Masters Certification Program (MCERT) for Elementary & Secondary Education
Secondary Education Program Application Information :
For complete information on the MCERT admission process, please download a copy of the MCERT Admissions Handbook.
Admission Deadlines:
Priority applications will be reviewed in early December and candidates will be interviewed in mid-to-late January.
Final applications will be reviewed in March and candidates will be interviewed in early April. Supporting documents should be submitted no later than March 1st in order to be considered for the 2009-2010 program.
Application Procedures:
The University of Maryland strongly encourages all eligible applicants to apply on-line at http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/admission.htm . However, if for some reason you cannot complete the Online Application, you may also download an Adobe PDF document version of the application booklet.
The College of Education requires applicants to submit an additional application called the Application Supplemental Form (ASF). Applicants will be contacted via email after submitting the University's Online Application. A system-assigned login and password will be provided at that time. In most cases, students will be contacted within 2-4 business days of submitting their Online Application.
Program Prerequisites:
Transcript review-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). Save this form as you will need it again when you apply. It is strongly recommended that all applicants have their transcripts reviewed, please contact the EDCI Advising Office (edci-adv@umd.edu).
Application Requirements:
1. GPA:
While a diverse range of applicants is accepts annually into the program, the UMD graduate school requires that candidates have a minimum of a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Applicants who do not meet this requirement are still encouraged to apply as individuals are evaluated based on a combination of grades, professional experiences, and outlook about teaching.
2. Test Scores:
Praxis I
All applicants must submit passing scores for the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), also called the Praxis I test, in order to be eligible for admission to the MCERT Program. We require not just a passing composite score for Praxis I but passing scores in all three sections: Reading: 177, Mathematics: 177, Writing: 173. Applicants must have passed 2 out of the 3 Praxis I sections before their file will be reviewed for admission. We will not grant conditional or provisional admissions for applicants pending successful completion of Praxis I. Please note that we do not accept GRE or SAT scores in lieu of Praxis I or II scores.
Praxis II
The first part of Praxis II, Content Knowledge, must be passed prior to the beginning of the program in early June. The second part of Praxis II, Pedagogy, is not required for admission or beginning of the MCERT Program. Admitted students are will take the Pedagogy test in November after they have completed a number of pedagogy courses during the summer and fall semester.
For more information on the Praxis tests, please review our Admissions Handbook and visit www.ets.org.
3. Letters of Recommendation:
Applicants need to submit 3 letters of recommendation which can be submitted by professors or others who can assess the quality of the applicant's prior academic performance and/or their experience working with adolescents. The Application Supplemental Form (ASF), contains an Online Letters of Recommendation feature, through which applicants can request electronic letters from their recommenders. If applicants prefer not to use Online Letters, they can download University of Maryland Recommendation Letter Forms here. Be certain that the applicant's full name is included on each recommendation.
4. Personal Statement:
Please submit an essay describing your interest in becoming a public school teacher and your academic, professional, and extracurricular experiences that led you to your decision to apply. This statement of goals, experiences and education interests can be submitted using the Application Supplemental Form (ASF).
5. Interview:
All candidates, in order to be considered, must interview by phone or in person. The interview will be scheduled in the weeks following the two application deadlines.
Important Tips to Support Your Application Process:
Campus is College Park
Institution is University of Maryland, College Park
Degree desired is M.Ed.
Desired semester is Summer Session I
The Major/Program is Curriculum and Instruction.
The four-letter code is EDCI
Area of specialization is MCERT - Secondary Education (For secondary ed, please also indicate your content area i.e. Math, Biology, Chemistry, Earth/ Space Science, Art, Social Studies, English, Spanish, French, etc.)
Applicants for Secondary fields should have an undergraduate degree in relevant disciplines (see Coursework ) disciplines.
