Admission Requirements

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Program Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or recognized international institution
  • Please note: A master’s degree from a regionally accredited university is required for the 6th year program
  • Cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (‘B’) or higher. Applicants whose cumulative GPA falls between 2.67 (‘B-’) and 3.0 (‘B’) will be considered for admission on a provisional basis.

Required Materials

• Application and application fee (non-refundable)
• Official transcripts from each institution attended.

  • International transcripts must include an official course-by-course evaluation of all academic work from www.naces.org

• Two letters of recommendation
  • Letters need to come from employers, professors or professional associates and must testify to your suitability as a prospective teacher.
• Personal statement
  • In 350 words or more, detail the reasons you are interested in enrolling in the certification program of your choice, highlight relevant background experiences and address your overall professional goals in the teaching profession. Please discuss any activities, general or professional, that have influenced your decision to enter the teaching profession.
• Résumé
• Music certification applicants must submit a video or audio file in one of three ways:
  • YouTube, Google Drive, or Dropbox link emailed to gradadmissions@bridgeport.edu
  • CD or DVD sent through the mail
  • Personal audition/interview with the Program Director

Elementary Education Master's Courses

Explore University of Bridgeport's Elementary Education Courses for Master's and Sixth-Year students. Courses include a 12-to-14 week teaching residency.

Resident Teaching

The Resident Teaching experience is a full 60 days of teaching in a school under the direction of a trained Cooperating Teacher. The arrangement for the placements is made through the School of Education and are also supervised by University staff.

Course Requirements

• Nine credit hours in foundations of education coursework
  • differentiated instruction
  • educational psychology
  • special education
• Twenty-four hours of professional education requirements
  • content subject areas
  • curriculum and methods of teaching
  • statutory state requirements
  • field experiences
• Sixty to seventy-day (twelve to fourteen-week) residency (student) teaching experience (six credit hours)

Certification Requirements

All students must complete the following undergraduate coursework to be eligible for entry into the Certification Track option:

• English
• Math (College Algebra, Pre-Calculus or higher)
• Natural Science
• Social Science
• Fine Arts or World Language
• Lifespan Development
• U.S. History (survey course covering at least 50 years)