Teacher Certification and Licensure

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Education  offers initial teacher certification programs that meet the standards set by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and national accreditation agencies. Teacher certification programs are completed in conjunction with undergraduate majors and may require coursework in the major field beyond the major requirements. Teacher candidates at UMBC who complete a certification program and pass the tests and performance assessments outlined by MSDE are recommended to Maryland State Department of Education for licensure by the UMBC Education Department. More information about Maryland State Department of Education testing requirements is available at the following Maryland State Department of Education websites:

Maryland State Department of Education Basic Skills Assessment

Maryland State Department of Education Subject and Pedagogy Assessment

University Requirements

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Completion of Minimum University Requirements for an Undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree .

• Minimum 120 credits and minimum GPA of 2.0
• Completion of 45 upper-level credits, residence requirement, Writing Intensive requirement, and General Education requirement

Program Requirements

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• Students complete coursework requirements of the Education Certification in a minimum of 34 to 76 credits
• Minimum grade of ‘B’ in required Education courses
• Completion of a UMBC major

Early Childhood Education (ECE) Track, Grades PreK - 3 (44 credits)

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UMBC early childhood education program completers are eligible for teaching grades PreK-3 in Maryland. Students must earn at least a ‘B’ in all required education courses. The early childhood track includes a core set of education courses, a Phase I Internship semester, and a Phase II Internship semester.

Elementary Track, Grades 1-6 (46 credits)

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UMBC elementary education program completers are eligible for teaching grades 1-6 in Maryland. Students must earn at least a ‘B’ in all required education courses. The elementary track includes a core set of education courses, a Phase I Internship semester, and a Phase II Internship semester.

Secondary Track, Grades 7-12 and K-12 (34 credits)

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UMBC secondary education program completers are eligible for teaching their certification content area in grades 7-12 or K-12 in Maryland. Students must earn at least a ‘B’ in all required education courses. The secondary education track includes a core set of education courses, a Phase I Internship semester, and a Phase II Internship semester. Content course requirements are specific to each major.