The Major

The College offers an undergraduate major in Education with three possible concentrations: B.A. in Early Childhood Education (licensure), B.A. in Special Education (licensure), B.A. in Community Education and Social Change (non-licensure).

Educator Licensure (Restricted)

Both the Early Childhood Education concentration (PK-2) and Special Education concentration (Moderate Disabilities in Special Education K-8 or 5-12) lead to initial licensure. Students in both of these concentrations must complete a secondary major in the liberal arts or sciences. Students apply for admission to the Early Childhood Education or Special Education program during their sophomore year. Students will also need to work with the undergraduate departmental advisors of their secondary major to ensure that all secondary major requirements are met. Students should seek advising through the Advising Center education@umass.edu

Non-Licensure: Community Education and Social Change (Open)

The Community Education and Social Change (CESC) concentration is intended for students are interested in working in education settings that are not public school-based. The purpose of this concentration is to prepare educational leaders with expertise in social justice, curriculum development, theories of learning, and models of change. Although intended primarily for students interested in non-formal education, the CESC concentration would also be of interest and meaningful to individuals considering a traditional teaching career. We encourage aspiring teachers to consider this concentration with the explicit understanding that it, alone, does NOT lead to a license to teach in any state. Students should seek advising from the Advising Center education@umass.edu