EED_MED - Elementary Education (M.Ed.)

Program Information

The School of Teaching & Learning offers the Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Master of Arts in Education (M.A.E.) degrees in Elementary Education. More information about the requirements for these degrees can be found in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

For those interested in elementary (K-6) teacher certification, the Alternative Certification in Elementary Education (SITE) Program is an M.A.E. degree that prepares and certifies elementary school teachers.

Alternative Certification in Elementary Education (SITE) Program

The Site-based Implementation of Teacher Education (SITE) program at the University of Florida is a state-designated Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) created to attract talented college graduates and career path changers with non-education majors to the elementary classroom. The yearlong program is available online and provides an alternative, accelerated pathway to teaching experience and certification for prospective teachers who possess an undergraduate degree outside of education. The clinical internship combines supervised classroom teaching and formal study, with successful completion leading to a master’s (M.A.E.) degree in Elementary Education. The SITE program leads to eligibility for the Professional Certificate in Elementary Education K-6 and the Reading Endorsement in Florida.

Many students come to the program with degrees or professional experience in fields such as accounting, business, English, family studies, history, journalism, nursing and psychology. Selection for entry into this full-time internship requires a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA; a stellar essay/statement of purpose; three professional letters of recommendation; and a Statement of Status of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Education.

Interns complete 30 credit hours of study and classroom teaching over three semesters, all under the supervision of a school-based mentor and a university coach. The mentor teacher and intern teach side-by-side throughout the entire school year, while the UF coach supports the intern to problem-solve and reflect on teaching skills. Along with their planning, teaching and coursework responsibilities, the interns become familiar with the school improvement goals and new programs initiated at their host schools. SITE coursework is taught by UF education professors and teachers who all have proven expertise in K-12 teaching.

SITE is intended to culminate in certification to teach in Florida. Graduates wishing to teach in states other than Florida should contact the Department of Education in their state of choice for certification requirements there.

For additional information about the program please visit: http://education.ufl.edu/site.