Elementary Education MEd

Become the teacher who helps students grow.

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About the Program

Help young learners discover what they’re capable of. In UMass Boston’s Elementary Education master’s program, you’ll learn to shape how children see themselves, their interests, and the world around them. Create engaging learning experiences that connect subjects like science, math, literacy, history, engineering, and the arts. Designed for aspiring teachers of grades 1–6, the program leads to a master’s degree and teaching licensure. Choose from multiple pathways, including a flexible two-year program, the one-year Teach Next Year residency, or an accelerated option for eligible UMass Boston undergraduates.

Here’s your chance to:

Learn beyond the classroom through engineering challenges, science experiments, community-based learning, and art projects.
Share your work at local, state, and national conferences.
Learn alongside a community of educators who share your passion for helping young students thrive.

average median salary of elementary school teachers in MA

University Survey, 2026

of Education MEd alumni are employed full- or part-time

University Survey, 2020–2024

UMass Boston is ranked in the Top 50 Best Education Schools in the U.S.

U.S. News & World Report, 2026

teacher bends over a child's school desk helping her out in the classroom

Career Possibilities

Spend a full year gaining experience in partner schools, culminating in a student teaching practicum where you’ll apply what you’ve learned in an elementary classroom with mentorship from veteran teachers in Boston and other urban school districts. Throughout the program, you’ll receive academic, career, program, and licensure advising as you work toward becoming an educator.

Here’s where this degree can take you:

Elementary Classroom Teacher
STEM Teacher
Science Coordinator at a school or school district
Elementary Math Coach
STEM Coaches for school districts
Discipline Coordinators at MA Education Offices

Example Employers of Program Graduates

UMass Boston Elementary Education MEd alumni launch careers as teachers, administrators, curriculum developers, and more in the Greater Boston Area and across Massachusetts, including:

Plan Your Education

How to Apply

Deadlines:

Initial Licensure Track: June 15 for fall
Teach Next Year Track: March 15 (priority deadline) and April 15 (final deadline) for summer

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

Apply as a Graduate Student

Financing Your Education

Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.

Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, visit the Bursar's website to learn more about Regular Session Tuition & Fees for in person courses and Special Price Tuition & Fees for online courses. Please refer to Financial Aid for more information.

Graduate Student Financial Aid

Graduate Scholarships

Program Details

Education Elementary MEd Application Requirements

Minimum 3.0 Undergraduate GPA
Test Scores: Submit scores for the Communication and Literacy MTEL
- Please note: MTEL scores are optional for admission. If you do not have MTEL scores, please upload a document that says, "I do not have MTEL scores to upload." and this will allow you to continue and submit your application.
Letters of Recommendation: 2
Writing Sample: Optional
Other: Statement of purpose, transcripts, résumé

Curriculum - Initial Licensure Track

Foundation Courses (12 Credits)

EDC G 606 - Sociocultural Foundations of Education 3 Credit(s)
ECHD 611 - Development and Characteristics of All Young Learners Including Those with Special Needs 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 630 - Inclusion PreK-12:Diversity and Equity in Inclusive Settings 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 643 - Fostering Equitable and Affirming Classroom Environments 3 Credit(s)

Content Methods Courses (15 Credits)

EDC G 619 - Designing Instruction: Science 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 626 - Integrating Social Studies and the Arts 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 646 - Understanding Reading: Principles and Practices 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 656 - Teaching the English Language Arts at the Elementary Level 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 668 - Content & Methods for Teaching Elementary School Mathematics 3 Credit(s)

Practicum Core (10 Credits)

EDC G 650 - Rethinking Equity and Teaching for English Language Learners 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 658 - Pre-practicum seminar 1 Credit(s)
EDC G 686 - Graduate Practicum: Student Teaching Elementary Education 6 Credit(s)

Licensure

Licensure will be approved when all courses are passed with a GPA of greater than 3.0 and the Practicum has been completed.

