Prepare to make a difference in the lives of young children
The Early Childhood Education major will prepare you to enter the field of early education and care so you can work in areas such as early intervention, Head Start, private preschool, and group day care. The program integrates studies in liberal arts and sciences with guidelines and standards presented by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Fieldwork accompanies most education courses and is a necessary component of the program. A course waiver process is available for transfer students and articulation agreements are in place with regional community colleges.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Learn about the developmental process of young children
- Understand the principles of education
- Develop curriculum
- Present lessons in various subject areas to students
- Engage in fieldwork
- Prepare for certification as a lead teacher through the Department of Education
Note: This program does not lead to Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education public school licensure. Students who complete this program and apply to the WSU post-baccalaureate non-degree initial licensure program must provide evidence that they have worked in the field for three years. Any departure from the prescribed program of study must have approval from the Department Chair or Dean.
Why Study Education at Worcester State?
- Hands-on student-teaching programs in local school districts
- Practical experiences starting the first year in the program
- Gamma Chi Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi Honors Society
- Beta Mu Chapter of Alpha Upsilon Alpha Honors Society
- International Phi Delta Kappa Alumni Honors Society
- Extensive preparation for the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Accreditation
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Approved Program
- Association for Advance Quality of Educator Preparation (AAQEP) Accreditation
- Early Childhood Education
- Classroom Management and Child Guidance
- Educator & Cultural Diversity
- Assessment and Adjustment
- Family and Community Engagement
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
- Exceptionalities and Accommodating Diverse Learners
- Children’s Literature
- Language Arts & Literacy
- Social Studies and Multiculturalism
- Children And Youth With Disabilities
- History and Philosophy of Ed
- Educational Psychology
- Emergent Literacy
- Integrating Science, Social Studies and the Fine Arts
- Typical and Atypical Children
- Elementary Education
- Middle School Education
- Secondary Education
- School Psychology
- Moderate Disabilities
- Teaching English as Second Language
- Sheltered English Immersion
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Leadership and Administration
- The Teaching of Reading
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The mission of the WSU/WPS Professional Development Schools Partnerships is to uphold a learning community with the shared goals of improving and enriching the professional preparation of teacher candidates, providing ongoing professional development of teachers, enhancing faculty development, applying inquiry directed at the improvement of practice, and improving P-12 student achievement and learning.
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Our Professional Development Schools (PDS) partnerships are collaborative endeavors between 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools in Worcester, Massachusetts and Worcester State University. The stakeholders in the partnerships share a commitment to enhancing education and student achievement in the region through quality teacher education, in-service teacher training, shared inquiry, and innovative methodologies. Worcester State University established its first PDS partnership with Chandler Magnet School in 1995 and the partnerships have evolved and expanded to include 12 schools in the Worcester Public Schools. These partnerships were developed based on recommendations from the Holmes Group, a consortium of teacher preparation universities, in 1995 and now follow guidelines established by the National Association of Professional Development Schools.
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Belmont Street Community School
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Chandler Elementary Community School
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Chandler Magnet School
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Columbus Park Preparatory Academy
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May Street School
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Norrback Avenue School
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Tatnuck Magnet School
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Woodland Academy
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Forest Grove Middle School
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Dr. Arthur F. Sullivan Middle School
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South High Community School
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North High School
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See the diverse career paths that a degree in Education can prepare you for
Explore a wide range of rewarding professional opportunities with your Education degree from Worcester State.
Meet Your Faculty

Kristine Camacho
I am currently an assistant professor in the School Psychology program at Worcester State. Prior to joining the faculty at WSU, I worked for 10 years as a school psychologist and special education coordinator in a public school setting. My research [...]

Susan Monaghan
As an educator, I believe in connecting theory and practice. I believe anyone can learn anything, given the right support and opportunity. I strive to teach in a way that engages future teachers and provides them with examples of practices grounded [...]