What TEAMS is
The Teachers for Elementary and Middle Schools (TEAMS) program is the undergraduate pathway to K-8 teacher certification. The TEAMS program includes coursework in an academic major leading to a degree in a liberal arts field and a professional program of teacher certification leading to a state of Maine General Elementary Education Certification (grades K-8).
TEAMS students choose a liberal arts major. While attaining the degree of their choice, they simultaneously take education courses. These courses include hands-on field work in local partner schools. Upon completion of the TEAMS program, typically four and a half years, students will have earned their bachelor's degree in their chosen field of study, 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
- Interns are organized into cohort groups of 15-20
- Intensive advising occurs with TEAMS faculty
- Lifelong friendships are developed
- Superior Liberal Arts Preparation
- Major in a liberal arts area of study like English, general science, math, history psychology, sociology, or communication
- Broader background in mathematics and science
- Students graduate with a solid academic foundation
- Graduate Credit
- Students earn 33 graduate-level credits at a part of the 4.5 year 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
- Most TEAMS graduates employed in education within one year of completion
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/freshman_instructions.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 the TEAMS program 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:
Priority deadline: February 15 (Fall); December 1 (Spring)
- 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)
Priority deadline: March 1 (Fall); November 15 (Spring)
For more information about TEAMS or how to apply, please contact:
Patricia Mew
Teacher Education Advisor
(207) 780-5413
pmew@usm.maine.edu |
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 Download the TEAMS Brochure
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