Javascript is currently not supported, or is disabled by this browser. Please enable Javascript for full functionality.
   
    Dec 08, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  President’s Message
  University Overview
  Officers and Faculty

  Academic Calendar

  Admission
  Financial Aid
  Student Financial Services

  Abbreviations
  Course Descriptions
  Academic Programs
  Academic Program Inventory
  Colleges and Programs
  Honors College
  University Wide Academic Programs

  Core Curriculum Requirements - UMaine Orono
  Core Requirements - UM Machias

  Academic Standing
  Enrollment Status
  Degree Requirements for Graduation
  Grades and Grading
  Official Records

  Credit for Prior Learning
  Test Credit Tables
  Transfer Credit

  Auxiliary Enterprises
  Facilities and Centers
  Student Services and Facilities

  Graduate Catalog
  Disclaimers
  My Portfolio
HELP
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Secondary Education

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Program Inventory

OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major:  B or better in all professional education classes is required.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 to be eligible to apply for teacher candidacy and to student teach.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: 12 credits of EHD 491  for students in the Teaching Option or a passing grade in EHD 493  for students in the non-teaching option.

Contact Information: The Advising Center, 102 Shibles Hall, (207) 581-2441 or email the Advising Center at: advisingcenter@maine.edu

This program is offered at the main campus of the University of Maine in Orono.

The college’s educator preparation programs emphasize a diverse liberal arts background and highly relevant professional training. The undergraduate teacher education programs are fully accredited by The Council for the Advancement of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the State of Maine. Students graduate from our programs and enter the teaching profession with experience, an authentic view of schools, and an understanding that teaching, learning, and professional development are lifetime endeavors.

In their second year of study students apply for teacher candidacy by submitting a portfolio that includes a transcript of their academic work to date which reflects a grade point average of at least 2.75, an analysis of one field experience in a 6-12 classroom, a minimum of B in ENG 101 , and minimum 3.0 GPA in 6 credits of Mathematics. If the minimum grade requirement is not met, a passing score for the state of Maine for the appropriate PRAXIS CORE subtest(s) is sufficient.  NOTE: As a State of Maine approved program, we will adhere to state certification requirements and adapt our program to meet changing state regulations. For example, students are now required to have an average of B or higher in 45 credits of the content specialization area OR a passing score for Maine on the corresponding Praxis 2 exam (test code 5038 English, 5235 Life Science/Biology, 5161 Mathematics, 5245/5435/5265 Physical Science, 5081 Social Studies, 5174 French, 5195 Spanish) prior to student teaching. For more information about the state required PRAXIS exam, visit the EDHD website.  Students accepted to teacher candidacy at the end of their second year become immersed in the daily life and issues of public school during an intensive Education curriculum, a prelude to student teaching. During student teaching, future teachers learn and teach along with veteran teachers and get involved in many efforts to address the needs of students and schools.

Areas of Specialization in the Secondary Education program are:

*English

*World Languages (French and Spanish)

*Life Sciences

*Physical Sciences

*Mathematics

*Social Studies

General Requirements

While satisfying general education requirements, students must enroll in at least one course providing substantive instruction in topics relevant to the teaching of Native American Studies
(NAS).

Professional Core Courses-Prior to Teacher Candidacy

In order to be admitted to Teacher Candidacy and upper level courses in education, students must complete the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of B, and achieve an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75.  They must also fulfill all portfolio requirements, including minimum grades for ENG 101  and 6 credits of Math  (or passing appropriate Praxis CORE subtests), CHRC approval and successful completion of EHD 298 . 

Field Experience Requirement

At Teacher Candidacy, elementary and secondary education students must complete a minimum of 60 total hours of approved field experiences in PK-12 public school settings and EHD 298  for at least 1 credit. Students will complete an additional 90 field experience hours before enrolling in EHD 400 . 

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in order to be eligible for EHD 298 , EHD 400 , EHD 490 , and EHD 498 .  A grade of B or higher is required in EHD 400  and EHD 498 .

Professional Pre-Education Courses (Grade of B or higher required)

These classes are taken upon admission to Teacher Candidacy; a grade of B or higher is required in each.

Professional Education Courses (Grade of B or higher required)

These classes are taken upon admission to Teacher Candidacy and competition of Professional Pre-Education Courses; a grade of B or higher is required in each.

Student Teaching Internship Courses (Grade of B or higher required)

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in order to be eligible for the Student Teaching Internship.  A grade of B or higher is required in each class.

Required Courses in Suggested Sequence for the B.S. in Secondary Education

Sequence varies based on concentration (i.e., English, world languages, mathematics, sciences, or social studies).

First Year

 

Second Year

 

Third Year

Students must be accepted into Teacher Candidacy prior to taking the courses below.

Fourth Year - Fall Semester

  • Credits: 1-6 (Students in this major, must take 3-6 credits)

  • Methods courses in Discipline Area available FALL SEMESTER ONLY:

    • English Specialization:   ERL 441  
    • Social Studies Specialization: ESS 441  
    • Science Specialization (Life or Physical): ESC 452  
    • Math Specialization:  EMA 405  
    • World Language Specialization: EHD 466  (offered every ODD FALL SEMESTER)
  • Specialization/Content Requirements Credits: 6-12

Fourth Year - Spring Semester

 

English Specialization

A total of at least 39 credit hours are required. Students must have a minimum GPA of a B in their academic specialization to graduate or have passed the appropriate Praxis 2 subtest to graduate.

