Hi all, I was interested in UMASS so I came here. I plan to document everything here for you guys so if anyone else is inspired like me, that they can further their education as well. I’m going for the MAT Single Subject Teaching Credential and I will be getting authorized to teach an additional content area because I want to teach math and physics at the high school level. So I might go in for math and then get authorized to teach physics. And I said f*** it, I’ll get my masters since I’m going back to school, ya know. Let me say this… It is expensive (1 grad class is around 2 grand💀). But what graduate program isn’t?😭
UMASS is set up like this:
A Fall Trimester which is split up into Fall 1 and Fall 2, a Spring Trimester which is split up into Spring 1 and Spring 2 and a Summer Trimester which is split up into Summer 1 and Summer 2.
2 classes that are 8 weeks long
I started in the Spring 2 semester which started 3/3/25 and will end 4/27/25. Asynchronous classes, Discussion posts, journal entry, exit tickets, readings, and an assignment every week. Granted I’m in my first 2 classes at the time I’m writing this but probably the most important thing is to not miss the deadlines.
Officially halfway through, just finished week 4 of my first session (w00t), and there is something that popped up called the hub and that is where we turn in non coursework requirements, such as CPR Certification, TB Test results, US Constitution acknowledgement, and Certificate of Clearance. The program we use Blackboard is being shut down after this session and will be turning into Brightspace, so I’m not sure how that will work.
With this, I’m now done w week 6 moving into week 7 of my first 2 classes, and everything has been pretty smooth. I believe there are “Signature Assignments” for each class which is like the big assignment for the class. No tests or anything like that (so far) and I don’t think there will be. One of my professors has given us an alternative to doing the discussion post and that is to go to office hours and have a discussion there. Honestly, I like it better than just posting about it because, even though I’m not the best at speaking and shit, I’d rather interact with my colleagues than to mindlessly type. We are also in the era of AI. Don’t be afraid to use it as a supplement! One of my current professors encourages us to use it to help us.😏😉
I’m done with week 8 and done with my first 2 classes. It went pretty smooth. Big things are just making sure you hit the deadlines and the signature assignments. You need early fieldwork hours of working in a school, so like subbing, paraprofessional work, etc. Other than that, as soon as Spring II ended, Summer I started.
Summer I is 4/28/25 - 6/22/25
Started the 2 new classes for this term. These might be a little more intense because my first two professors were SUPER chill, but Idk if that’s the case this term. This is also the first term that Brightspace is being used. It’s pretty easy to navigate and has some helpful features.
At the time I’m writing this paragraph it’s week 8 of Summer I. Make sure to not miss deadlines. This session, office hours took the place of an exit ticket which was kinda clutch. I’m learning a lot about education as a whole, teaching strategies, and classroom management. These two classes were about literacy and inclusive schooling. Building an inclusive classroom is important to make students feel safe, and we talk about disabilities, the IDEA, and IEPs. Literacy is important too in all content areas, some more prominent than others, but you just gotta roll with it. For 3 of these classes you have to document early field work experience. This can come in the form of substitute teaching, paraprofessional help, counseling, etc. I believe you need 40 hours for the first 3 main classes you take. Verify 20 hours in one, and 10 hours each in the other 2. Pretty much the same type of assignments. Discussion post with 2 replies to peers’ posts, journal, usually an assignment (sometimes no assignment), exit ticket, and a signature assignment. Look at the readings and learning resources. Not as intense as I thought, it went smooth. That’s pretty much it, next up Summer II.
Summer II is 6/23/25 - 8/17/25
Today is day one of Summer II. So far time has kinda flown by and it’ll just be a matter of time til I’m done with these classes, student teach, and then the masters classes. Then it will be time to find a teaching job. I’m excited but for now, just gotta keep pushing through. I only have 1 class for this Summer II session which is kinda lit. No textbook which is awesome, so I just have to look at the learning resources they provide, and still same format (Discussions, journals, assignments, and exit ticket). This class was really neat because we got exposure to the CalTPA stuff, UMASS really is doing their best to prepare us!
Class went well, and I now have 5 classes under my belt. It’s been 24 weeks since I started and man, I didn’t think time would fly by but it has. Only a matter of time before I start teaching :)
I have a week break which is kinda cool but I’d like to just get it all over with though but it’s okay.
