Page 290 of Boston College 2005-2006 University Catalog by Boston College University

Research Centers The Lynch School houses several Research Centers. For more information, refer the About Boston College section of this catalog. Department of Teacher Education/Special Education, and Curriculum Instruction The Department of Teacher Education/Special Education and Curriculum Instruction prepares educational leaders for instructional and administrative roles in public and private schools, in institutions of higher education, and in related organizations. The intent is to provide a blend of scholarship, disciplined inquiry, and professional experiences that will develop the sound understanding, practical skills, ethical values, and social responsibilities that are required of competent educators. Student programs are individualized under the guidance of a faculty advisor with special consideration given to each students career goals and licensure requirements. Areas of Concentration Programs and courses in Teacher Education are designed to prepare educators in the areas of elementary and secondary teaching, early childhood education, special education, and reading. In addition, masters and doctoral programs are available in Curriculum Instruction. Teacher preparation programs are designed for individuals interested in working in elementary and secondary schools, both public and private, as well as early childhood and special needs programs and facilities. The Lynch School prepares outstanding teachers in both theoretical and practical dimensions of instruction. The doctoral program in Curriculum Instruction prepares students for college and university teaching, research positions, and/or school leadership positions. The Teaching English Language Learners (TELL, formerly ESL) concentration satisfies the Massachusetts requirements for subject matter knowledge for Teachers of English Language Learners. This is an appropriate concentration for students applying for certification programs in early childhood, elementary, secondary education, or reading. It is also an appropriate concentration for certified teachers in these areas who are pursuing a masters degree in Curriculum Instruction. The concentration is comprised of three additional courses and a field experience (which can be fulfilled through the pre-practicum requirement). Licensure Endorsement of candidates for Massachusetts teaching licensure is a collaborative effort between the Lynch School supervisor and the cooperating teacher. The Lynch School offers graduate programs designed to prepare students for teaching licensure at the masters and C.A.E.S. levels. A student seeking licensure must be admitted as a degree candidate. Programs are approved by the Interstate Licensure Compact (ICC) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), allowing students easier access to licensure outside Massachusetts. The following are licenses available from the State Department of Massachusetts through completion of a Lynch School program: Early Childhood Teacher Elementary Teacher Teacher of English, Mathematics, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, Foreign Language, Latin, and Classical Humanities Teacher of Reading Teacher of Students with Moderate Special Needs (pre K-9, 5-12) Teacher of Students with Severe Special Needs (pre K-12) Note: Students who plan to seek licensure in states other than Massachusetts should check the licensure requirements in those states. Students seeking licensure in Massachusetts must pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Practicum Experiences Practicum experiences are an essential part of the curriculum in licensure programs and should be planned with the respective faculty advisor early in the students program. Practicum experiences for licensure in Teacher Education are offered at the initial licensure level for Massachusetts. Students seeking licensure in Massachusetts must also must pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). All field experiences for students enrolled in Lynch School degree programs are arranged through the Office of Practicum Experiences and Teacher Induction (Campion 135). The Director of Practicum Experiences and Teacher Induction, for appropriate reasons, may not approve a student for the practicum. Applications for all placements must be made during the semester preceding the one in which it will occur. Application deadlines for full practica are March 15 for fall assignments and October 15 for spring assignments. Application deadlines for pre-practica are April 15 for fall placements and December 1 for spring placements. The following are prerequisites for students who are applying for practica and clinical experiences: Grade Point Average of B or better (3.0 or above) Satisfactory completion of required pre-practica or waiver from the Director of the Office of Practicum Experiences and Teacher Induction Completion of 80 percent of the course work related to required Education courses, including methods courses in the content area and courses required for initial licensure Application in the Office of Practicum Experiences and Teacher Induction A full practicum is characterized by the five professional standards as required by the Massachusetts Department of Education. Student teachers must demonstrate competency in these five standards during their practicum experience: content knowledge, instructional practice, evaluation, equity, and professionalism. If, for any reason, a student is unable to complete the full practicum, an extended practicum (additional time in the field) will be required by arrangement of the Director of Practicum Experiences and Teacher Induction. Placement sites for local field experiences are in Boston and neighboring areas. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from these schools. Transportation to many schools requires that the student have a car. Carpooling is encouraged. Application Deadlines for Programs in Teacher Education/Special Education, and Curriculum Instruction Masters programs in Teacher Education/Special Education and Curriculum Instruction, with two exceptions, have the following deadlines for applications: January 1 is the priority deadline for summer or fall admission, with June 15 being the final application deadline for fall admission. The M.A.T. program in English and the M.A.T. program in history accept applications only once per year January 1 for a summer or fall deadline. Applicants must meet the priority deadline The Boston College Catalog 2005-2006 287 EDUCATION

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