Stonehill’s Elementary Education program equips future instructors with the knowledge and skills needed to become highly effective teachers in grades one through six.
A well-rounded curriculum, career-focused advising and a wealth of classroom experience opportunities give education studies students a distinct advantage.
A major in elementary education provides graduates with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to successfully enter the field with initial licensure from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE): Teacher: Elementary: grades 1-6.
The three pillars of the Early Elementary program include:
The comprehensive curriculum in the Elementary Education program combines the comprehensive, research-based study of education alongside a diverse exploration of the content across the liberal arts and sciences. Elementary education students take a comprehensive program of education courses about theory, pedagogy and research as it relates to the teaching and learning of elementary age children. In addition, elementary education students take a robust offering of liberal arts and science courses in compliance with guidelines set by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To complement their coursework, the Elementary Education program includes a comprehensive pre-practicum / practicum sequence designed to ensure that our graduates have experience working with students and teachers across the grade levels covered by their licensure. All elementary education majors have the opportunity as early as their first semester in the program to complete field placements alongside general education and special education teachers in a variety of school and community settings.
Students also complete pre-practica alongside specific courses to enhance their connections between the theory of the college classroom and the reality of the PreK-2 practice. These experiences more than prepare our students to complete a full semester practicum (student teaching) alongside a supervising practitioner during their senior year.
Education majors desiring teacher licensure must also complete a major from the following list:
Stonehill’s small class sizes allow licensure candidates to receive career-focused mentoring. Through experiences both inside and outside the classroom, dedicated faculty and staff with decades of experience across the PreK-12 spectrum work with licensure candidates to individualize their program to meet their interests and future career goals.
Faculty teaching in the Elementary Education program have extensive teaching experience in public and private PreK-12 settings; deliver professional development to teachers, schools and districts across the Commonwealth and across the nation; present their research at local, regional and national conferences; work in the field in places such as Boston Children’s Hospital; and serve on the boards of several professional organizations. This wealth of experience and connection to PreK-12 schools and teachers enables the faculty to provide high quality, practical educational experiences to Stonehill students.
Elementary education students also have access to other opportunities that bolster their professional experience before they even graduate. The Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) is an opportunity for students who have completed their first year at Stonehill to perform significant, publishable full time research under the guidance of and in collaboration with an experienced faculty researcher.
The experience helps to solidify and define students' career choices, both through graduate school decisions and in post-college employment. All SURE Scholars and faculty mentors receive a stipend for an 8- or 10-week full-time summer session.
Whether learning in a Stonehill classroom or working in the field as student teachers, Elementary Education candidates learn to navigate the intricacies of today’s classrooms, from inclusivity to highly effective teaching practices to social-emotional learning.
Our elementary education graduates have gone on to teach across the country. Recent graduates have been hired to teach in places such as:
The Stonehill Career Development Center (CDC) offers extensive assistance to students seeking employment, pursuing advanced studies or participating in postgraduate service opportunities. By working with our mentors, students are empowered to build lifelong career management skills.
The Inclusive Education Master’s Degree Program prepares students to deliver evidence-based instruction for students with disabilities in grades Pre-K to 12 settings. Stonehill education students can complete a traditional four-year undergraduate program and contact the Office of Graduate Admission in their junior year for information about enrolling full-time on campus or in the Stonehill Teacher Residency Program to earn a Master of Education.