Graduate Education Certificate Programs | University of Maine at Farmington

UMF Graduate Education Certificates

UMF also collaborates with the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine to offer these online certificates:

Apply for a Certificate (Intent to Participate)

To enroll in any of our Graduate Education Certificate Programs, please complete the Apply – Intent to Participate Form (pdf) and return it to the UMF Office of Graduate Studies.

Note: If you have not already completed these courses at UMF in the previous five (5) years and received a grade of B or higher you are required to register for one or more of the courses in your Graduate Education Certificate Program offered in the upcoming semester / term. Please contact us for details.

Apply - Intent to Participate Form (pdf)
Certificate Policies (pdf)

Certificate Details

Administration Certificate

This certificate is designed for practicing educators interested in pursuing opportunities in school administration. Two years of teaching experience is required to enroll in this certificate program.

Completion of this Certificate requires the following four UMF courses:

EDU 550 School Law for Administrators
EDU 551 Changing Educational Organizations in a Diverse World
EDU 552 Supervision and Evaluation of School Personnel
EDU 553 Finance for School Administrators

If you do not complete the required four certificate courses and UMF’s SED 518 Special Ed Law DOE may require you to complete other coursework to fulfill the ILLSC Standards requirements found in Chapter 115. Please check with the Maine Department of Education to verify if you need this course to meet your professional goals.

All courses are offered using a blended format, with a combination of face-to-face class meetings and online study.

Optional Electives:

SED 518 Special Education Law
EDU 554 Internship in School Leadership

English Language Learning (ELL) Certificate

This certificate is designed for practicing teachers interested in working with students who are non-native English speaking. The 5-course series certificate will develop one’s understanding of the theoretical basis and practical application of ELL instruction. The certificate program will assist the teachers in acquiring strategies for creating an inclusive classroom, conducive to proficiency-oriented and communicative language instruction designed to create a learning community. Completion of this Certificate requires the following five UMF courses:

EDU 502 Second Language Acquisition
EDU 503 Culturally Responsive English Language Learner Pedagogy
EDU 504 English Language Learners: Equity, Inclusion, and Family Engagement
EDU 505 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for ELLs
EDU 511 Evidence and Inquiry Based Strategies for Working with ELLs

Note: This is a graduate certificate that supports the coursework requirement for a Maine’s Endorsement 660: English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement. Please check with the Maine Department of Education for additional requirements for a Maine’s Endorsement 660: English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement.

All courses are offered using a blended format, with a combination of face-to-face class meetings and online study.

Gifted and Talented Education Certificate

This certificate is designed for practicing educators interested in pursuing opportunities in teaching gifted and talented students. It is a graduate certificate program that supports the coursework required for Maine’s Endorsement 690. Please check with the Maine Department of Education for additional requirements for a Maine’s Endorsement: Gifted/Talented Teacher.

Completion of this Certificate requires the following four UMF courses:

SED 530 Identifying and Educating Learners Who are Gifted
SED 531 Curriculum and Instruction for Learners Who Are Gifted
SED 532 Developing and Implementing Programs for the Gifted Learner
SED 533 Teaching Critical & Creative Thinking in Gifted Programs & Classroom Settings

All courses are offered using a blended format, with a combination of face-to-face class meetings and online study.

Math Intervention Specialist Certificate

This certificate is designed to prepare K-12 teachers to identify students who need assistance in mathematics and to address the needs of these students through assessment-informed and focused interventions. Participants will learn to identify students’ concept understanding and areas needing further development using quantifiable and research-based assessments.

Teachers will:

implement research-based teaching methods
effectively implement the use of manipulatives and models to maximize student learning in mathematics
research and implement assessment-based and focused interventions

implement continual progress monitoring through the use of data analysis and documentation of student learning
provide the leadership necessary to develop, implement, support, and maintain an appropriate math RTI program

Completion of this Certificate requires four UMF courses:

EDU 524 Advanced Mathematics Methods for Elementary School Teachers
or EDU 561 Methods for Middle/Secondary Mathematics Education (for 7-12)
EDU 525 Developing Formative Assessment Practices in the Mathematics Classroom
EDU 527 Mathematics Intervention: Theory and Data Informed Decision Making
EDU 528 Mathematics Intervention: Implementation and Assessment

All courses are offered using a blended format, with a combination of face-to-face class meetings and online study.

Math Leadership Certificate

This certificate is designed for practicing educators interested in pursuing opportunities in mathematics leadership. It is a 4-course series certificate that will prepare educators for the challenges of being a mathematics leader, whether it be a Math Coach, a Math Interventionist, an RTI Coordinator, a Title I: Math Teacher or a grade-level Team Leader. Completion of this Certificate requires the following four UMF courses (taken sequentially):

EDU 529 Mathematics Leadership in K-12 settings: Understanding and Implementing Maine’s State Standards
EDU 530 Mathematics Leadership in K-12 settings: The Mathematics Content for Standards-Based Instruction
EDU 531 Mathematics Pedagogical Knowledge: Effective Instructional Practices for Teaching Maine’s State Standards
EDU 532 Mathematics Leadership K-12*

*Previously titled EDU 532 Mathematics Leadership K-12: The Art of Mathematics Coaching and Supervision, for students who started the program prior to the Fall 2018 semester.

