Education Program

Lemberg Children's Center has been recognized as an outstanding early childhood education program in the Boston area. After volunteering or doing work study at Lemberg, some students choose to student teach (for 35 hours/week) at Lemberg. Prerequisites for early childhood student teaching are PSYC 33a, ED 100a, a literacy course, and one approved elective.

These courses will fulfill the Department of Early Education and Care requirements for certification as a lead teacher in infant-toddler and/or preschool. Please note that this is different from the Mass. early childhood (pre-K to grade 2) teacher licensure. Students interested in teaching pre-K to grade 2 should enroll in the elementary education minor.  

For more information on the preschool minor, consult Howie Baker, director of the Lemberg Children's Center and Rachel Kramer Theodorou, Elementary Faculty Leader of the Education Program.

Students preparing to become elementary teachers should choose a major appropriate to the instructional field and must also be able to demonstrate subject matter knowledge in literature, American and world history, child development, science and mathematics.

Course requirements for the elementary teacher education minor include:

Prior to Senior Year

• ED 100a Exploring Teaching, Elementary and Preschool includes three hours per week lab observations in a local public school, Jewish Day School or Lemberg Children's Center and should be taken in the fall semester of either the freshman or sophomore year.

• PSYC 33a Developmental Psychology (prerequisite: PSYC 10a).

• MATH 3a Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers (unless waived upon advisor review). Please note this course is offered during spring semester of alternate years.

• Additional coursework to meet MA subject matter knowledge requirements for 1-6 MA Elementary certification. Contact the Elementary Faculty Leader, Rachel Kramer Theodorou for course selection approvals.

Senior Year

Fall: Classroom Teaching Practicum I is the equivalent of 14 hours or two days/week (roughly two days) in the classroom. Undergraduates must complete all general requirements, the Brandeis Core, and requirements for their majors and other minors by the end of fall semester.

• ED 211a Classroom Teaching Practicum I (equivalent of 14 hours or two days/week)
• ED 214a Reflective Teaching Seminar I
• ED 232a Elementary Teaching and Learning II:  Literacy
• ED 235a Elementary Teaching and Learning:  Math
• ED 204a Teaching Multilingual Learners II (2 credits)
• ED 205a Special Education, Teaching for Inclusion I (2 credits)

Spring: Students are expected to take ONLY Teacher Education courses.

• ED 212a Classroom Teaching Practicum II (five full days/week)
• ED 215a Reflective Teaching Seminar II
• ED 233a Elementary Teaching and Learning III:  Science, Social Studies & the Arts

Students should consult the Elementary Faculty Leader, Rachel Kramer Theodorou, regarding these and other program requirements as soon as possible, preferably during the first or fall of the sophomore year.

Students preparing to become middle or high school teachers must choose a major in a content area they will teach during their senior year. These include English, history, sciences, math, and five world languages. The only exception is that students may complete a math minor and do their student teaching in mathematics.

Course requirements for the undergraduate education minor for middle or high-school teaching include:

Prior to  Senior Year

• ED 100b Exploring Teaching: Secondary

• PSYC 36b Adolescence and the Transition to Maturity (prerequisite: PSYC 10a)


• Required courses for the major in the subject area for teaching. These courses must fulfill Subject Matter Knowledge required for the Massachusetts initial teaching license.

Students should consult the Director of Teacher Education, Danielle Igra, regarding these and other program requirements as soon as possible, preferably during the first or sophomore year.

Senior Year

Fall: Classroom Teaching Practicum I is the equivalent of 14 hours or two days/week (roughly two days) in the classroom. Undergraduates must complete all general requirements, the Brandeis Core, and requirements for their majors and other minors by the end of fall semester.

• ED 211a Classroom Teaching Practicum I (equivalent of 14 hours or two days/week)
• ED 214a Reflective Teaching Seminar I
• ED 204a Teaching Multilingual Learners II (2 credits)
• ED 205a Special Education, Teaching for Inclusion I (2 credits)

Spring: Students are expected to take ONLY Teacher Education courses.

• ED 212a Classroom Teaching Practicum II (five full days/week)
• ED 215a Reflective Teaching Seminar II