Education
The University of Maine at Farmington's Education cluster includes our highly respected majors in Early Childhood Education (with 3 options: birth - age 5 certification, kindergarten - grade 3 teacher certification, Early Childhood Education non-certification); Early Childhood Special Education (with 3 options: birth - age 5 with teacher certification, birth - age 5 plus kindergarten - grade 3 teacher certification, Early Childhood Special Ed non-certification); Elementary Education; Secondary / Middle Education (with 7 concentrations: English, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies); and Special Education (with 2 options: grades K-8, and grades 8-12).

First in Education
The University of Maine at Farmington’s prominence in Education runs long and deep. In fact, the school was founded in 1864 as an institution dedicated to preparing teachers.

Because our Education programs were based on a foundation of liberal arts (a novel concept in its time) the school quickly earned a reputation for producing some of the finest teachers in New England.

Over the years the University expanded its liberal arts foundation as it strengthened its Education programs. The result: the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) has not only retained its outstanding reputation for preparing highly qualified teachers, but it is still recognized far and wide as a leader in the field of Education.

In fact, four of the past six "Teacher of the Year" in Maine have been UMF Education graduates. Plus, UMF graduates have been named Teacher of the Year in other states (N.H., Vt., to name a few).

One of the many things that make our Education programs so well respected is the fact that our students are required to practice in the field what they’ve learned in the classroom.

At UMF, you get in-the-classroom experience early and often. In fact, your first "teacher side of the desk" experience in a school classroom comes in your sophomore year! Giving you valuable hands-on, real-world skills and knowledge.

Student Teaching, Practicum, Professional Portfolios, Peer Advising and a solid adaptable foundation in the Arts & Sciences are just some of the reasons our teaching graduates continue to be in such high demand.

In fact, each spring UMF holds Maine's only teacher-specific job fair and school systems from every county in Maine and from as far away as California, Nevada, Florida and North Carolina regularly descend on our campus eager to hire our soon-to-be graduates. Our students are in such high demand, many are offered teaching positions right on the spot.

Educators for Maine Program
Administered by the Finance Authority of Maine, the Educators for Maine (EFM) Program is a competitive, merit-based, forgivable loan program for Maine students pursuing careers in teaching, including speech pathology and child development or childcare. Recipients need to have a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in high school. Applications are available from your high school guidance office or the Finance Authority of Maine.

(For details, see the Related Link, Educators for Maine Program.)

UMF is fully accredited by NCATE, which not only speaks to the outstanding quality of our teacher education programs, but also certifies UMF education graduates to teach in some 33 states across the United States.