Education

As a student in the Barbara (Hickey) O’Brien ’57 Education Department at Worcester State University, you will gain the theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience you need to earn a Massachusetts teaching license and pursue a fulfilling career in education. Since 1874, our department has been preparing highly qualified teachers to lead classrooms across Massachusetts. Our renowned and diverse faculty understands the rewards and challenges of teaching, and they will help you develop the skills to build curriculum, plan daily instruction, and solve classroom challenges.

Our location in Worcester—New England’s second-largest city—and our strategic partnership with the Worcester Public School District enable us to offer dynamic student-teaching experiences in an urban setting. We combine these experiences with mentoring from faculty members and extensive preparation for the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). The bottom line—you will be thoroughly equipped to make a difference as an outstanding professional educator.

Through our 20+ state-approved undergraduate programs, we provide all the tools you need to become licensed to teach in early childhood (PreK-grade 2), elementary (grades 1-6), middle (grades 5-8), or secondary (grades 8-12) schools. You also will have the opportunity to become credentialed to teach in preschool and day care programs. Our teacher-training program is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
 
If you are planning to pursue a master’s degree in education, a license in teaching, or a certificate of graduate studies, we offer more than a dozen convenient, high-quality graduate programs. Our certificate for graduate studies in school psychology is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists.
 
If you’re an undergraduate student who excels both in and out of the classroom, you’ll have the opportunity to join our Gamma Chi Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, which was founded in 1935 on the WSU campus. Graduate students may join the Beta Mu Chapter of Alpha Upsilon Alpha and participate in local service projects. We also encourage education alumni to join the international Phi Delta Kappa, which has a local network that provides networking and professional enrichment opportunities.
 
Program Performance Data
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education publishes data on all state-approved education preparation programs. You can access each of the reports on our department’s program-completion and post-graduation performance data via the following links:

• Candidate Enrollment Data
• Program Completion Data
• MTEL Pass Rates
• Employment Rates (post-graduation)
• Employment Rates by Program (post-graduation)