University of Southern Maine

What TEAMS is

Teachers for Elementary and Middle Schools (TEAMS) is the undergraduate option to K-8 teacher certification.  TEAMS includes coursework in an academic major leading to a degree in liberal studies and a professional program of teacher certification leading to a state of Maine General Elementary Education Certification (grades K-8).

While attaining the liberal studies degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, TEAMS simultaneously take education courses.  These courses include hands-on field work in local partner schools.  Upon completion of TEAMS, typically four and a half years, students will have earned their bachelor's degree in liberal studies, K-8 teacher certification, and 33 credits toward their master's degree in teaching and learning.

What the Advantages of TEAMS are

• Extensive Classroom Experience
• Students are placed in the classroom beginning the second semester of the freshman year
• Classroom placements work in tandem with TEAMS courses
• Classroom placements are located in partner schools
• Full-year internship includes two different classroom placements
• Students receive more total classroom experience than graduates of other four-year teacher education programs
• Supportive Group Learning
• Education classes are primarily for TEAMS students
• Students are organized into cohort groups of 15-20
• Intensive advising occurs with TEAMS faculty
• Lifelong friendships are developed
• Superior Liberal Arts Preparation
• Students complete a liberal studies major especially designed to provide them with a solid academic foundation in the content areas they will one day teach
• Students complete a concentration in English/language arts, life or physical science, math, or social studies that makes them “highly qualified” to teach at the middle level
• Graduate Credit
• Students earn 33 graduate-level credits as a part of the program
• Only 13 additional credits required for a master's in teaching and learning
• Greater Job Marketability
• Students are well-prepared because of extensive classroom experiences
• 95% of those who those who completed the TEAMS program in the last three year are employed in the field of education

TEAMS Liberal Study Major Curriculum

Who TEAMS serves

• 1st time college students who are graduating from high school or changing careers and want to become elementary school, middle school, or special education teachers may enroll in TEAMS as freshmen.  For more information about applying to USM, please click the following link: http://www.usm.maine.edu/admit/1styear.html
• Undergraduate transfer students with up to sixty college credits earned toward a bachelor's degree who want to become elementary school, middle school, or special education school teachers. For more information about applying to USM, please click the following link: http://www.usm.maine.edu/admit/transfer.html
• Community College Transfer Students with an AA in Liberal Studies may transfer into TEAMS and complete the program in two and one half years. For more information or to apply, please contact the USM Office of Undergraduate Admissions. 
• For more information about AdvantageU, please click the following link: http://www.advantageu.me.edu/
• Current USM students with up to sixty college credits earned toward their bachelor's degree who want to become elementary school, middle school, or special education school teachers. For more information or to apply, please contact Patricia Mew, Department of Teacher Education advisor at (207) 780-5413 or pmew@usm.maine.edu.

How to apply
Admissions to TEAMS is on a rolling basis until all slots in the program are filled.  However, there are priority deadlines for admission.  Completing an application by the priority deadline ensures that an application will be reviewed.  The following are the priority deadlines for links to application materials:

• Incoming first year college students, please see the following application instructions: http://www.usm.maine.edu/admit/howtoapply.html

Priority deadline: February 15 (Fall); December 1 (Spring)

• Transfer students from other universities, , please see the following application instructions: http://www.usm.maine.edu/admit/howtoapply.html

  Priority deadline: February 15 (Fall); December 1 (Spring)
  Exceptions:

• Maine community college transfer students enrolled in liberal studies program

  Priority deadline: February 1 (Fall); December 1 (Spring)

• Maine community college transfer students enrolled in Advantage U

  Priority deadline: February 1 (Fall); September 15 (Spring)

• Current USM students, please complete the following application: TEAMS_Internal_Appl.pdf

Priority deadline: March 1 (Fall); November 15 (Spring)

For more information about TEAMS or how to apply, please contact:

Teacher Education Department
(207) 780-5413
teams@usm.maine.edu

Download the TEAMS Brochure