GRADUATE PROGRAMS LEADING TO INITIAL TEACHER CERTIFICATION
The Department also supports three Master's programs
for candidates who have bachelor degrees in fields other than education
and wish to become certified to teach.
Master of Education with Certification Program / Website
The Maryland Master of Education with Certification
Program (MCert) for Elementary or Secondary Education is an alternative
teacher education program designed for highly educated and capable
persons who have completed baccalaureate degrees in a variety of
academic fields. Secondary Education applicants may be required
to take extra courses to bolster their academic content in some
concentration--in order to meet State requirements. The programs
support four themes from national and local reform agendas: 1. Inquiry
and reflection; 2. Teaching for understanding; 3. Teaching for diversity;
4. Building democratic learning communities.
MCert is an Outreach Program, which means the courses are not held
at College Park.
In addition, it is a 13-month, full-time program that leads to a
Master's of Education (M.Ed.) degree as well as eligibility for
Maryland State certification to teach in elementary or
secondary schools (Maryland has reciprocity with approximately 29
states. An updated reciprocity list can be viewed at: http://www.education.umd.edu/studentinfo/teacher_certification/reciprocalcertification.html).
The program admits one cohort of 20-25 candidates in elementary
education and individual cohorts in secondary core subject areas
(e.g., art, English, foreign languages, mathematics, science, and
social studies) each year. Teacher candidates start their studies
around the fourth week in June and finish the third week in June
the following year. (This program schedule mirrors the public school
academic year.) This translates into three four-week summer school
sessions and two full-time academic year semesters. Approximately
42 semester hours total required.
A unique feature of the program is providing teacher candidates
an opportunity to conduct
action research in their classroom. The curriculum is based on theory,
research and knowledge from five fields of inquiry - action research
conducted by experienced teachers; research from psychology, sociology,
anthropology, and philosophy that addresses the nature of teaching
and learning; studies of theory-based educational programs; research
on effective schools and educational leadership; and research on
learning to teach. The program includes carefully designed field
experiences.
Applicants to the Master's Certification Program must pass the
Praxis I and the Praxis II (content only) PRIOR to beginning the
program (see page 16). It is preferred that applicants pass these
tests prior to application. If not, and you are admitted, you will
be given provisional admission to meet this requirement prior to
the start of the program.
Teaching English To Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - with certification
Website
The TESOL Master’s (M.Ed.) degree with certification*
is designed for students who already have earned a bachelor’s
degree in any subject matter. This degree consists of the same requirements
as the TESOL M.Ed. with additional coursework as dictated under
the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Approved Program
contract for those candidates who intend to teach at the K-12 instructional
levels. In addition to the K-12 certification preparation, “certification
seeking” M.Ed. candidates, upon completion of their course
work, will be prepared to teach in post-secondary, adult education
and non-traditional instructional settings. In addition to Departmental
requirements, applicants must have prior experience in learning
as a foreign language, equivalent to two years, at the post-secondary
level.
International applicants must have taken the Test of English as
a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Written English (TWE) and
have achieved a score of 600 or above on the former and a minimum
score of 4 on the latter.
All TESOL M.Ed. with certification students are expected to acquire
advanced knowledge in current second language teaching methodology;
first and second language acquisition; second language assessment
and evaluation methodologies; trends/issues in Second Language Education
and Culture; research in Second Language Education and Culture,
cross-cultural communication; and, when appropriate, to further
their knowledge in second language listening, speaking, reading
and writing, culture and literature in ESOL.
Furthermore, master’s degree candidates are expected to apply
theory to research and practice in culturally and linguistically
diverse settings; participate in curriculum development and program
evaluation; develop critical perspectives derived from theory, research
and practice; and use research methodology for conducting disciplined
inquiry.
Candidates admitted to the TESOL M.Ed. with certification program
are required to successfully complete Praxis I PRIOR to beginning
the program (see page 14). Also candidates are required to successfully
complete Praxis II (content area assessments) prior to student teaching.
M.Ed. applicants must indicate on their admission application (under
area of specialization) if they intend to pursue TESOL with or without
certification.
Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE)
/ Website
This program is a collaborative effort between Montgomery County
Public Schools and University of Maryland at College Park. It is
a graduate program with successful completion resulting in a master’s
in education (M.Ed.) degree and eligibility for a teaching certificate*
in elementary education. The length of the program is two consecutive
years consisting of two summers and four semesters. During the academic
years, interns serve as full-time instructional assistants in a
Montgomery County elementary school and attend classes in the later
afternoon and early evening.
The mission of this program is to attract and prepare talented
support staff for classroom teaching positions in Montgomery County
Public Schools. Continuing emphasis is placed on recruiting a culturally
diverse population of CITE interns and providing them with the knowledge
and understanding to support an education that is multicultural
for all students at the elementary level. For further information
about the CITE program call or write:
Dr. Russ Fazio
CITE Coordinator
Department of Staff Development
Montgomery County Public Schools
Upcounty Regional Services Center
12900 Middlebrook Road College of Education
Germantown, MD 20874
(301) 601-4600
Russ_Fazio@mcpsmd.org
Dr. Dianne Bradley
CITE Coordinator
Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction
2311 Benjamin Building
University of Maryland at College Park
College Park, MD 20742-1175
Dianne_Bradley@fc.mcps.k12.md.us
Successful completion of Praxis I is required
PRIOR to beginning the program. Praxis II (content area assessments)
is required prior to student teaching.
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