Through diverse instructional strategies, dual certifications, and international internship opportunities, the teacher education programs at Notre Dame offer a degree that prepares teachers to meet the learning needs of all children, and is also highly marketable to potential employers.
What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University
As a Nationally recognized CAEP-accredited teacher preparation program and the #1 private institution in Maryland for initial teacher certification, you can expect to benefit from small class sizes, expert faculty, and practical field experiences which can begin as early as your first year.
High Quality Programs
All of NDMU's award-winning teacher certification programs are nationally recognized by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and by the individual specialized professional associations; e.g., the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics.
Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship
The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship is awarded to students who pledge to work as public school or public prekindergarten teachers in Maryland upon completion of their studies at schools that have at least 50% of the students in the school eligible for free or reduced-price meals (FRPM). Applications are due by April 1, 2023.
Learn more about Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship
Teachers Academy of Maryland (TAM) Scholarship
NDMU offers 9 earned college credits and a merit scholarship of $12,000 per year for up to 4 years to any high school graduate of the TAM program that pursues a BA in Education at NDMU.
Learn More about TAM Scholarship
Internship Opportunities
Internship placements are in professional development school environments through collaborative arrangements between Notre Dame and area school systems.
Education Careers
Graduates of NDMU are highly recruited for employment; many are offered teaching contracts even before completing their program of study.
See Our Award-Winning Teachers
For many, this first step in teaching leads to an entire career as a classroom teacher; for others it becomes a springboard for other education-related opportunities:
- Master Teacher
- Counselor
- Media Specialist
- Reading Specialist
- Math Specialist
- STEM Specialist
- Curriculum Specialist
- School-Based Administrator
- Professional Development Coordinator
Additional Info
| Required Professional Courses | Bachelor of Arts Degrees** – Elementary Education | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elem Education | Elem & Special Education | Elem & Early Childhood | Elem & TESOL | Elem, Special, and ECE | |
| EDU-300 Technology for Instruction and Management | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-303 Elementary Reading Materials | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-357 Processes & Acquisition of Reading | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-252 or 253 or SPE 373 Clinical Field Experience | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-301 Educational Psychology | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-307 Social Studies in the Elementary School | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-308 Issues in ESOL | 3 | ||||
| EDU-309 Instruction in Reading | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-310 Mathematics in the Elementary School | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-312 Science in the Elementary School | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-315 Curriculum Methods/Mat. for the Young Child | 3 | 3 | |||
| EDU-346 Methods and Materials ESOL | 3 | ||||
| EDU-347 Assessing Second Language | 3 | ||||
| EDU-360 Techniques of Teaching Reading & Writing to Students with Limited English Proficiency | 3 | ||||
| EDU-402 American Education in Historical Perspective | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-409 Internship: Teaching ESOL K-12 | 6 | ||||
| EDU-410 Internship: Teaching in Early Childhood Educ. | 6 | ||||
| EDU-411 Internship: Teaching in the Elementary School | 16* | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| EDU-440 English Grammar for ESOL Teachers | 3 | ||||
| EDU-460 Assessment of Reading | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| PSY-203 Child and Adolescent Development | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SPE-326 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SPE-337 Communication Skills for the Special Educator | 3 | 3 | |||
| SPE-321 Methods of Teaching Students with Special Needs | 3 | 3 | |||
| SPE-344 Assessment in Special Education | 3 | 3 | |||
| SPE-421 Elementary Curriculum Design and Adaptation | 3 | 3 | |||
| SPE-475 Student Teaching in Special Education | 6 | 6 | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 45 | 67 | 58 | 67 | 70 |
*16 credits for Undergraduate Studies, 12 credits for College of Adult Undergraduate Studies
** Some programs may require coursework during the summer and/or winterim if you are seeking more than two areas of certification.