All courses are offered using a blended format, with a combination of face-to-face class meetings and online study.

Special Education Administration Certificate

This certificate is designed for practicing educators interested in pursuing opportunities as a special education administrator (035 certification). There is a shortage of qualified administrators of special education and assistant administrators of special education in the state of Maine. This certificate provides prerequisite courses, knowledge base, and internship experience in alignment with Maine certification requirements for a special education administrator. Candidates will develop an understanding of the theoretical basis and practical application of Special Education Administration.

Completion of this Certificate requires the following five UMF courses:

EDU 550 School Law for Administrators
EDU 551 Changing Educational Organizations in a Diverse World
EDU 552 Supervision and Evaluation of School Personnel
EDU 553 Finance for School Administrators
SED 598 Inclusive Education Reform: a Social Justice Approach to School and Systemwide Reform

All courses are offered using a blended format, with a combination of face-to-face class meetings and online study.

Special Education Certificate — Elementary

This certificate is designed to assist educators in meeting professional goals. The courses included in the certificate provide educators with a range of essential knowledge and skills to support students with disabilities in a variety of settings, and for professionals in a variety of roles. There is a focus on high leverage practices designed to support students with disabilities.

Completion of this certificate requires four (4) courses:

SED 506 Assessment in Special Education
SED 507 Curriculum and Instructional Programming for Students With Disabilities
SED 518 Special Education Law

And one of the following courses:

SED 508 Classroom and Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities
SED 529 Individualized Positive Behavior Supports

All courses are offered with 100% online options.

Certificate in Special Education — Secondary

Completion of this certificate requires five (5) courses:

SED 503 Preparing Students for the Future: Transition Programming, Self-determination and Advocacy
SED 506 Assessment in Special Education
SED 507 Curriculum and Instructional Programming for Students With Disabilities
SED 518 Special Education Law

And one of the following courses

SED 508 Classroom and Behavior Management of Students with Disabilities
SED 529 Individualized Positive Behavior Supports

All courses are offered with 100% online options.

Systems of Student Support Certificate

This certificate is designed to provide educational leaders with the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies that can prepare them to assume leadership roles in the development and implementation of student support services and related programming in their schools and districts.

This set of courses will provide students with a broad foundation in understanding the nature and needs of students, schools, and communities in need of additional, specialized, or individualized services combined with coursework on implementing programs, practices, or reforms for individual students, families, schools, districts, or communities. A primary focus of this certificate is on developing systems of support for students with or at risk for social, academic, and behavioral difficulties.

Completion of this certificate requires 4 UMF courses:

EDU 506 Poverty in Education
EDU 519 Risk and Resilience in Educational Settings
EDU 579 Implementing Systems of Student Support

And one of the following:

ECH 533 Advanced Foundations of Child Development (requires permission from ECH)
EDU 503 Culturally Responsive English Language Learner Pedagogy
EDU 504 English Language Learners: Equity, Inclusion, and Family Engagement
EDU 521 Fostering Effective Learner Dispositions
EDU 526 Assessment Course & Research-based Intervention Practices
EDU 533 Mindfulness
SED 529 Individualized Positive Behavior Supports
SED 514 Literacy Development for All Students
SED 530 Identifying and Educating Learners Who are Gifted
SED 598 Inclusive Education Reform: a Social Justice Approach to School and Systemwide Reform

All courses are offered using a blended format, with a combination of face-to-face class meetings and online study.

Certificate in Math Coaching

This certificate is designed to prepare K-12 teachers who wish to support other educators in their district on mathematics learning and teaching. Emphasis will be placed on identifying and implementing a coaching practice that aligns with the participants’ context. In addition to examining approaches to working with adult learners, students will develop a deeper understanding of mathematics pedagogy in both research and practice

Completion of this certificate requires 4 UMF courses:

EDU 594 Theories of Mathematics Coaching
EDU 524 Advanced Mathematics Methods for Elementary School Teachers or EDU 561 Methods for Middle/ Secondary Mathematics Education
EDU 596 Mathematics Coaching in Practice
EDU 525 Developing Formative Assessment Practices in the Mathematics Classroom

Apply - Intent to Participate (pdf) Certificate Policies (pdf)

Contact Us

Division of Graduate & Continuing Education
University of Maine at Farmington
Theo Kalikow Education Center
186 High Street
Farmington, Maine 04938
tel 207-778-7502
fax 207-778-8134
TYY (via Maine Relay Service) dial 711
gradstudies@maine.edu

Mailing address:
Division of Graduate & Continuing Education
University of Maine at Farmington
111 South Street
Farmington, Maine 04938