Admission

Undergraduate

In addition to the general Board of Admissions emphasis on the strength of the student’s secondary record, the School of Education emphasizes commitment to the human services.

Transfer Students

Boston University Dual Degree Program, Secondary School Licensure, and Intra-University (Internal) Transfer Students

Students within Boston University who wish to transfer to the School of Education, enter a licensure-only program, or participate in a Boston University dual degree program should contact the Student Services Office to determine the suitability of their preparation and individual status. To be considered for admission, intra-University students must have a 2.0 grade point average and the approval of the academic department.

Transfer Admission The School of Education welcomes transfer students who have completed a minimum of one semester of post-secondary study. The evaluation of transfer credits is made on the basis of achievement and on how appropriate the student’s experiences are to the selected program. In instances where students wish to seek Massachusetts licensure, credit toward licensure is evaluated in light of the competencies and experiences required. The sum of all semester courses accepted from other institutions cannot exceed a total of 80 semester hours. For further information, contact the School of Education at 617-353-3177 or visit the School of Education website.

Advanced Placement and Credit

Students may qualify for college credit or advanced placement in certain courses by submitting satisfactory scores from College Board examinations. Students who have completed an international baccalaureate program are also eligible to receive college credit and advanced placement. In addition, the School of Education provides exemptions for SAT math and ACT qualifying scores.

Licensure Programs Available to Boston University Students

College of Arts & Sciences students have the option to complete teacher licensure programs in secondary education by completing the required courses as a specialization, or through the Boston University Dual Degree Program. Students from other schools and colleges at Boston University must enter a licensure program only through the Boston University dual degree program or transfer to the School of Education. Through BU’s dual degree program, students may pursue a second degree in one of our 11 undergraduate programs. All non-SED Boston University students who wish to enter a licensure program must have a 2.0 GPA, a grade of B– or better in the course SED ED 100 Foundations of Education, and must also complete a licensure form, which is available through the SED Records Office.

BS Requirements

Each student seeking a Bachelor of Science must satisfactorily complete an approved program of study that includes a minimum of 128 semester credits. Some academic majors require in excess of 128 credits.

Freshman English All candidates for the Bachelor of Science are required to complete a full year of formal instruction in writing, based on the reading of enduring and exemplary works. The two-course sequence—CAS WR 100 Writing Seminar/CAS WR 150 Writing and Research Seminar—is the usual means of fulfilling this requirement.

For students whose first language is not English, placement in writing courses will be based upon additional evaluations. CAS WR 97 and CAS WR 98 are reserved for ESL students; these courses are taken in preparation for the required CAS WR 100/150 sequence.

Students will not be exempt from the two-semester CAS WR 100/150 sequence on the basis of SAT/ACT/AP scores. Students who complete CAS EN 220 will have met the requirement for CAS WR 150.

Students who complete the first-year humanities sequence of the Core Curriculum (CAS CC 101/102) satisfy the first semester of the requirement (WR 100). Students who complete the second year of the Core Curriculum (either the humanities sequence CAS CC 201/202 or the social science sequence CAS CC 201/202) satisfy the second semester of the requirement (WR 150).

College of General Studies students who complete RH 101 and RH 102 will be exempt from WR 100 and WR 150, with the exception of elementary and special education.

Liberal or General Studies At least 80 credits must be earned in the areas of liberal or general studies.

School of Education students who plan to pursue a dual degree program with the College of Arts & Sciences should refer to the list of courses acceptable toward divisional studies in the College of Arts & Sciences in this site.

Humanities A minimum of three semester courses is required, and these courses must be from more than one department.

Laboratory/Natural Science A minimum of two semester courses is required.

Mathematics For all students, a minimum of one semester course is required. This requirement also may be fulfilled by students with an SAT mathematics score of 580 or above, the ACT mathematics test score of 23 or higher, or AP calculus scores of 3 or higher, and AP statistics score of 3 or higher. Additional work may be required for licensure.

Social Science A minimum of three semester courses is required, and courses must be from more than one department.

Education Courses All undergraduate students are required to complete successfully SED ED 100 Introduction to Education, SED ED 410 Social Context of Education, and SED ED 412 Civic Context of Education. In addition, students are required to complete a special education course suitable to their licensure level. This course introduces students to the students with exceptional needs as well as the policies and practices that support them in schools. The remaining courses necessary to meet the minimum of 32 semester courses are earned in liberal or general education and professional education, in accordance with specific requirements in a student’s area of specialization. The distribution of work in this phase of the total program is subject to the approval of the student’s faculty advisor. Additional noncredit experiences may be necessary to meet program requirements.

Minors

SED undergraduates who wish to declare a minor concentration with the College of Arts & Sciences should obtain an Application for a Minor from the SED Student Records Office. Requirements are noted in the CAS Academic Department sections of this website. In addition, minors in dance, music performance, theatre, and visual arts from the College of Fine Arts are also available. SED students may also minor in journalism and mass communication (advertising, public relations) from the College of Communication.

The School of Education sponsors three minors for SED students, and for students enrolled in other schools and colleges within Boston University. Minors offered: education; deaf studies; and physical education, health education & coaching. These minors do not meet requirements for teacher licensure. Applications for these minors are available in the SED Student Records Office, Two Silber Way, Room 127. Non-SED students are encouraged to meet with Jacqueline Boyle, 617-353-3177, to discuss SED minor requirements.

Education Minor

The education minor is offered to undergraduate students at Boston University wishing to enhance their knowledge of education. Requirements include 16 credits of core courses and 8 credits of electives.

