SWAGÊÓƵ

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’s Degree of Science. Maine State requirements mandate twenty-four (24) credits in a discipline area. Students must either choose to double major in Middle and Secondary Education along with a major in an academic discipline that leads to certification or major in Middle and Secondary Education with an academic area concentration (twenty-four (24) credits). Academic disciplines at SWAGÊÓƵ leading to secondary certification are: Biology (and associated life science majors), Chemistry, English, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, History, Marine Biology, Mathematics and Political Science. The Education programs provide professional teacher preparation courses culminating in a semester of student teaching.

There are three (3) paths that students can select from as a Middle and Secondary Education Major. Each student must select at least one (1) of these paths.

Double Major

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a major in Middle and Secondary Education with Certification may double major in an academic area that leads to a second Bachelor of Science degree. Options include Life Sciences, Applied Mathematics, and Physical Science.

Dual Degree

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a major in Middle and Secondary Education with Certification may dual degree in an academic area that leads to a second major that is not a Bachelor of Science degree. Options include English and History (Social Studies).

Concentration

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a major in Middle and Secondary Education with Certification may pursue an academic area concentration. Concentrations are available in Applied Mathematics, Biology, English, Environmental Science, History, Marine Science, Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics), and Physical Education.

Middle and Secondary Education Certification Program Requirements

*For the Double Major option, students can find requirements for their selected major here: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Marine Sciences, Applied Mathematics.
**For the Duel Degree option, students can find requirements for their selected major here: Art, English, and Political Science.
***For the Concentration option, students can find requirements for their selected area in the Concentrations section below.

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 SWAGÊÓƵ 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 approximately sixty (60) credit hours 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 up until their second to last semester (i.e., students graduating in Spring must meet Advanced Standing by the beginning of the previous Fall semester.

Student Teaching

Without specific permission from the School of Education Academic 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 reached Advanced Standing to apply.

The selection of individual internship sites will be made by the Certification and Placement Officer. Geographical location relative to SWAGÊÓƵ is a consideration. SWAGÊÓƵ 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 SWAGÊÓƵ. Students may not be permitted to accept a contracted teaching position (e.g., long-term substituting, year-long 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 SWAGÊÓƵ 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.

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

CONCENTRATION IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS

Maine Certification Area: 300 Math (MAT)

Concentration in Biology

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

*See Biology topic area courses

Concentration in English

Maine Certification Area: 100 ENG/LA (ENG)

*See a list of Diversity and Global Literacy 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, HIS, ECO, POL)

*HIS 290 – Historical Research Methods & Writing recommended

Concentration in Marine Science

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

**See area 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)

Middle and Secondary Education with Certification With Physical Education Concentration

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 with an academic discipline concentration and then add the twenty-five (25)-credit concentration enabling the student to be certified in Secondary Education and get a Conditional Certification in Physical Education. Please note, Physical Education is not a stand-alone concentration.

All coursework, including the internship, should be completed within a five (5)-year timeframe. 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.

Individuals who have full acceptance in the Teaching Certification Program can transfer up to, but no more than six (6) education credits from other universities.

In-service or workshop-type courses that do not carry college credit will not be accepted for transfer equivalency.

No course of any kind will be accepted from other institutions after your acceptance into the program at SWAGÊÓƵ without a course equivalency granted prior to the course being taken.

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.