The Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE) is a graduate-level teacher preparation program in collaboration with the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and the Maryland State Department of Education. Successful program completion results in a Master's of Education (M.Ed.) degree and eligibility for a Maryland teaching certificate in grades 1 through 6.
The 2-year CITE program consists of coursework provided over 5 semesters in a blended learning model of in-person and online instruction in the evenings. Candidates participate in a daily classroom-based internship in a district elementary school, as part of their current employment as support staff personnel or conditionally hired teacher. In the second year of the program, interns participate in an extended Intensive Internship teaching practicum.
CITE is designed as a cohort program that allows members to be part of a diverse collaborative professional learning community who rely on one another for support and professional development, like that of a highly functioning team in an elementary school.
Program Structure
As with all teacher preparation programs at UMCP, CITE prepares reflective practitioners for a pluralistic society through research-based inquiry. Interns preparing to be teachers in the CITE program learn to be reflective, develop a broad repertoire of teaching skills, establish cultural proficiency applications to the classroom, and base their teaching practice on sound theory and research. The structure of the program is built upon six knowledge areas: curriculum, learners, subject matter, pedagogy, social context, and educational goals and assessment. Within these areas, CITE incorporates the following principles:
- Multicultural Philosophy and Education
- Higher Level Thinking Skills
- Research: Knowledge, Inquiry and Interpretation
- Reflection
- High Leverage Teaching Practices
- Team Building and Rapport with Others
Key Program Components
- Blended learning model of instruction with experiential learning opportunities
- Inclusion of all supporting services staff and conditional teachers interested in elementary level classroom
instruction - Opportunities for professional growth in a multicultural community
- Collaborative support from a master teacher, school-based administration, and UMCP faculty
- Participation in a cohort experience with other CITE participants
CITE interns have acquired bachelor’s degrees in a variety of backgrounds and participated in a myriad of professional experiences. They are currently employees of a Maryland school district. Formal teaching background is not required, however, it is expected that interns will have experiences working directly with children.
Admission Requirements:
UMD Graduate School General Requirements
- A detailed statement of purpose responding to the prompts for Elementary Education candidates
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate studies
- An official graduate school application to the University of Maryland at College Park
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university with a 3.0 GPA.
UMD CITE Program Requirements
All applicants to a Teacher Certification Program are required to review the Foundational Competencies (FC) & Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE) Introduction and submit an acknowledgement survey. A PDF copy of the completed acknowledgement survey must be uploaded to the TerpEngage Application.
- Three professional recommendations including one from current principal/supervisor
- CV/Resume outlining experiences working with children
- Demonstrated completion of MSDE required prerequisite courses for credit in math, English, science, and social sciences
Please refer to the Application Instructions for information on how to apply to the CITE program. Additional information for graduate admission can be found in the Graduate School's Guide to Applying .
If you have questions or concerns, we ask you to first review our list of Frequently Asked Questions. International applicants should visit the International admissions webpage for additional information.
For questions about the application process, or to check on the completion of your application, please contact Joy Jones, Coordinator, by e-mail at CITE@umd.edu or by phone at (301) 405-3324.
For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact Joy Jones, TLPL Coordinator, at (301) 405-3324 or CITE@umd.edu.
For more details about the various types of financial assistance offered by the campus please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.
There are also a number of fellowships and scholarships offered through the College of Education, the University, and through external sources which may provide tuition support and/or living allowance. Students must apply for these awards on their own, but the links that follow provide valuable information on searching for fellowships and scholarships.
For more information concerning fellowships and scholarships, please visit:
The College of Education Financial Aid & Scholarship webpage
The University's Scholarships webpage, and
The Graduate School Student Fellowships & Awards webpage.
For further information, please contact:
University of Maryland
Theresa Nebel Robinson
Director, Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE)
Teaching and Learning, Policy, and Leadership
College of Education, University of Maryland College Park
tnebrob1@umd.edu
301-452-6547
Carolina Napp-Avelli, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor and CITE Liaison
Teaching and Learning, Policy, and Leadership
College of Education, University of Maryland College Park
cnapp@umd.edu
301-405-7410