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Mission StatementFramingham State University Graduate Catalog 2022-2023FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENTFramingham State University prepares students for a productive life, enhanced by learning andleadership that will contribute to the culturally diverse world of the twenty-first century.Founded by Horace Mann in 1839 as America’s first public teachers’ college, Framingham StateUniversity today offers undergraduate and graduate programs encompassing the arts and sciencesand professional studies.Committed to excellence, the Framingham State University learning community comprises teacherscholars, librarians, students, and staff who promote free inquiry, the respectful exchange of ideas,ethical conduct, and the belief that diversity in its many forms is essential to the educationalexperience. In an environment that supports active, collaborative learning, students work closelywith faculty to engage significant bodies of knowledge and develop their ability to gather andevaluate information, communicate effectively, think critically and creatively, reasonquantitatively, and apply information and emerging technologies.At Framingham State University teaching is the primary role of faculty, who engage in theirdisciplines through instruction, scholarship, and service on campus and in their professionalcommunities. The University serves as an important educational and cultural center in theMetroWest region of Massachusetts.A Framingham State University education cultivates thoughtful, responsible local and globalcitizens, prepares students for a career, and positions them for success.FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY VISION STATEMENTOur vision is to create a vibrant and innovative educational environment that is dedicated toacademic excellence, ethical citizenship, personal and professional growth, global stewardship, andpublic purpose and commitment through an inclusive and collaborative community.FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY CORE VALUESThe following shared core values direct our thinking, planning, actions, and initiatives: Academic Excellence: We strive to inspire a culture informed by the joy and work oflearning, in which curiosity, discovery, innovation, and excellence are the driving forces ineverything we do. Ethical Citizenship: We seek to foster a culture of ethics, integrity and respect, such that itcreates the fertile ground that motivates our work and work ethic. Personal and Professional Growth: We aspire to create a nurturing culture where all thriveand are supported in their own paths toward lifelong growth and leadership in personal andprofessional ways. Global Stewardship: We endeavor to advance global understanding, empathy andstewardship for people and the environment, embracing diversity and a sense of communityin both local and global settings. Public Purpose and Commitment: We strive to construct a community that is committed topublic purpose, informed action and service. Inclusive and Collaborative Community: We seek to encourage a supportive, diverse,collaborative and cohesive environment in which we learn from each other through informed,clear, and open communication.

History of FSUFramingham State University Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023The History of Framingham State UniversityFramingham State University began in a building, still standing today, on the corner ofLexington Common on July 3, 1839. It had as its mission the training of teachers, andwas the first state-supported normal school (a school which trains teachers) in the UnitedStates of America. Twice it outgrew its accommodations, moving first to West Newtonand then to its present location on Bare Hill in Framingham in 1853. From the beginning,the Normal School met the challenge of being the first model by educating teachers whowere in demand for the common schools of Massachusetts and, indeed, for schoolsthroughout the nation. From the first class, Normal School graduates participated in thenew field of education for the blind and the deaf. They traveled to the South and to theWest to teach in schools being established for Blacks and Native Americans, and theywent as missionaries to distant lands.From 1848 to 1898 Framingham also conducted an advanced program for women whoaspired to careers in high school and college teaching, school administration, law andmedicine, opening unprecedented educational and career opportunities for these women.There were principals, professors, doctors, and writers among the early graduates, andwomen who participated in the suffrage and temperance movements; indeed, in all of thesignificant educational and social reforms of the nineteenth century. At the close of thenineteenth century, the first teachers of the household arts were graduated from a newprogram at Framingham, laying the foundation for studies in nutrition and food science,as well as clothing and textiles.The student body increased steadily during the twentieth century and with it the size ofthe campus and the number of buildings. New programs and courses marked theincreasingly professional character of the education offered, while extracurricularorganizations were formed to enrich student life. In 1932 the Massachusetts NormalSchools became the State Teachers Colleges, and in 1960 they became State Collegeswith a mandate to develop liberal arts curricula. Framingham, which had served onlywomen, became coeducational in 1964. The University has continued to add departmentssuch as Economics, Sociology, and Psychology, as well as career-orientated programs inComputer Science, Communications, Business Administration, and Nursing, amongothers, to increase the options for students and to meet the needs of the Commonwealth.In 2010, the Governor signed legislation changing the State Colleges to StateUniversities.Today, Framingham State University is situated on a beautiful 54-acre campus in thesuburban town of Framingham. The University’s location in the economically vibrantMetro West area affords many opportunities for students and graduates alike.Approximately 3,500 full- and part-time students with 39 bachelor’s degree programs and23 master’s degree programs are enrolled at the University.