| Required Professional Courses | Bachelor of Arts Degrees* – Secondary Education | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary Education | Secondary & Special Education | Secondary & TESOL | |
| EDU-300 Technology for Instruction and Management | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-253 Clinical Field Experience: ESOL | 3 | ||
| EDU-301 Educational Psychology | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-308 Issues in ESOL | 3 | ||
| EDU-344 Teaching Reading & Writing in the Secondary Schools Content Areas I | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-346 Methods and Materials ESOL | 3 | ||
| EDU-347 Assessing Second Language | 3 | ||
| EDU-360 Techniques of Teaching Reading & Writing to Students with Limited English Proficiency | 3 | ||
| EDU-376 Clinical Field Experience Secondary | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-402 American Education in Historical Perspective | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-409 Internship: Teaching ESOL K-12 | 6 | ||
| EDU 430-439 Methods of Teaching in the content area | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| EDU-413 Student Teaching in Secondary School | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| EDU-440 English Grammar for ESOL Teachers | 3 | ||
| EDU-451 Teaching Reading & Writing in the Secondary Schools Content Areas II | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| PSY-203 Child and Adolescent Development | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SPE-326 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SPE-337 Communication Skills for the Special Educator | 3 | ||
| SPE-321 Methods of Teaching Students with Special Needs | 3 | ||
| SPE-344 Assessment in Special Education | 3 | ||
| SPE-373 Field Experience in Special Education | 3 | ||
| SPE-475 Student Teaching in Special Education | 6 | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 42 | 51 | 57 |
* Some programs may require coursework during the summer and/or winterim if you are seeking more than two areas of certification.
Sample program of study for the Undergraduate Studies liberal studies/elementary education major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor. (See course descriptions for a list of required courses and description of course and program options.)
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
First Year |
|||
| NDMU-100 Perspectives in Education | 4 | Chemistry or Physical Science | 4 |
| ENG-101 College Writing | 3 | Foreign Language (if needed) | 3 |
| Physical Science or Biology | 4 | EDU-303 Elementary Reading Materials | 3 |
| Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 | MUS-202 Music for Teachers | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | Philosophy (200-level) | 3 |
| [16 credits] | Physical Education | 1 | |
| [17 credits] | |||
Second Year |
|||
| Physical Science or Biology | 4 | ART-208 Creative Arts | 3 |
| EDU-357 Processes and Acquisition/Reading | 3 | English Literature | 3 |
| PSY-203 Child/Adolescent Development | 3 | Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 |
| Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 | Sociology | 3 |
| RST-201 Intro to Biblical Studies | 3 | GEO-206 Geography | 3 |
| [16 credits] | COM-206 Public Speaking or COM-106 Fundamentals of Oral Communication |
3 | |
| [18 credits] | |||
Third YearPass PRAXIS Core before methods classes |
|||
| History | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-309 Reading in Elementary School | 3 |
| Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-310 Mathematics in Elementary School | 3 |
| EDU-301 Educational Psychology | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-307 Social Studies in Elementary School | 3 |
| Philosophy (300 or values) | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-312 Science in Elementary School | 3 |
| English Literature | 3 | [12 credits] | |
| SPE-325 Special Education for Teachers | 3 | ||
| [18 credits] | |||
Fourth Year |
|||
| EDU-411 Internship: Teaching in the Elementary School | 16 | English Literature | 3 |
| [16 credits] | EDU-402 American Education in History | 3 | |
| EDU-460 Assessment of Reading | 3 | ||
| Religious Studies (300) | 3 | ||
| History | 3 | ||
| [15 credits] | |||
This program also requires that students complete courses during the Winterim session
First-Year Winterim: History
Second-Year Winterim: EDU-252 Clinical Field Experience: Elementary
Third-Year Winterim: EDU-300 Technology for Management and Instruction
Sample program of study for the Undergraduate Studies student enrolled in the elementary education/liberal studies with early childhood education certification major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.
See course descriptions for a list of required courses and description of course and program options.