1. Knowledge of Literature (18 total hours)

A. Foundations of Literary Analysis

B. One genre-based course

This course must focus on a genre - other than narrative fiction (e.g. a course based primarily on texts in genres such as drama, poetry, non-fiction, hypertext)

C. One course in multicultural or gender literature

This course must provide a thematic overview of a topic relevant to multicultural or gender literature
or be based on a syllabus that is inclusive of a wide range of cultural, racial, and gender perspectives)

D. Two courses in historical or interdisciplinary literary studies

These courses must focus on historical or interdisciplinary literary studies, which may include surveys of national literatures.

2. Knowledge of Language Development, History of Language, Grammer, Dialogues, Purposes of Language (3 hours)

3. Knowledge of Written and Oral Discourse 12 hours (9 written, 6 oral)

a.  Written: ENG 101 - College Composition  and one of the following: ENG 201 - Strategies for Writing Across Contexts  or  ENG 215 - Theories and Practices of Writing  

And Upper level Writing: ENG 301  

b.  Oral discourse (6 credits)

Two of the following: 

CMJ 102 - Communication for Resilience and Connection  

CMJ 103 - Public Speaking  

CMJ 106 - Storytelling  

4. English Coursework 6 hours at 300 level or higher

  • ENG Elective
  • ENG Elective 300 or higher

Methods Courses: English

World Languages Specialization

Students majoring in French or Spanish require a total of 30 credits hours above the intermediate level (i.e. at the 300 and 400 level); at least 12 credits must be at the 400 level, plus ERL 472 - Language and Linguistics . Students must have a minimum GPA of a B in their academic specialization to graduate or have passed the appropriate Praxis subtest to graduate.  Coursework will be taken in the following areas: applied skills in the language, literature, linguistics, and culture.  If students enter college with some degree of language proficiency, they are required to take the placement test administered by the Department of Modern Languages and Classics prior to enrolling in a language class. Students are required to declare a second major in French or Spanish.

Specialization in French (Required Courses):

Specialization in Spanish (Required Courses):

Methods Courses: World Languages

Mathematics Specialization

A total of at least 36 credit hours are required. Students must have a B in their academic specialization to graduate or have passed the appropriate Praxis subtest to graduate.

Courses

The following courses require a C or higher: MAT 126 , MAT 127 , MAT 228 , MAT 261 , MAT 262  

Math Electives (12 required)

Recommended Math Electives:

Students must take 12 additional credits chosen from among MAT 259 , any MAT course at the 300-level or higher, or any STS course at the 300-level or higher. Recommended courses include: STS 434 , STS 437 , MAT 259 , MAT 425 , MAT 345 , MAT 471 , MAT 475 , MAT 463 , MAT 465 , and MAT 481 .

Methods Courses: Mathematics

Science Specializations: Life Sciences

A total of at least 38 credit hours are required. Students must have a minimum GPA of a B in their academic specialization to graduate or have passed the Praxis 2 subtest to graduate.

General Requirements:

  • Mathematics: A grade of C or better in MAT 116 , MAT 122  or MAT 126  or no grade in any of these and a passing score on the Math Placement Exam.

Electives for Life Sciences

Methods Courses: Life Sciences

Science Specializations: Physical Sciences

A total of at least 34 credit hours are required. Students must have a minimum GPA of a B in their academic specialization to graduate or have passed the Praxis 2 stubtest to graduate. All students in secondary physical science education must complete the General Requirements, and then select one concentration (chemistry, earth science, or physics).

General Requirements (15 credits)

  • Mathematics: A grade of C or better in MAT 116 , MAT 122  or MAT 126  or no grade in any of these and a passing score on the Math Placement Exam. If opting for the Physics concentration, MAT 127  will be the second math class

Option 1: Chemistry Concentration (must be at least 19 credits)

Required (7)

Chemistry Electives (12 credits)

Option 2: Earth Science Concentration (must be at least 19 credits)

Required (16)

Elective Earth Science Credits (3)

Option 3: Physics Concentration (must be at least 19 credits)

Required (12)

Physics Elective- Credits:7

Methods Courses: Physical Sciences

Social Studies Specialization

A total of at least 42 credit hours required.  Students must have a B in their academic specialization to graduate or have passed the Praxis 2 subtest to graduate.

Social Studies Distribution

A minimum of 9 credit hours at the 200-level or above selected from any of the following areas:

  • Anthropology (ANT)
  • Geography (GEO)
  • History (HTY)
  • Government/Political Science (POS)

Social Studies Specialization

A minimum of 9 credit hours required at the 300 level or above, choosing from one of the following areas:

  • Anthropology (ANT)
  • Geography (GEO)
  • History (HTY)
  • Government/Political Science (POS)

Methods Courses: Social Studies

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Program Inventory
   
All catalogs © 2025 The University of Maine.
Powered by Modern Campus Catalog™.