Graduate AdmissionsFramingham State University Graduate Catalog 2022-2023Graduate AdmissionsThe following are general requirements for admission to any of the graduate programs atFramingham State University. Students should review the specific requirements for admission tothe particular program they are interested in as provided later in this catalog.APPLICATIONApplicants must possess an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of highereducation and submit an official copy of their undergraduate transcripts. Two (2) letters ofrecommendation are required (three (3) for the program in Counseling Psychology). One lettermust be from an employer or supervisor, and the other must be from faculty member who hastaught the candidate at collegiate level if the candidate attended classes in the last five years. Alsorequired is a statement expressing the applicant’s reasons for seeking to undertake graduate study inthe chosen area. Admission for most master’s programs (except Counseling Psychology, NursingEducation, and Nursing Leadership) is on a rolling basis; however, students seeking admission forfall semester should have a complete application on file by July 1 st, while students seekingadmission for the spring semester should have a complete application on file by December 1st.Applications completed or received after these dates cannot be guaranteed timely matriculation.Where required by the program, applicants must submit an official copy of the results of theGraduate Management Admission Text (GMAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or theMiller Analogies Test (MAT) taken within the last five (5) years. In some programs, the examsare not required depending on an applicant’s status and program of choice. In addition, applicantswith an advanced degree from a regionally accredited United States institution (or for internationalstudents – the equivalent of a United States master’s degree) or who have completed a FraminghamState University Graduate Certificate program may be exempt from these exams. Properdocumentation at time of application will be required to be considered for this exemption.Applicants should check the program requirements for specific test information as well as checkingwith the Office of Graduate Admissions regarding exemption eligibility.Those students whose native language is not English must provide sufficient proof of Englishproficiency by taking one of the follow exams and achieving the approved minimum score withinthe 6 months prior to application submission: TOEFL (85 IBT / 580 PBT)Pearson-PTE Academic (55)Duolingo (110)IELTS (6.5)Michigan-MET (60)STEP-Eiken (Grade 1)ITEP (4.0)Cambridge-English / CEFR (C1)English testing requirements may be waived, if the applicant has successfully completed at leasttwo (2) full academic years in a college/university where the primary instruction is in English orhas successfully completed advanced coursework in the English Language Program (ELP) atFramingham State University or at a comparable, approved partner ESL program at the discretionof the FSU Director of International Recruitment and Director of English Language Programs andreceived an instructor’s or administrator’s letter of recommendation of readiness of Englishproficiency.Graduate Applications are available from the Office of Graduate Admissions at 508-626-4501, oronline at ssions/graduate-admissions/index.Applications are accepted year-round. Students may begin most programs of study in September(Fall semester) or January (Spring semester). Students may also begin taking undergraduateprerequisite courses during the summer.Academic advisors are available to provide further information about the application process,degree programs, and course scheduling. For further information about Framingham StateUniversity graduate degree programs, and/or to make an appointment with an academic advisor,contact 508-626-4540 or visit www.framingham.edu/dgce.

