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Prospective Students

etep application handbook
 

What TEAMS Unified is

The Teachers for Elementary and Middle Schools (TEAMS) Unified program is the undergraduate pathway to dual certification K-8 general education and special education or dual certification K-8 general education and K-12 English as a Second Language.  The TEAMS Unified program includes coursework in an academic major leading to a degree in liberal studies and a professional program of teacher certification leading to dual state of Maine teacher certification in the above areas.

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 the TEAMS Unified program, typically five years, students will have earned their bachelor's degree in liberal studies, general elementary and special education teacher certification, and 51 credits toward their master's degree and only have two courses left to complete the degree.

What the advantages of TEAMS Unified are

    • Dual certification
      • TEAMS Unified is the only undergraduate pathway in the state of Maine to offer dual certification options combining general education with special education or English as a Second Language.
    • Extensive Classroom Experience
      • Students are placed in the classroom beginning the second semester of the freshman year
      • Classroom placements work in tandem with TEAMS Unified courses
      • Classroom placements are located in partner schools
      • A one and a half year internship includes three different semester- long classroom placements
      • Students receive more total classroom experience in diverse settings than graduates of other four-year teacher education programs
    • Supportive Group Learning
      • Education classes are primarily for TEAMS students
      • Internship year is cohort-based
      • Intensive advising occurs with TEAMS Unified 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 51 graduate-level credits while completing their general and special education internships
      • Only 6 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

       

Who TEAMS Unified serves

    • 1st time college students who are graduating from high school or changing careers and want to be elementary school, middle school, or special education teachers may enroll in TEAMS Unified 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 an 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 complete the program in thee years. For more information or to apply, please contact the USM Office of Undergraduate Admissions. 
    • Current USM students with up to sixty college credits earned toward their degree who want to become an 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 Unified 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:

    • 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 Unified or how to apply, please contact:

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

 

 

Download the TEAMS Brochure