Dean: Dr. Barbara A. Marinak

Director of Teacher Education: Dr. Stacey Brown-Hobbs (Chair)

Professor: Dr. Barbara A. Marinak

Associate Professors: Dr. Laura Corbin Frazier, Dr. Patrick A. Ryan, Dr. Ernest Solar, Dr. Michelle M.Z. Ohanian

Assistant Professors:  Dr. Kara J. Brady

Lecturers: Dr. Angela Mucci, Clark Kole

The School of Education is committed to the preparation of teachers for today and for tomorrow. A broad and integrated liberal arts core is a foundation for teachers at all levels. Through the core curriculum, prospective teachers (a) acquire the essential skills of analytical thought and self-expression, (b) gain and integrate knowledge in various disciplines, (c) acquire an understanding of other cultures and other times, (d) develop an awareness of the various facets of moral and ethical problems, and (e) achieve a high degree of personal fulfillment. To complement the core curriculum, a sequence of professional courses allows prospective teachers to (a) gain general and specialized knowledge in one or more content areas, (b) gain knowledge about past and current theories of education, (c) develop a thorough knowledge of child growth and development, and (d) develop the appropriate skills for effective classroom teaching.

Statement of Purpose

Complemented by a liberal arts education in a Catholic setting, the teacher education unit of Mount St. Mary’s University develops educators who are proficient in content and pedagogy, reflective, and ethical professionals dedicated to leadership in an increasingly diverse technological and global society.

Programs culminate in the earning of a Mount St. Mary’s degree. As all Mount education programs are approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), successful completion of all program requirements leads to eligibility for certification to teach in Maryland. Students are advised, however, to consult certification requirements in states of interest early in their study. Teacher education programs are accredited through the Association for Advancing Quality Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

Note: Declaring an Education Major does not guarantee admission to and retention in the programs in teacher education.

Student Learning Outcomes

Mount St. Mary’s develops educators who are able to:

• Demonstrate the content and pedagogical knowledge, skills and dispositions to effect student learning (proficient)
• Examine learning to shape their practice (reflective)
• Demonstrate commitment to the diversity, dignity, equality and rights of the individual (ethical)
• Demonstrate leadership as active participants in the education community (leading)
• Respond to the demands of an increasingly diverse technological and global society (adaptive)

Requirements for Entering Teacher Education Programs

Submit an “Application for Admission” to the chair upon completion of the 200-level courses in education. For transfer students this may coincide with admission to the University. The School of Education determines the admission status.

Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. All courses required for the major must be passed with a minimum grade of C-. 

Achieve a minimum required score on the dispositions writing prompt and resume.

Requirements for Teacher Internship

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• Recommendation of the chair.
• Students must arrange their own transportation for all field experiences and internship placements.
• Some internships require additional fees.

Incomplete Policy for Internships and Practicums

Due to the nature of teaching internships and advanced practicums, a student receiving a grade of I (Incomplete) may be required to defer the completion of the internship/practicum until the next time the experience is offered, which may be during the following academic year. Requirements of state performance assessments, internship/practicum assessments, and/or reassigned internship/practicum placements could require the candidate to participate in the experience in its entirety.

Program Completion and Certification

All teacher applicants who do not have a GPA of 3.0 on their most recently earned degree must present qualifying scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) tests or meet the PPST^®, the SAT^®, ACT^® test or GRE^® General Test requirements.

In order to apply for certification through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), a teacher candidate must be a program completer. 

For specific details about seeking Maryland certification, consult the Maryland State Department of Education Certification Branch

http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/pages/dee/certification/index.aspx

Partnership Schools

The University enjoys a long-standing partnership with elementary, middle and high schools in Frederick County, MD. The School of Education also established a Catholic school partnership in the local area. Field placements and internships occur with partner schools as outlined by a signed Memo of Understanding agreement between the school system and the School of Education. Teacher candidates are provided equitable access to field placements and a year-long internship in a partner school. Exceptions can be made for candidates who are employed as teachers of record in schools not identified in the partnership. The Mount’s field placement coordinator, working in concert with the Director of Teacher Education and school principals, arranges field and internship placements. A mentor teacher and University supervisor support candidates’ professional development toward meeting the Mount’s benchmarks. Upon graduation, students are expected to demonstrate standards-based teaching that is measured through evaluation of teaching performance and portfolio assessment. The School of Education uses benchmarks aligned to the standards of the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) for evaluating student performance. Teacher candidates are also expected to demonstrate the personal dispositions that relate to successful teaching.

Programs

• Instructional Design and Technology, B.A.

• Elementary Education with Early Childhood Education, B.S.
• Elementary Education with Special Education and Early Childhood Education, B.S.
• Elementary Education with Special Education, B.S.
• Elementary Education, B.S.
• Secondary Education Social Studies, B.S.

• Art Certification (P-12)
• Certification in Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)
• World Languages Certification (P-12)

• Education Minor