Teacher Education Program
The Holy Cross Teacher Education Program (TEP) is an undergraduate licensure program that leads to a Massachusetts state initial teaching license as a secondary or middle school teacher in one of the following subject areas: Biology (grades 8-12), Chemistry (grades 8-12), Chinese (grades 5-12), English (grades 5-12), French (grades 5-12), History (grades 5-12), Latin and Classical Humanities (grades 5-12), Mathematics (grades 5-8 or 8-12), Physics (grades 8-12), and Spanish (grades 5-12). A program for the teaching of Religion at the middle or secondary levels is available for Religious Studies majors, although this program does not lead to Massachusetts state licensure.
In order to complete the licensure program, students need to complete a liberal arts degree, taking courses within a major in the same academic area as they wish to teach, as well as a series of education courses. The courses to be completed within the major are determined by the specific academic department and the subject matter requirements set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (For further information, please see the Director of the Teacher Education Program or the Academic Liaison faculty member within each department at Holy Cross.) Within the academic component of the program, students complete a series of courses that include 80 hours of field-based experiences. Students spend one semester in a full-time practicum experience at a local Worcester Public School. The practicum is accompanied by a seminar in the Education department.
Application to the program occurs twice per year with application deadlines in October and February. All application materials are available on the TEP website. Students are required to enroll in the Foundations of Education courses before applying to the TEP.
Requirements
TEP students are required to take six courses prior to the practicum semester:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| EDUC 167 | Educational Psychology 1 |
| EDUC 169 | Our Public Schools 1 |
| One approved course that emphasizes urban education. | |
| One approved course in adolescent literacy. 2 | |
| EDUC 301 | Methods Of Teaching |
| EDUC 310 | Pre-Practicum - Teaching 3 |
| 1 | Required before acceptance into the program and should be taken in the first or second year. |
| 2 | With special permission, a course in human development can be taken instead. |
| 3 | Overload course |
The practicum semester is completed during the fourth year:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| EDUC 315 | English Learners 1 |
| EDUC 320 | Practicum: Middle and Sec School Teaching |
| EDUC 330 | Seminar in Teaching |
| 1 | Can be taken during Practicum semester. |
Ninth Semester Option
Begun in Fall 2014, a limited number of students in the Teacher Education Program may elect to participate in a ninth-semester option that allows them to complete their student teaching requirement in the semester immediately following graduation. The ninth-semester option consists of a supervised student teaching experience at one of our partner public schools along with enrollment in EDUC 330 Seminar in Teaching.
Students who desire the ninth-semester option must submit their application to the TEP Director by spring of their third year so that course planning in their major department and in the TEP can take place. The ninth-semester experience is available only in the fall semester immediately following the student’s graduation from Holy Cross. Grades obtained in the ninth semester will not contribute to the Holy Cross GPA. The cost of the program will be $2,300, which does not include fees and living expenses.