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The mission of the School of Education is to prepare lifelong reflective educators who exhibit flexibility, compassion, collaboration, and student-centered pedagogy knowledge and skills.

The School of Education offers strong experiential, student-centered, and responsive program preparing students to develop:

• Knowledge of content and instructional practice
• Professional dispositions
• Pedagogical skills

Our vision is to prepare future educators to have an exponential impact on the lives of their students and the broader community.

The core values that drive the School of Education and guide our ethos, principles, and standards are:

• Knowledgeable Professionals
• Collaborative Practitioners
• Inclusive and Culturally Competent Educators
• Reflective Life-Long Learners

Students complete a four (4)-year curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Elementary Education and earn Maine certification. É«ÏãÊÓƵ has reciprocity with the majority of states in the United States including New England.

Please note: While some courses can fulfill both core and program requirements, the credits earned do not count twice towards the minimum total required credits for the degree. 

*Students pursuing the Physical Education Concentration should see the Concentration Tab below for the course list.

This program requires an overall minimum 2.5 GPA in the major.

FIELD EXPERIENCE

The faculty in the School of Education is committed to ongoing and frequent observation and involvement in schools. The teacher education programs at É«ÏãÊÓƵ have a specific competency-based focus to meet the Maine standards for teacher certification. All students engaged in teacher preparation will spend time in a field setting in each of the semesters for which they are registered for professional education courses. Involvement in the schools will be connected to specific, course-related tasks (e.g., observation, teaching lessons, conducting experiments, administering assessments, etc.). Transportation to and from schools is the responsibility of the student.

ADVANCED STANDING

All students in education certification programs must apply for admission to Advanced Standing when they have completed at least three (3) semesters and completed at least three (3) education courses. To apply for Advanced Standing, students must develop a portfolio demonstrating how they have met proficiency in the following areas: a) teaching skills, knowledge, and disposition aligned with the Maine Common Core Teaching Standards; b) basic academic skills; and c) professional skills. This portfolio is evaluated by a committee of education faculty, and a pass/fail determination is made based on a holistic rubric.

Students not meeting the Advanced Standing criteria do not remain enrolled in a certification program and MUST change their major to a non-certification major. Students can reapply for Advanced Standing upon completion of each additional semester. Students must pass by the semester before scheduled student teaching (i.e., pass Dec. 1 for Spring student teaching; pass May 1 for Fall student teaching).

STUDENT TEACHING

Without specific permission from the School of Education Director, courses may not be taken during the internship semester, so all required coursework must be completed the semester prior to the internship. Admission to the internship is not guaranteed and students must have passed Advanced Standing to apply.

The selection of individual internship sites will be made by the Certification and Placement Officer. Geographical location relative to É«ÏãÊÓƵ is a consideration. É«ÏãÊÓƵ has a collaborative relationship with many districts and selects both schools and teachers based on their interest in and ability to assist interns in demonstrating mastery of the Maine Common Core Teaching Standards. Placement in an internship is not guaranteed. The School of Education reserves the right to deny requests for courtesy internship placement for reasons it deems appropriate or necessary. The University, at its discretion, will not place students in internship settings (1) where an intern's children or relatives are enrolled, or (2) where a spouse or relative of an intern is currently employed. The School of Education, through its Certification and Placement Officer, will make a good-faith effort to negotiate an appropriate placement. Schools have the right to refuse placement requests. The fifteen (15)-week student teaching experience must be done in a local Maine Public School that is in an established internship protocol with the University of New England. Students may not be permitted to accept a contracted teaching position (e.g., long-term substituting, yearlong internship) before completing at least half a semester of student teaching internship. However, student teaching interns may be permitted to sub on a day-to-day basis for their classroom teacher.

Professional Educator Review Board

All students enrolled in the internship must demonstrate their teaching competence with respect to Maine Common Core Teaching Standards before the Professional Educator Review Board (PERB). The Board is comprised of professional educators from area schools as well as É«ÏãÊÓƵ faculty. Students are required to develop a presentation reflecting their proficiency in meeting these state standards and present and defend the presentation in front of the Board. Passing PERB is a requirement for completion of the certification program and subsequently being recommended to the Maine State Department of Education for teacher licensure.

School of Education Learning Outcomes

At the completion of their bachelor's degree, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate mastery of the Maine Common Core Teaching Standards.
• Demonstrate professionalism through accountability and engagement.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats.
• Demonstrate appropriate dispositions as defined by professional expectations.

Elementary Education Certification with Physical Education Concentration Curricular Requirements

The Physical Education Concentration includes twenty-five (25) credits offered through the Exercise and Sport Performance Department. This twenty-five (25)-credit concentration needs to be added to either an Elementary or Middle and Secondary Education Major.

To complete this concentration a student can major in Elementary Education and then add the twenty-five (25)-credit concentration enabling the student to be certified in Elementary Education and get a Conditional Certification in Physical Education. Please note, Physical Education is not a stand-alone concentration.

CONCENTRATION IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS

Maine Certification Area: 300 Math (MAT)

CONCENTRATION IN Biology

Maine Certification Area: 395 Life Science (BIO, ENV, MAR)

*See Biology Curricular Requirements

CONCENTRATION IN English

Maine Certification Area: 100 ENG/LA (ENG)

*See a list of elective options

CONCENTRATION IN Environmental Science

Maine Certification Area: 395 Life Science (BIO, ENV, MAR)

CONCENTRATION IN History

Maine Certification Area: 200 Social Studies (GEOG, GIS, ECO, POL)

*HIS 290 – Historical Research Methods & Writing Recommended

CONCENTRATION IN Marine Science

Maine Certification Area: 395 Life Science (BIO, ENV, MAR)

*See a list of marine science elective options

CONCENTRATION IN Physical Science – Chemistry Track

Maine Certification Area: 350 Physical Science (CHE, PHY)

CONCENTRATION IN Physical Science – Multi-Disciplinary Track

Maine Certification Area: 350 Physical Science (CHE, PHY)

CONCENTRATION IN Physical Science – Physics Track

Maine Certification Area: 350 Physical Science (CHE, PHY)

Please note: While some courses can fulfill both core and program requirements, the credits earned do not count twice towards the minimum total required credits for the degree.

Courses completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the required courses offered at É«ÏãÊÓƵ in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives.

All courses completed must be no older than five (5) years. Other restrictions apply.

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

All coursework, including the internship, should be completed within a five (5)-year time frame. A delay beyond the five (5) years might warrant the retaking of coursework. Furthermore, if state certification requirements change prior to your completion even within the five (5)-year timeframe, those changes must be incorporated into a revised program plan, in order to meet state certification regulations.

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.