Our courses typically include a practicum in a local school because we want students to become engaged by teaching and working with actual students and to reflect on the larger questions these experiences raise. Education courses can add breadth and depth to study in any discipline. Through field work with children, students can get direct experience as they explore the idea of teaching or a career in a related human services field. The knowledge and skills gained have wide application in many other occupations and professions and will better prepare students for their future roles as citizens and parents. Educational study will also be useful to students who enter graduate study in any discipline where they will likely teach as graduate assistants.
Maine currently enjoys certification reciprocity with forty other states.
Although we do not offer all of the courses necessary for certification at the K-6 level, we can help students who wish to teach in the lower grades to plan a program that will meet state requirements for certification at a later time. If students take the additional courses necessary during the summer at other institutions, they may be eligible for Maine elementary certification when they graduate. Students interested in special education teachers can benefit from taking courses at Bates, but they will need to enroll in a program at another institution after graduation to complete the necessary requirements for certification. Graduate programs may offer both certification and a master's degree. We offer two options for a Secondary Concentration in Education 1.