Core Courses (16 credits)

• SED ED 100/101 Introduction to Education (6 cr)
• SED ED 410 Social Context of Education (2 cr)
• SED ED 412 Civic Context of Education (2 cr)
• SED SE 250 Disability, Education, and Public Policy (4 cr)
• SED ED 2xx Topical Seminar (2 cr)

Electives (8 credits)

• SED CE 500 Introduction to Counseling (4 cr)
• SED CT 522 Character and Ethics Education (4 cr)
• SED DS 502 Adolescent Growth and Development (2 cr)
• SED EC 305 Child Development & Early Childhood Education (4 cr)
• SED EC 350 Introduction to Early Childhood Education (2 cr)
• SED EC 556 Children’s Literature for the Early Childhood Teacher (Pre-K–2) (2 cr)
• SED EC 557 Classroom-Based Assessment of Young Children (Pre-K–2) (2 cr)
• SED ED 2xx Topical Seminars (2 cr)
• SED HE 221 Foundations of Health Education (2 cr)
• SED LR 501 Teaching of Reading (4 cr)
• SED PE 211 Movement Education: Early Childhood to Adolescence (2 cr)
• SED PE 375 Psychology of Sport (4 cr)
• SED PE 501 Methods of Coaching (4 cr)
• SED SE 401 Special Education: Cognition and Learning (4 cr)
• SED SE 502 Behavioral & Emotional Problems: Characteristics and Methods (4 cr)
• SED SE 503 Learning Disabilities: Characteristics and Methods (4 cr)

Deaf Studies Minor

The deaf studies minor is offered to undergraduate students at Boston University wishing to enhance their knowledge of the history, language, and culture of deaf people. Students will complete 24 credits from the list below:

Core Courses (16 credits)

• SED DE 500 Introduction to the Deaf World
• SED DE 590 American Sign Language III
• SED DE 591 American Sign Language IV
• SED DE 592 ASL V: Advanced Grammar and Syntax
• SED DE 593 ASL VI: Academic Use of ASL for Math and Science

Electives (8 credits)

• SED DE 550 History and Culture of the Deaf
• SED DE 551 Deaf Literature and ASL Folklore
• SED DE 554 Field Experience: Deaf Studies
• SED DE 572 Psychology, Sociology, and the Deaf
• SED DE 672 American Sign Language Structure

Physical Education, Health Education & Coaching Minor

The physical education, health education & coaching minor is offered to undergraduate students at Boston University wishing to enhance their knowledge of physical education, health education, and coaching. Students will complete 14 credits of core courses and 6 credits of electives from the list below:

Core Courses (14 credits)

• SED ED 100/101 Introduction to Education (6 cr)
• SED PE 103 Introduction to Human Movement (2 cr)
• SED PE 250 Community Leadership through Youth Sport Coaching (2 cr)
• SED PE 211 Movement Education, Early Childhood to Adolescence (2 cr)

OR

• SED PE 101 Skills and Techniques in Motor Activities I (2 cr)

OR

• SED PE 513 Tuesday/Thursday Program—Pre-Practicum (2 cr)
• SED HE 221 Foundations of Health Education (2 cr)

Electives (6 credits)

• SED PE 211 Movement Education (2 cr)
• SED PE 501 Methods of Coaching (4 cr) (Sr. status)
• SED PE 506 Perceptual Motor Development (4 cr) (Sr. status)
• SED PE 508 Curriculum & Special Methods for Human Movement Education, 5–12 (4 cr) (Sr. status)
• SED PE 513 Tuesday/Thursday Program—Pre-Practicum (2 cr)
• SED PE 519 Corrective & Adaptive Physical Education (2 cr)
• SED PE 375 Psychology of Sport (4 cr)
• SED HE 522 Community Health (4 cr)
• SED HE 523 Applied Nutrition (4 cr)
• SED HE 722 Development of the Health Education Curriculum (4 cr) (Sr. status) or
• SED PE or HE summer term course at BU

Graduate

Applicants must apply and be admitted to a degree program in order to enroll as a degree candidate. A complete application for admission to a degree or Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) program includes the following:

• Application data forms
• Transcripts
• Two letters of reference
• Standard test scores (GRE, MAT, TOEFL, or IELTS)
• Statement of Qualifications and Objectives
• Analytical essay (EdD applicants only)
• Application Fee
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae (optional)
• Additional essay (optional)

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online. To request a paper application, please email sedgrad@bu.edu or call 617-353-4237. Detailed information about the admissions process can be found online at School of Education Admissions.

Recommended deadlines for SED graduate programs are listed on the website. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the recommended deadline. For specific programs such as Counseling and Education of the Deaf, applicants are required to apply by a particular deadline.

Applicants for the master’s degree must hold a bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent from an accredited institution. Applicants applying for the MAT must also meet subject area prerequisite requirements. Doctoral and CAGS candidates must hold a master’s degree or its international equivalent from an accredited institution.

Many School of Education graduate courses are open to students who wish to study on a nondegree basis. Nondegree students may register during regular registration periods for some graduate-level courses offered by the School of Education. For registration information, please contact the SED Student Records Office at 617‑353-4235. Please note, there is a limit to the number of credits that can be transferred into a graduate degree program. Master’s and CAGS students may transfer up to 8 credits into the program. Doctoral students may transfer up to 16 external credits or 20 internal credits into the program. Credits must be applicable. Faculty advisors have final approval over which credits will be accepted and applied to a particular degree program.