Graduate AdmissionsFramingham State University Graduate Catalog 2022-2023COURSES TAKEN BEFORE ADMISSIONStudents may elect to enroll in no more than two graduate courses before formal admission to amaster’s program. Courses taken before admission must be completed with a grade of B- (2.70) orbetter if they are to be applied toward a graduate program. Such courses must have been completedno more than five (5) years prior to the date of formal admission to Framingham State University.Exceptions may only be made by the Graduate Admissions committee. Students are required tocomplete the curriculum under the degree program in place when they are formally admitted. Sincecurriculum changes may occur, courses taken prior to matriculation might not apply toward thedegree program.F-1 STUDENT VISA STATUSStudents admitted into a graduate program as on an F-1 Student Visa are required to enroll full-timeduring the fall and spring semesters. Students in the M.B.A program are encouraged to also enrollfull-time during the summer terms if the intent is to complete the program in 16 continuous months.TRANSFER COURSESTransfer credit for prior graduate coursework completed at another regionally-accredited college oruniversity will be considered at the time of admission based on course descriptions anddocumentation submitted with the student’s application. Matriculated graduate students areexpected to complete all coursework at Framingham State University. Under extenuatingcircumstances, students may request permission to take a course for transfer credit after admission,and must obtain prior approval in writing from both the program advisor and the Dean of GraduateStudies. Courses accepted in transfer credit must meet the academic criteria established byFramingham State University.Transfer credit is limited to two (2) graduate courses and must have been completed with a grade ofB (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better provided they were earned no more than five (5) years prior to thedate of admission to Framingham State University. Exceptions may only be made by the graduateadmissions committee.Transfer credit will be allowed on a course basis. An exception is the program in CounselingPsychology where licensure requirements mandate the acceptance of only four-semester hourcourses. Students wishing to transfer courses valued at less than three-semester hours may do sobut in a ratio that guarantees that the equivalent credit hours of the transfer coursework equal orexceed those of Framingham State University courses replaced. Transfer credit will not be givenfor life experiences, noncredit, or undergraduate educational experiences.Professionaldevelopment courses, even at the graduate level, will not be accepted in transfer toward a master’sdegree at the University.GRADUATE READMISSION POLICYA graduate student in good standing who withdraws from the University, or who becomes inactive,may apply for readmission within three years of the last semester attended. A student is defined tobe in good standing if he or she was not subject to dismissal at the time of withdrawal. Theapplication for readmission should be submitted at least one month prior to registration forgraduate evening or online courses and a full semester ahead for graduate Day Division courses.There is no application fee required for readmission within three years. Students who arereadmitted must meet the degree requirements and policies in the Graduate Catalog in effect at thetime of readmission. Students must also complete their entire program in the time limit allowed forthat program including the time of inactivity. Students should refer to the Time Limit Policy fortime limits on coursework applied toward the degree. Students must enroll for the semester inwhich their readmission is effective.If a student has been inactive for three years or longer, they are required to submit a newApplication for Graduate Admission and application fee with updated documentation including anew statement of purpose, transcripts for courses taken at other institutions since being enrolled atFramingham State University, letters of recommendation and cover sheets, and any otherdocuments as required for admittance to their intended program of study. Because of the length ofinactivity, it may not be possible to complete all courses in the program of study within the timelimit. Students may be required to take additional coursework, or repeat some prior coursework atthe discretion of the Program Coordinator and Dean of Graduate Studies.