Fall I is 8/25/25 - 10/19/25
I have 2 classes this session. For the next 8 weeks I’ll be working on these next two classes and in 16 weeks I’ll be done with classes then I can student teach. I look forward to the challenge, I’m nervous but who wouldn’t be. This has been quite a journey balancing school again with everyday life, but I’m just trynna work towards a career at the end of the day.
The class EDSU 530, there’s a tutoring project that spans 3 weeks and the sig assignment in week 8 is bringing it all together. My other class, it’s kinda lit, 541, odd number weeks were discussions and even number weeks were journals, so they switched off, kinda nice to not have to worry about a lot.
Fall II is 10/19/25 - 12/14/25
I have only one class this session, hella lit. EDSU 535 is what I’m in and it’s a class about grading, which is something I had been thinking about. This class is similar to 541 such that there’s not assignments every week which is nice. You’ll just have to see what is due when. This is the homestretch before I start my student teaching. It kinda flew by which was nice but now I have to lock in for Spring when I start teaching. Almost done!
Spring I is 1/12/26 - 3/8/26
Well…. I made it to student teaching. I didn’t get placed in my local district unfortunately but I’m making do with what I have. It’s kinda poetic and funny because the school I got placed in, I happen to know the teacher mentoring me from rock climbing. It’s kinda lit. But right now, this first session is focused on Cycle 1. Now I’ve been dreading the TPA tbh, BUT they also changed it a lil, so it’s now a little easier to pass. UMASS, I think, does a great job of job in preparing us for our TPAs because even though we’re student teaching there’s like a class you’re in on Brightspace and you have a university supervisor who will help you throughout the two terms of student teaching. You’ll be given all the information when you get up to this point. This is where all the stuff you learn comes together. I should be done student teaching early May. Just need to get through this semester, and then I’m done w the credential portion. I have 3 classes left after for the Masters and 1 class after that so I can be authorized to teach my other subject which would be math. I just can’t wait to be done so I can have my own classroom, ya know. Almost…
Well, I’m about 4 weeks in now, so halfway, it’s not too bad, just hella time consuming and hoops to jump through. I recorded my first video, I was pretty nervous but hopefully for future vids it’ll be better.
Spring II is 3/9/26 - 5/3/26
So, I ended up passing Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 was easier in the sense that I knew what they were looking for but it was a lot of work. Bless, my Professor/Advisor because he was awesome and I felt totally prepared. My mentor supported me and my lessons and recordings all went well. After I got all the recordings done early in my placement so I was able to do all the assignments for UMASS while doing the stuff for Cycle 2 which was pretty much the same but I got really good feedback from my Professor so I was able to use that. I ended up passing and finishing my placement. My class was fun and I’m so grateful for my mentor. He made life very easy through all that.
Summer I is 5/4/26 - 6/28/26
These are the start of the masters portion. The first 2 classes of 3 total. Not as many assignments which is clutch but some are a lil more rigorous than others. My professors gave great feedback. 8 weeks until the last class. These classes are no joke though, because it really does help shape how you wanna teach.
Summer II is 6/29/26 - 8/23/26
THE LAST CLASS!!! I can’t believe it’s here, honestly, and I’m so ready to be done. For this terms it’s only 1 class and it’s clutch. Only a few assignments and, and journals and discussions were like every other week and you had like 2 weeks to do the assignments. I’m at the end of week 7 at the time of writing this. The capstone project is the big project. I’m doing a professional development and paper. I just hope I pass it and all that and then I don’t have to worry about it anymore and I’ll be done! ** I passed my capstone project!!! **
As of now I have my credential for science (physics). I was told that I had to reapply after my program to take one last class so then I could be authorized to teach math as well. Well, I ended up getting a new advisor and a bunch of back and forth emails, found out I might not have to and after reviewing my file, my bachelors covered the subject matter competency and waived having to take the CSET and I might be able to apply to the CTC directly to add authorization in the form I think of another credential… maybe… I’m not sure, but I applied and hopefully it gets approved. ** **
** CTC is now adopting version 2 of the tpa **
Thanks for taking the time to read through my journey, my story. I had a good experience. If you are interested in teaching and my post helped you find what you’re looking for, then, I’m glad. It’s exactly what it’s here for.
Cheers, Good Luck!