Master's Certification Program (MCERT)
for Elementary & Secondary Education

 

Secondary Education Program Overview :

MCERT(Maryland Graduate Certification Program) for Secondary Education (grades 7 through 12) is an alternative teacher education program for individuals which have completed a baccalaureate degree in various academic fields, and which leads to certification in the following: Art, English, Foreign Language (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian and Spanish), Mathematics, Science (Agricultural Education, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics), Social Studies, and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). The MCERT program is a 13-month, full time program that leads to a Master’s of Education (M.Ed) degree as well as eligibility for Maryland State certification to teach in secondary schools. 

 

MCERT students start the program in early June and finish in the following July. Students participate in a year long internship in a Professional Development School (PDS) located in Montgomery County, Prince Georges, or Howard County. In the fall and spring semesters, students take courses two-to-three days a week, which can include Saturdays, and are immersed in their internships five days a week. During the winter interim, a workshop series on the hiring process will be offered in the evenings. The final capstone courses (EDCI690) will be scheduled two evenings a week from mid May to early July. Courses will be held at Universities at Shady Groves, or at one of our school partner sites (MC, PGC, or HC). All graduate interns are assigned a school-based mentor and receive regular support from their university-based supervisor.

 

Sample Course Schedule

Summer (June/July)
Content Area Methods I (3 credits)
Adolescent Learning and Development (3 credits)
Content Area Reading I (3 credits)
Embracing Diversity in Classroom Communities (3 credits)

 

Fall (September-December)
Content Area Methods II (3 credits)
Studying Student in Diverse Contexts OR Content Area Reading II (3 credits)

Conducting Research on Teaching (1 credit)

Internship (5 credits)

 

Spring (January-May)
Content Area Methods III (3 credits)
Content Area Reading II OR Studying Student in Diverse Contexts(3 credits)
Conducting Research on Teaching (2 credits)

Internship (4 credits)

 

Summer (May/June)
Teaching as a Profession (3 credits)
Internship (3 credits)

 

Field Placements/ Internships
All graduate interns are assigned independent and/or apprentice teaching duties that are nested within a full-day, full-year internship. Secondary school internship site are in Montgomery (MCPS), Prince George’s (PGCPS) or Howard County (HCPS). 

 

There is an option for paid or unpaid internships in either Montgomery and Prince George’s County. Currently paid internships are offered in the following content areas: English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and TESOL (PGCPS only). Art and Social Studies are not considered high need areas in MCPS or PGCPS.

 

Exit Requirements

  • Portfolio
  • Seminar paper
  • Praxis I and II (based on content area)
  • Performance Based Assessment (PBA)