FAQ

This is an overview of our programs to earn your Master of Science in Education. In order to get into our Master of Science in Education program and/or Teaching Certification Program, you need to have the following:

1. A completed Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of B-. If you are an international student, your translation and evaluation from an approved agency specifying that you have the equivalent of a four year American degree with a grade point average of B- or above.
2. The required undergraduate courses are as follows.
   All levels must have an American History survey course spanning 50 years or more
   • Elementary track must have:
     a. English – not ESL
     b. Math – College Algebra or above
     c. Natural Science
     d. Social Science
     e. Either a World Language or a Fine Art.
   • Middle and Secondary track must have any five of the following:
     a. English – not ESL
     b. Math
     c. Natural Science
     d. Social Science
     e. A World Language
     f. Fine Art.
3. If you would like to teach at Middle or Secondary levels, you must have a major, or a major equivalent, appropriate to the content area in which you would like to teach. Middle School candidates for certification need 24 semester hours in the content area with 15 semester hours in a related area, for Secondary School candidates, 30 semester hours in your content area with 9 semester hours in a related field.
   
4. You need to pass the PRAXIS I exam (contains 3 sections- math, reading and writing) or obtain a waiver. (There is a Praxis waiver available through the State of Connecticut. Please obtain information at www.sde.ct.gov/sde and type Praxis waiver in the search box.) All applicants must have passed this or obtained a waiver to be considered for acceptance into our program.

Our Masters in Education Program can be completed in two different ways.

1. The Internship Program (tuition free). In this program you would work in the cooperating schools during the day and take classes 2 - 4 nights a week (the school system you’re interning for pays for your 33 Master’s credits). This program begins in September and January. The classes run from September to June and then you do your Student Teaching in the next September for 12 weeks. (Student teaching is required for Certification, but not for a Master's Degree). You should complete your 33 Masters credits in the 10 months of your Internship. The 6 credits in Student Teaching are not included in your Internship as you cannot student teach in the schools and work there at the same time, so you are required to pay for those credits.
2. The evening program offers classes 4 nights a week. You can take as few or as many as you would like in order to pace yourself. Again 33 credits are required to complete the Masters Degree and to get certification you must complete the six credits of student teaching described above.