Through diverse instructional strategies, dual certifications, and international internship opportunities, the combined five-year bachelor's and master's degree program for teacher certification offers a set of degrees that prepare teachers to meet the learning needs of all children, and are also highly marketable to potential employers.
Available Majors
- Elementary Education/Liberal Arts
- Early Childhood Education/Liberal Arts
- Special Education/Liberal Arts/Liberal Arts
Teacher Education Programs
- Elementary Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary and Special Education
- Elementary and Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood and Special Education
- Art PreK-12
- ESOL grades PreK-12
- Art N-12
- Secondary Education
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- Computer Studies
- English
- Mathematics
- World Languages (French, Spanish)
- Physics
- Social Studies
Dual Certifications
Unlike many other teacher preparation programs, most of our program completers are dual certified (in two, three or even four content areas).
The goal is to prepare teacher candidates to be able to teach all children regardless of learning style, differentiated or special needs, and racial or socio-economic status.
Dual or multiple certifications also increase the marketability of our graduates, furthering opportunities for meaningful employment.
Examples
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- Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education and TESOL
- Mathematics and TESOL
- Social Studies and Special Education
Additional Study Options
Some teacher candidates choose to explore other BA/MA areas of specialization. Examples include:
- BA in Elementary Education/MA in Gifted and Talented Education
- BA in Elementary Education/MA in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – STEM Education
- BA in Elementary Education/MA in Library Media Specialist
What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University
With award-winning teacher certification programs nationally recognized by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), you can expect to benefit from small class sizes, expert faculty, and practical field experiences.
Internship Opportunities
Internship placements are in professional development school environments through collaborative arrangements between Notre Dame and area school systems.
Education Careers
Graduates of NDMU are highly recruited for employment; many are offered teaching contracts even before completing their program of study.
See Our Award-Winning Teachers
For many, this first step in teaching leads to an entire career as a classroom teacher; for others it becomes a springboard for other education-related opportunities:
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- Master Teacher
- Counselor
- Media Specialist
- Reading Specialist
- Math Specialist
- STEM Specialist
- Curriculum Specialist
- School-Based Administrator
- Professional Development Coordinator
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Veterans
As an approved provider of teacher certification in Maryland, Notre Dame also participates in the Troops to Teachers program.
Course Matrix for Undergraduate Studies Elementary Education BA/MAT Degrees
| Required Professional Courses | Bachelor of Arts Degrees – Elementary Education | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Notes – Some 300 and 400 level classes are taken as an undergraduate student | Elem. Educ. | Elem. & Special Educ. | Elem. & ECE | Elem. & TESOL | Elem, ECE, & Special | Elem, ECE, Special, & TESOL |
| EDU-300 or 556 Technology for Instruction and Management | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-303 or 510 Elementary Reading Materials | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-357 or 509 Processes & Acquisition of Reading | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-301 Educational Psychology AND PSY 203 Child and Adolescent Development (for 6 credits) OR
EDU-519 Human Development and Learning |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-307 Social Studies in Elementary School AND
312 Science in Elementary School (for 6 credits) OR 513 Science and Social Studies in Elementary School |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-308 or 508 Issues in ESOL | 3 | 3 | ||||
| EDU-309 or 542 Instruction in Reading | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-310 or 592 Mathematics in the Elementary School | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-312 Science in the Elementary School | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-315 Curriculum Methods/Mat. for the Young Child | 3 | |||||
| EDU-346 or 546 Methods and Materials ESOL | 3 | 3 | ||||
| EDU-347 or 547 Assessing Second Language | 3 | 3 | ||||
| EDU-360 or 586 Techniques of Teaching Reading & Writing to Students with Limited English Proficiency | 3 | 3 | ||||
| EDU-402 American Education in Historical Perspective | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-440 or 596 English Grammar for ESOL Teachers | 3 | 3 | ||||
| EDU-460 or 511 Assessment of Reading | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU 602 Internship in the Elementary School | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-603 Internship in Early Childhood Education | 3 | |||||
| EDU 604 Analytic/Reflection/Research Seminar | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| EDU-611 Internship in TESOL Education | 3 | 3 | ||||
| PSY-203 Child and Adolescent Development | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SPE-326 or 526 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SPE-337 or 576 Communication Skills for the Special Educator | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||
| SPE-321 or 546 Methods of Teaching Students with Special Needs | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||
| SPE-344 or 544 Assessment in Special Education | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||
| SPE-421 or 570 Elementary Curriculum Design and Adaptation | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||
| SPE-475 or 601 Internship in Special Education | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 45 | 57 | 48 | 57 | 57 | 75 |
ECE = Early Childhood Education TESOL = Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages
Some programs may require coursework during the summer and/or winterim. These six certification pathways do not cover the full range of possibilities.