Post BaccalaureateTeacher Licensure ProgramFramingham State University Graduate Catalog 2022-2023Post-Baccalaureate Teacher LicensureProgramFramingham State University offers the following Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure(PBTL) programs leading to the Massachusetts Initial Teaching License.INITIAL LICENSURE AVAILABLE THROUGH PBTL:Biology – Grades 8-12Chemistry – Grades 8-12Early Childhood – Grades PreK-2Earth & Space Science – Grades 8-12Elementary – Grades 1-6English – Grades 5-12Foreign Language: Spanish – Grades 5-12General Science – Grades 5-8History – Grades 5-12Mathematics - Grades 5-8, 8-12Middle School: Mathematics/Science – Grades 5-8Physics – Grades 8-12Visual Art – Grades PreK-8Visual Art – Grades 5-12TEACHER LICENSURE IN MASSACHUSETTSMassachusetts has several levels of teacher licensure. The PBTL Program prepares students for theInitial License with its coursework, field-based experiences, and supervised practicum. The InitialLicense has a life of five (5) years of teaching. The professional license may be earned by addingan appropriate master’s program.The requirements mandated by Massachusetts are a major effort to strengthen the preparation ofteachers and administrators in the schools. Framingham State University has responded byadjusting the requirements in its programs. It will continue to do so, as it simultaneously seeks toprotect the interests of its students while remaining in compliance with state regulations. Allinformation in this bulletin is accurate as of press time and is subject to any further change in statelaws and regulations.Further information about the PBTL Program may be obtained from the Office of GraduateAdmissions.SECONDARY EDUCATION ACADEMIC SUBJECT LICENSESFor those preparing to teach visual art, biology, chemistry, earth science, English, general science,history, mathematics, physics, or Spanish, applications are considered on an individual basis inaccordance with the subject matter knowledge specified in Massachusetts Department ofElementary and Secondary Education Regulations and the program requirements of FraminghamState University. Each department affiliated with a secondary education program determines thesubject matter requirements needed for recommendation to the state for licensure.

Post BaccalaureateTeacher Licensure ProgramFramingham State University Graduate Catalog 2022-2023EARLY CHILDHOOD (GRADES PRE-K-2) OR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (GRADES 1-6)The focus of the PBTL program at the early childhood or elementary level is on teaching methods.However, adequate preparation in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, andmathematics is necessary to establish the groundwork for success in the classroom. Candidateslacking sufficient preparation in any area will be asked to make up deficiencies.APPLICATION PROCESSApplications are accepted year round and students may begin a program any semester. Prospectivestudents apply for the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Program through the Office ofGraduate Studies. Application requires a fee of 50.00, transcripts of college work from allprevious colleges, and two letters or recommendation. Documentation of any work experience inpublic schools, including dates, should be submitted at this time. For an application to the PBTLprogram, please call Graduate Admissions at 508-626- 4528 or apply online atwww.framingham.edu/dgce.ADMISSION REQUIREMENTSAdmission to the PBTL Program requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accreditedcollege or university and a passing score on the Communication and Literacy portion of theMassachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL). A minimum undergraduate overall gradepoint average of 2.80 is required. PBTL candidates with deficiencies in the liberal arts or scienceswill be required to take appropriate courses in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, andmathematics before admittance to more advanced studies in the PBTL education sequenceinvolving teaching method and practice.The Education Department maintains a student’s licensure folder for any PBTL applicant whobegan the licensure sequence as an undergraduate at FSU. This folder contains evaluations oneducation classroom performance and professional attributes appropriate for teachers as well asacademic achievement. Therefore, the existing licensure folder for a PBTL applicant will bereviewed, in conjunction with the PBTL program application, by the appropriate admissionscommittee for the license sought. Where any questions arise, the appropriate admissions committeereserves the right to discuss the contents of the student’s licensure file with the PBTL applicant.MASSACHUSETTS TEST FOR EDUCATOR LICENSUREThe Commonwealth presently administers MTEL examinations several times a year. The deadlineto register for the exams take place approximately six (6) weeks before the examination is given.For further information and to register, please visit www.mtel.nesinc.com.FOUNDATIONS OF READING TESTAlthough a passing score on the Foundations of Reading Test is not a requirement to apply for thePBTL Program, it is a requirement for student teaching practicum and the Initial License in earlychildhood and elementary education.SUBJECT MATTER KNOWLEDGE TESTAlthough a passing score on the Subject Matter Knowledge Test is not a requirement to apply forthe PBTL Program, it is a req

Accreditation Framingham State University Graduate Catalog 2022-2023 . ACCREDITATION . Framingham State University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, (NECHE), the regional accreditation agency for colleges and universities in the six New England states: Connecticut,