All candidates are supported with a strong, on-going advising component for the entire duration of their
program. This includes M.Ed. only candidates as well as all candidates seeking initial or professional
licensure. The advising is accomplished within the context of a required course that is part of the
candidate's Plan of Study.
This "homeroom" cohort environment ensures accurate completion of the candidate's Plan of Study as well
as fostering collegiality and establishing an important support system for all cohort members.
Leahy-Brine has no licensure "middle man." Because we have DOE- approved programs ourselves,
we deal directly with the DOE for all licensure issues, both initial and professional.
Leahy-Brine has 24 DOE-approved district-based Initial Licensure fields.
Candidates can take an 18-credit stand-alone Initial Licensure program or the 18 credits can be embedded
into the Fitchburg State College 36-credit Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching. (All initial
licensure courses are part of the 36-credit Fitchburg State College Master of Education in Curriculum and
Teaching.) The stand-alone Initial License program is designed to be completed in 4 semesters; the 36-
credit M.Ed. with the embedded Initial Licensure program is designed to be completed in 5 semesters.
Leahy-Brine has 15 DOE-approved district-based Professional Licensure fields.
Candidates can take a 12-credit stand-alone Professional Licensure program or the 12-credits can be
embedded into the Fitchburg State College 36-credit Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching.
(All Professional Licensure courses are part of the 36-credit Fitchburg State College Master of Education in
Curriculum and Teaching.) Both the stand-alone Professional Licensure Program and the 36-credit M.Ed.
with the embedded Professional Licensure Program are designed to be completed in 4 semesters.
To obtain Professional License through Catherine Leahy-Brine, no other courses need to be
taken after completion of the stand-alone Professional Licensure program or the 36-credit
M.Ed. with the embedded Professional Licensure program.
All licensure courses, both Initial and Professional, are part of the 36-credit Fitchburg State
College Master of Education program offered through Catherine Leahy Brine.
Leahy-Brine can be, if the candidate so desires, a continuous program that brings the Preliminary License
to Initial, then the Initial to Professional. Candidates can do this seamlessly with one company and one
college.
The Initial License in these license areas may be taken as a stand-alone licensure program or embedded into the Fitchburg State College Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching.