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
First Year |
|||
| NDMU-100 Perspectives in Education | 4 | Chemistry or Physical Science | 4 |
| ENG-101 College Writing | 3 | English Literature | 3 |
| Physical Science or Biology | 4 | EDU-303 Elementary Reading Materials | 3 |
| History | 3 | MUS-202 Music for Teachers | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 |
| [16 credits] | Physical Education | 1 | |
| [17 credits] | |||
Second Year |
|||
| Physical Science or Biology | 4 | ART-208 Creative Arts | 3 |
| EDU-357 Processes and Acquisition/Reading | 3 | Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 |
| Philosophy (200-level) | 3 | Sociology | 3 |
| COM-206 Public Speaking | 3 | GEO-206 Geography | 3 |
| Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 | English Literature | 3 |
| [16 credits] | RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies | 3 | |
| [18 credits] | |||
Third YearPass PRAXIS Core before methods classes |
|||
| Philosophy/Religious Studies | 3 | EDU-315 Curriculum Method & Materials for Young Children | 3 |
| PSY-203 Child/Adolescent Development | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-309 Reading in Elem. School | 3 |
| SPE-326 Special Education for Teachers | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-309 Mathematics in Elem. School | 3 |
| EDU-301 Educational Psychology | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-307 Social Studies in Elementary School | 3 |
| Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-312 Science in Elementary School | 3 |
| [15 credits] | [15 credits] | ||
Fourth Year |
|||
| EDU-411 Internship: Teaching in the Elementary School | 10 | English Literature | 3 |
| EDU-410 Internship: Teaching Early Childhood Education | 6 | EDU-402 American Education in History | 3 |
| [16 credits] | EDU-460 Assessment of Reading | 3 | |
| Religious Studies (300) | 3 | ||
| History | 3 | ||
| [15 credits] | |||
This program also requires that students complete courses during the Winterim session:
First-year Winterim:
Sample program of study for the undergraduate student enrolled in the elementary education/liberal studies with special education certification major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor. (See course descriptions for a list of required courses and description of course and program options.)
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
First Year |
|||
| NDMU-100 Perspectives in Education | 4 | Chemistry or Physical Science | 4 |
| ENG-101 College Writing | 3 | English Literature | 3 |
| Physical Science or Biology | 4 | EDU-303 Elementary Reading Materials | 3 |
| Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 | MUS-202 Music for Teachers | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | SPE-201 Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| [16 credits] | Physical Education | 1 | |
| [17 credits] | |||
Second Year |
|||
| Physical Science or Biology | 4 | ART-208 Creative Arts | 3 |
| EDU-357 Processes and Acquisition/Reading | 3 | Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 |
| Philosophy (200-level) | 3 | Sociology | 3 |
| COM-206 Public Speaking | 3 | GEO-206 Geography | 3 |
| SPE-344 Assessment Special Education | 3 | SPE-337 Communication Skills for Teachers | 3 |
| [16 credits] | RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies | 3 | |
| [18 credits] | |||
Third YearPass PRAXIS Core before methods classes |
|||
| SPE-321 Methods of Teaching Students with Special Needs |
3 | Methods Class: EDU-309 Reading in Elem. School | 3 |
| PSY-203 Child/Adolescent Development | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-310 Mathematics in Elem. School | 3 |
| Special Education | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-307 Social Studies in Elem. School | 3 |
| EDU-301 Educational Psychology | 3 | Methods Class: EDU-312 Science in Elem. School | 3 |
| Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 | [12 credits] | |
| [15 credits] | |||
Fourth Year |
|||
| EDU-411 Internship: Teaching in the Elementary School | 10 | English Literature | 3 |
| SPE-475 Internship: Teaching Special Education | 6 | EDU-402 Am. Ed. in History | 3 |
| [16 credits] | EDU-460 Assessment of Reading | 3 | |
| Religious Studies (300) | 3 | ||
| History | 3 | ||
| Mathematics (120, 121, 122, 125) | 3 | ||
| [18 credits] | |||
This program requires that students complete courses during the Winterim session:
First-Year Winterim: EDU-300 Technology for Management and Instruction
Second-Year Winterim: EDU-252 Clinical Field Experience: Elementary
Third-Year Winterim: SPE-373 Field Experience: Special Education
Fourth-Year Winterim: Philosophy 300- or 400-level course