Masters Certification Program (MCERT) for Elementary & Secondary Education
Frequently Asked Questions: Click on the specific area of your inquiry.
Program Questions
Can I apply part-time?
The Masters/Certification program currently is offered only on an intensive full-time basis.
Do you have a distance learning program?No, we currently do not offer a distance learning program.
Do I have to contact faculty members before I apply?
No, you can apply without contacting program faculty. Contacting faculty, however, is helpful as the faculty may be able to answer questions about the program for you. See the contact link.
When does the program start?
The Master's Certification program begins each year in July and ends the following June. Students will graduate in August and can participate in the December commencement.
Where are the classes held?
Classes are held at Universities at Shady Grove (located in Montgomery county) or at PDS sites in Prince George’s, Montgomery or, Howard County.
What schools will we work in?
Interns are normally placed in a year-long internship in a PDS site, in Montgomery, Prince George’s, or Howard County.
What kinds of mentoring will we receive?
All graduate interns are assigned a school-based mentor, an experienced certified teacher in the student’s area of certification.In addition, all graduate interns receive support during the school year from a university-based supervisor, and a subject-based coordinator who are experienced educators in the area of the intern’s certification field. Whenever possible, graduate interns are placed in clusters in a department in a professional development school as part of building a peer-support network in addition to the mentor and university supervisor.
What kind of person are you looking for?
While a diverse range of applicants is accepts annually into the program, generally, applicants should minimally have a 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 GPA in the teaching major. Applicants who do not meet this requirement are still encouraged to apply as applicants are evaluated based on a combination of grades, professional experiences, and outlook about teaching.
How long as the program been in existence?
The MCERT program began in 1985.
How do you apply for a paid internship?
Once you are accepted in the program, Secondary applicants in high-need content areas can participate in interviews at MCPS and PGCPS in the late spring. Please note that n ot all areas right now have opportunities for paid internships.
Do I have to write a Dissertation at the end of the Master’s Program?
No, however, there is a seminar paper which is the written account of the action research project done in EDCI 698.
At the end of the program, are there comprehensive exams I have to take?
No. Instead, students are required to prepare a teaching portfolio and present it to a panel of evaluators.
What does the Internship during the Master’s program entail?
The Internship will be somewhat different for students who are doing paid internships and for students who are not.
Where is the Shady Grove Campus?
The Shady Grove Campus is located in Rockville, MD. http://shadygrove.umd.edu/about/directions 301-738-6023
What is the cost of the program?
All current students are charged at $471/credit hour (Fall 2009). MCERT is a 42 credit program. The total cost of the 2009/2010 program is approximately $20,000 including a one time lab fee. Tuition will increase slightly each year.
Is there financial aid available?
Currently, all teaching candidates within this program, will receive in-state tuition, even those from out of state. Also, paid internships are available for secondary teaching applicants. For other financial aid questions and payment options, please visit the UMD Financial Aid Office at http://www.financialaid.umd.edu
Application Questions
For complete information on the MCERT admission process, please download a copy of the MCERT Program Handbook.
What is the deadline?
The preferred application deadline for the Masters Certification program is December 1st; however, the FINAL deadline is March 1st. Supporting documents should be submitted by no later than March 1st as well.
Do you have rolling admission?
No. Application material will first be reviewed in early December then again in early March.
Where do I mail my supplemental application materials?
All required application materials should be mailed to:
University of Maryland College Park
Enrollment Services Operations
Application for Graduate Admission
Rm. 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742
Can I defer admission?
Please contact Joy Jones at jonesj@umd.edu if admission or an application needs to be deferred.
Will you accept sealed letters of recommendation and transcripts if I mail them?
Yes, however, transcripts should be sealed with an official school stamp.
Do I need to have transcripts sent for every college-level class I have taken?
Yes, transcripts from all institutions previously attended should be sent.
How many copies of each transcript should I arrange to be mailed?
Only 1 copy of each transcript is needed.
Can letters of recommendation be faxed or e-mailed?
No, letters of recommendation should be sent directly to admissions office.
Who can be recommenders?
Recommenders should be individuals who can speak to your potential professional assets as it relates to being an effective teacher.
Which Praxis tests do I need to take?
Applicants need to take the Praxis I and Praxis II Content Knowledge tests for admission. (Note: Applicants pursuing certification in Foreign Language Education must also complete the Language Production Skills portion of Praxis II. Please visit the College of Education website for more information about these tests - http://www.education.umd.edu/studentinfo/teacher_certification/praxis.html
Those admitted to the program will also be required to pass the final portion of Praxis II (pedagogy) but not until the end of the fall semester. This must be complete prior to Student Teaching in the Spring semester.
Are there deadlines for taking the Praxis tests?Praxis I
Applicants must have passed 2 out of 3 of the Praxis I sections before their file will be reviewed for admission. An applicant must pass all three sections (Reading 177, Writing 173, Math 177) to be offered admission to MCERT. We will not have conditional or provisional admissions based on Praxis I.Praxis II
Praxis II Content Knowledge test must be passed prior to the beginning of the program in June. Any student who has not passed Praxis II must ask for an exception to policy and there is no guarantee an exception will be made.
Do I need to the GRE?
We do not accept GRE or SAT scores in lieu of Praxis scores..
What is the minimum GPA score required?
While a diverse range of applicants is accepts annually into the program, generally, applicants should minimally have a 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 GPA in the teaching major. Applicants who do not meet this requirement are still encouraged to apply as applicants are considered based on grades, professional experiences, and outlook about teaching.
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Course Prerequisites Questions
What Education courses do I have to take before starting the program?
There are no education courses needed prior to entering the program.
The following coursework is needed in order to be eligible for the specific secondary education programs. Please complete the template (word doc), using your own transcript(s). For those interested in the Elementary Program, you will need to fulfill 3 math prerequisites. If you would like to have your transcript reviewed, please edci_adv@umd.edu.
Biology (.doc)
Earth / Space Sciences (.doc)
English (.doc)
Social Studies (.doc)
Mathematics (.doc)
Physical Sciences (.doc)
Students applying to the Master's Certification Program in elementary education will need to have met two math requirements. These requirements are to be fulfilled prior to enrollment in the mathematics methods course offered in the fall semester.
Math 213-Elements of Geometry and Measurements
Math 214-Elements of Probability and Statistics
If a student has credit for a college level geometry course (with a C or better grade then he/she will be waived from Math 213.Please Note: Analytic Geometry or Calculus with Analytic Geometry courses do not meet this requirement.
If a student has a college level statistics course (with a C - or better grade), then he/she will be waived from Math 214.
Students are encouraged to take courses equivalent to Math 213 and 214 at other institutions prior to the beginning of their program. These courses are generally those whose description indicates that they are for elementary education majors. Official transcripts will need to be forwarded to UMCP. You must have the grade "C" or better in these courses.
Check out www.tce.umd.edu to see what would transfer into UMCP as these classes. You can also look into distance learning options: www.onlinemathcourses.org.
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