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Curriculum - Teach Next Year Track

Curriculum Core (12 Credits)

ECHD 611 - Development and Characteristics of All Young Learners Including Those with Special Needs. 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 630 - Inclusion PreK-12:Diversity and Equity in Inclusive Settings 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 646 - Understanding Reading: Principles and Practices 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 668 - Content & Methods for Teaching Elementary School Mathematics 3 Credit(s)

Pedagogy Core (12 Credits)

EDC G 619 - Designing Instruction: Science 3< Credit(s)
EDC G 656 - Teaching the English Language Arts at the Elementary Level 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 670 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 2 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 696 - Independent Study 1-6 Credit(s)

Practicum Core (12 Credits)

EDC G 643 - Fostering Equitable and Affirming Classroom Environments 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 650 - Rethinking Equity and Teaching for English Language Learners 3 Credit(s)
EDC G 686 - Graduate Practicum: Student Teaching Elementary Education 6 Credit(s)

Licensure

Licensure will be approved when all courses are passed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and initial level on PST portfolio.

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Elementary Education MEd Program are prepared to teach students in grades 1–6 through a strong knowledge of curriculum, including math, science, social studies, and English/Language arts. Students will learn the current developmentally appropriate and evidence-based teaching practices that support students and prepare our graduates to support their students to be successful in school.

Graduation Criteria

Initial Licensure Track

Complete 37 credits from twelve courses including four foundations courses, five content methods courses, and three practicum core courses.

Capstone: Completion of EDC G 643, 650, and 686.
Practicum: All candidates for Initial Licensure are required to take the full 6-credit practicum. Candidates are placed in a partner school one day a week during Semester 3 which that satisfies the MA DESE 75 hour pre-practicum requirement and then in a partner school for 14 weeks (5 days a week) during Semester 4 which satisfied the MA DESE 300 hour practicum requirement. Arrangements for pre-practicum and practicum are made through application to the CEHD Placement Director. Pre-practicum hours must be completed before starting the practicum core courses.
Exams: All licensure candidates must achieve passing scores on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication & Literacy, General Curriculum, General Curriculum Mathematics Subtest and Foundations of Reading tests (must be passed before starting the practicum core courses).

Minimum grade: No courses with a grade below B may be applied toward the program.
GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required from all program courses.
Residency: No more than two courses from other institutions may be applied toward the program with approval of the graduate program director.
Statute of limitations: Five years.

Teach Next Year Track

Complete 36 credits from twelve courses including four curriculum core courses, four pedagogy core courses, and three practicum core courses.

Capstone: Completion of EDC G 643, 650, and 686.
Practicum: All candidates for Initial Licensure are required to take the full 6-credit practicum. Candidates are placed in a full year internship that satisfies both the MA DESE 75 hour pre-practicum and 300 hour practicum requirements. Candidates are placed in a partner school through an application to the Teach Next Year program director. Candidates who intend to complete the 75 hour, one day a week pre-practicum and the 300 hour full semester practicum will make this arrangement at the time of matriculation. Pre-practicum hours must be completed before starting the practicum core courses.
Exams: All licensure candidates must achieve passing scores on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication & Literacy, General Curriculum, General Curriculum Mathematics Subtest and Foundations of Reading tests (must be passed before starting the practicum core courses).

GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained throughout the program.
Statute of limitations: Five years.

Contact

Graduate Program Director Tejaswini Dalvi (Initial Licensure Track)
tejaswini.dalvi@umb.edu
(617) 287-4842

Graduate Program Director Lisa Gonsalves (Teach Next Year Track)
lisa.gonsalves@umb.edu

Graduate Program Coordinator Alicia Savannah (Teach Next Year Track)
alicia.savannah@umb.edu

Accreditation

Received accreditation from MA DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

We are a member of the National Association of State Directors of Education (NASDTEC)’s Interstate Agreement, indicating reciprocity with all 50 states.

Build real classroom experience from the start.

Get real experience in a school every week. Licensure-track students spend at least six hours in the field, with placement support through partner schools in Boston Public Schools if you’re not currently working in one. As a program grounded in social justice and urban classrooms, and led by experienced educators, you’ll build hands-on experience in every course, culminating in a full-time student teaching practicum that prepares you for licensure.

Academic Community

Explore the department and college that supports your journey in Curriculum & Instruction.