Teacher Education Degrees and Programs
The Department of Education offers programs leading to a B.S. degree in Elementary Education (K-6), Secondary Education (6-12), and Physical Education (K-12). The programs are approved by the Maine Department of Education.
Each program in the Department is undergirded by beliefs and values we hold about teaching and teacher preparation. The beliefs and values are articulated in the Conceptual Framework of the Department. The Framework has a knowledge base informed by research and best practices.
Each program consists of a General Education Curriculum, a subject area concentration, a sequence of professional education courses, including foundation and methods courses, and field and clinical experiences. The General Education Curriculum (40 semester hours) provides students with a broad foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. Courses that constitute the subject area concentration for each program provide learning opportunities for teacher candidates to develop concepts, values, skills, and methods of inquiry. Through the professional education courses, candidates gain knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions they need to help K-12 students in achieving Maine Learning Results and the Common Core. The combined effect of the General Education Curriculum, subject area concentration, professional education courses and field experiences is the preparation of candidates that meet Maine’s Common Core Teacher Standards.
Students in the UMPI Education program complete two individual interviews with Education faculty and staff. At the end of the first year of study, students complete a candidacy interview. During this time, students are asked to share their digital portfolio and initial submissions of program learning outcome evidence. Additionally, this interview provides time for discussion of the UMPI Education Conceptual Framework; takeaways from professional development and learning activities known as Breton Forums; field experiences; educational philosophy; professional dispositions and reflections on becoming an educator. The second interview, the exit interview, occurs at the end of the semester prior to student teaching. For Post-baccalaureate students, these interviews may be combined due to the accelerated timeline. The exit interview touches upon many of the same points of discussion as the candidacy interview and also includes more in-depth discussion of evidence of proficiency in the eleven Common Core Teaching Standards. In exit interviews, students have an opportunity to synthesize their learning and reflect on preparation for student teaching. Both interviews provide rich opportunities for individual student support and program feedback.
There is a Post-baccalaureate route to each of the programs. The route is designed for individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university but seek initial teacher certification. Post-baccalaureate teacher candidates range from individuals who have no experience in teaching to those who have experience as teacher aides, tutors, or paraprofessionals.
Professional Standing in Teacher Education
Education majors are closely monitored and supported by their advisor as they progress through the program. Tk20, an electronic portfolio system, is utilized to track and assess student progress regarding field experiences and Breton Forums throughout the Education program and also serves as the platform for the capstone portfolio as part of EDU 495 - Student Teaching.
All education majors are expected to work closely with their faculty advisors in the Education Program to follow the prescribed sequence of courses for their particular major. Students with advisors who are liberal arts & sciences faculty should confer each semester with a member of the teacher education faculty to keep abreast of changes in policies and requirements and for course approval.
Eligibility for Student Teaching
To be considered eligible for student teaching, the teacher education candidate must submit a completed application package to the Director of Student Teaching and Field Experience one full semester in advance of the anticipated practicum experience and also meet the following criteria by the end of the semester prior to student teaching:
- a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or greater;
- a 3.00 grade point average in the major and a 3.00 in the professional sequence;
- maintain the above GPA during the semester prior to student teaching;
- completed 100 credit hours, including methods courses;
- successfully completed candidacy interview;
- successfully completed exit interview, including sharing of a minimum of 3 pieces of evidence for each teaching standard in portfolio;
- Breton Forums (4 per academic year) recorded in TK20;
- documentation of successful background check resulting from fingerprinting through the Maine Department of Education;
- completion of appropriate background checks for jurisdictions outside of Maine;
- completed registration for EDU 495 .
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