A photo of a class of students listening to an instructor

Secondary Education

College of Education and Human Development

The secondary education program prepares students to teach in middle and high schools across diverse settings. The College of Education and Human Development is nationally accredited for its teacher certification programs and provides many opportunities for students to gain professional experience in schools locally, statewide and internationally. Students build a strong liberal arts background by drawing from the many departments on campus to fulfill general education and concentration requirements.

  • Faculty who have received national and state level teaching awards as secondary school educators and as college instructors
  • Internship opportunities in rural, urban and international settings
  • Student-teaching opportunities in Australia and New Zealand
  • Preparation to thrive in a vast array of careers
  • Opportunity to join Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for educators
  • Participation in the Student Education Association of Maine, a campus offshoot of the Maine Education Association

The secondary education program builds on strong partnerships that the College of Education and Human Development has created with school districts locally, statewide and internationally. This gives students the chance to combine academic work in a university environment with field-based work in a wide range of settings.

Our students are prepared to teach and work in diverse educational situations. The curriculum allows an in-depth exploration of such topics as multiculturalism in the classroom, adolescent psychology and adapted instruction for students with disabilities.

Students who are interested in teaching a particular subject, such as science, social studies or history, are able to tailor their coursework to their career goals. Areas of specialization include English, life/physical sciences, social studies, math, and world languages.

A diverse range of student-teaching and internship opportunities ensures that our graduates are prepared to teach in a variety of classroom settings.

Our students have opportunities to build their technological skills, while learning how to utilize technology to enhance the learning of middle and high school students.

Our students acquire skills they can use in a variety of careers, including the ability to collaborate, to work effectively in team environments, and to communicate clearly. In addition, graduates may pursue careers in schools outside the traditional classroom role, such as a technology integrator.

In addition to becoming certified to teach in middle and high school classrooms in the United States and internationally, graduates may work in non-school settings, such as research units, industry or museums.

For those students wishing to continue on to graduate school, a degree in secondary education is preparation for a variety of graduate programs. Students might pursue further work in general education, or pursue specialties such as instructional technology, special education, educational leadership or a discipline such as science or mathematics education.

Secondary Education

College of Education and Human Development


Advising Center, Shibles Hall, Room 102
207.581.2441 | advisingcenter@maine.edu

An aerial photo of Shibles Hall on UMaine's campus

College of Education and Human Development Advising Center

The College of Education and Human Development Advising Center is nationally recognized and assists students in their first two years at UMaine. As juniors and seniors delve deeper into their major, they work closely with faculty advisers who provide academic and professional guidance. We also offer introductory seminars to acquaint students with program requirements and expectations.