusetts to qualify for public school positions across the country. Those who wish to obtain licensure for public school teaching may draw upon our liaison with the Psychology and Education Department at Mount Holyoke College to complete the requirements for initial licensure during their undergraduate years. Acceptance into the Mount Holyoke program requires a formal application early in the spring term of the student’s junior year. This initial licensure will enable graduates to teach in public schools for up to five years before they obtain a master’s degree in education (M.Ed.).
Because the requirements for Massachusetts licensure involve both course-work and a considerable number of hours engaged in classroom teaching, students interested in the possibility of a public school teaching career should consult with the Five College Teacher Licensure Coordinator in the Career Center, Sarah Frenette, and with the faculty advisor to the Program in Secondary School Teaching, Professor Karen Sánchez-Eppler of the English Department, as early as possible in their time at Amherst. In addition to meeting “Field of Knowledge” content requirements in the subject area in which they seek licensure, students will need the following courses, or their equivalents, in order to participate in the Mount Holyoke program. Many of these can be taken at Amherst; others in any of the Five Colleges. A few must be taken at Mount Holyoke (indicated by a ♦).
1. Adolescent or Developmental Psychology;
2. Educational Psychology;
3. A course in multicultural education;
4. Observing and Assisting in Inclusive Classrooms (Educ. 320 a January interterm course at Mount Holyoke College);
5. Educ. 263♦ Teaching English Language Learners
6. Educ. 330♦ Process of Teaching and Learning in Middle and Secondary Schools;
7. A subject specific methods course;
8. Teaching (Math, English, etc.) In Secondary School, an Amherst College special topics course taken in conjunction with the teaching internship;
9. Educ. 331♦ Teaching Internship. This is a double course at Amherst College, to be taken in the spring semester of the senior year or during a ninth term at Mount Holyoke College;
10. Educ. 333♦ Seminar in Teaching and Learning: Middle and Secondary Schools.
These last three requirements will comprise a student’s full load during the spring “practicum” semester of their senior year.
Passage of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) is required of all participants in the Mount Holyoke College Program. Each candidate is required to take and pass a subject matter test as well as the Communication and Literacy Skills test. Computer-based tests are administered regularly throughout the year. Application forms and test preparation materials are available online at http://www.mtel.nesinc.com.