Upcoming Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester: August 1, 2026
  • Spring Semester: January 1, 2027
  • Stonehill Teacher Residency: May 1, 2027
  • Summer Semester: May 1, 2027

Earn Your Master's in Education and Elementary Education Initial Licensure

The M.Ed. in Elementary Education program prepares teachers to be leaders and critical thinkers. Schools today are complex and diverse communities — reflecting a landscape rich with individual differences. Teachers in our program are prepared using a unique combination of theoretical and practical experiences. This approach ensures their ability to create and lead equitable spaces in classrooms for grades 1–6 where difference is valued while at the same time preparing them for the realities and challenges of the classroom and the profession.

In the elementary education program, students will: 

  • develop evidence-based literacy, mathematics, science and social science teaching practices designed specifically for elementary learners in grades 1–6
  • design engaging, inclusive curriculum that supports diverse learning needs through Universal Design for Learning and culturally responsive instruction
  • create classrooms where every child feels valued, supported and empowered, focused on equity and inclusivity
  • learn to foster strong relationships and collaborative partnerships with students, families, colleagues and communities to build caring and connected learning environments

All students take five core inclusive education courses as well as the coursework for their licensure. For the elementary licensure, courses prepare educators to create and lead an inclusive classroom environment for diverse student populations in grades 1–6. This program includes a mix of in-person and online courses.

Why Graduate Teacher Education at Stonehill

  • Focus on educational equity and diversity helps better prepare educators for the modern classroom
  • A core of foundational courses ensures our graduates gain the skills to teach all students
  • Faculty with well-established expertise in field
  • Experiential learning via research, partnership and community opportunities
  • Specialized student support framework guides students through program requirements and career preparation

Upcoming Graduate & Professional Studies Events

  • Virtual Information Sessions

    Join us for a virtual information session or drop-in session to learn more about our master’s degree and certificate programs.

Sample Courses

Social Studies & the World

TED 615
This course will provide teacher candidates with an introduction to the theory and practice of teaching social sciences, including history, civics and government, and geography at the elementary level. Teacher candidates will learn how to design social science and history lessons and units that are culturally relevant and sustaining and integrate assessment throughout the lesson. Teacher candidates will also evaluate and analyze primary and secondary sources to utilize in the design of lessons.

Science & Technology for Early Learners

TED 616
This course will provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to explore science and technology for elementary students (grades 1-6). Teacher candidates will learn pedagogical methods for teaching science, as well as content knowledge in earth/space science, life science, physical science, and technology and engineering. They will focus on grounding content learning in phenomena that connects to students’ lives, supporting sense making for students, and providing multiple opportunities and modalities for students to demonstrate understanding of content. Candidates will also focus on how to ensure their science classroom is inclusive and how to design and implement units/lessons that support learning of all students.

Teaching Literacy in the Elementary Grades

TED 617
This course provides teacher candidates with strategies for teaching literacy (both reading and writing) to elementary students (grades 1-6). During this course, teacher candidates will learn research-based methods for teaching early literacy, including developmental stages of writing and how to support students with early writing and content writing. Teaching candidates will explore how to utilize literacy assessments to guide instruction. Candidates will also analyze and evaluate literacy curricular materials and design and implement inclusive literacy lessons into an elementary classroom.

A Flexible M.Ed. Program Built to Fit Your Life

There are a variety of ways to pursue your degree, including:

Master's students are required to complete 30 to 36 credits.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Our graduate teacher education students engage in action research, semester-long project-based learning, intensive residency and research with faculty.

Stonehill has partnerships with several area school districts as well as specialized locations. Residency students can work in diverse settings at our public and private partner sites, including the League School and South Shore Educational Collaborative, among others. 

Licensure students complete practica placements at both urban and suburban sites as well as specialized locations. This is an opportunity for students to observe, assist and teach in a range of educational settings. All licensure students are required to complete a field experience or internship.

In courses such as Curricular Innovations & Assistive Technology, students complete a semester-long assistive technology project focused on increasing curricular access.

Casey McPartlin '20, M'22 with her assistive technology project Finger Numeral Dice.

Students have the opportunity to work with faculty on research in a variety of areas. In 2019, three students worked with Elizabeth Stringer Keefe to examine the process of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the perspective of both parents and educators and presented their findings at the Massachusetts Council for Exceptional Children Annual Conference.

School and District Partnerships

Stonehill Teacher Residency

Stonehill Teacher Residency candidates complete an intensive field-based residency in a partner district alongside their graduate coursework. It leads to a Master of Education degree and Massachusetts initial licensure in humanities, math, math/science or special education.

Studying Education at Stonehill

Stonehill College's graduate teacher education programs prepare educators to lead inclusive learning environments. The College offers master's degree, teacher licensure, community education and graduate certificate program options.

Schools today must strive to be inclusive environments, and educators in our program are prepared to be leaders in creating equitable spaces where difference is valued.

Graduate Teacher Education at Stonehill

Stonehill College's graduate teacher education programs aim to prepare knowledgeable, reflective, caring and flexible educators who embrace learning, scholarship, community and advocacy in their work. Social justice and democratic education are at the center of our work and underpins all programs, courses and experiences. We believe education can disrupt systems and processes that perpetuate injustice and inequity and embrace diversity and individuality as strengths.

We advance our mission by modeling the creation of democratic spaces in the graduate classroom that reflect equitable, accessible and inclusive learning environments where students' voices and perspectives help to shape the construction and the provision of their learning.

Three tenets guide our program philosophy:

  • Social justice education
  • Democratic education
  • Anti-oppressive education

Graduate Teacher Education Program Outcomes

Our graduates

  • Foster care, connection and community with students, colleagues and families
  • Promote inclusivity, diversity and equity in educational spaces
  • Work to disrupt systems that perpetuate oppression and inequity
  • Embrace teaching practices that foster social justice and democracy
  • Lead by making education accessible for all learners
  • Elevate student voices and perspectives in education
  • Act purposefully to continue to learn and contribute to the profession

Rigorous Academics and the Support to Succeed

Stonehill’s graduate teacher education programs recognize the challenges graduate students face in prioritizing work, family, personal and graduate school commitments. Our Graduate Student Support, Access and Success (SSAS) Framework is designed to support students’ success from program start to finish.

Specifically, this approach provides:

  • A proactive vs. reactive framework for supporting graduate students’ variable needs within their program
  • Clear benchmarks for assessment of candidate readiness

From the admission process to graduation, students have a clear understanding of both expectations and the support available to help them achieve their goals.

Education Department earns endorsement for undergraduate programs

The College is recognized for its commitment to the importance of experiential learning to prepare for future careers in education.

Contact Information

Graduate & Professional Studies Admission assists students as they explore graduate and professional opportunities offered at Stonehill College. 

Meet the Director of Graduate Teacher Education

Rebekah C. Louis

Rebekah C. Louis

Assistant Professor/Director of Graduate Teacher Education, Director of Graduate Teacher Education
Graduate Teacher Education