Education

McDaniel produces the best teachers in Maryland. (That’s what an English teacher could call hyperbole… except we have the data to back it up.) What’s the secret to our success? Well, it starts with you. Your passion. Your empathy. Your desire to help others learn and grow.

Mortarboard

Degree Types

Major , Minor , B.A./M.S. Pathway

Institution

Complementary Programs

Teaching, M.S.

Special Education, M.S.

Heart

Distinctive Requirements

Internship

Document

Reputation & Recognition

State Teacher of the Year recipients

Why McDaniel for your Teaching Degree?

Accreditation and Certification

McDaniel has provided programs for teacher preparation and certification for over 110 years. The College offers majors in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, as well as minors in Secondary and PreK–12 Education. Programs in the McDaniel College Education department were reviewed and accredited by the NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teachers) in 2017. McDaniel College will be reviewed by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in the next cycle of accreditation in 2024.

Students who complete the Elementary Education major with certification requirements, or a minor in Secondary Education, or PreK–12 (Art, Music, French, German, Spanish, or Physical Education) are eligible for initial teacher certification in the State of Maryland (and the more than 45 states involved in the Interstate Reciprocity Agreement) in elementary (grades 1-6), secondary (grades 7-12), or PreK–12 (art, instrumental or vocal music, or physical education).

Professional Licensure Disclosure

"McDaniel College graduates future educators who are not only knowledgeable, but also efficient mentors who provide empathetic support and practice novel teaching methods.”

Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer for Colleges of Distinction

Future Opportunities

Teachers continue to be in high demand at schools of all types all over the country. In Maryland alone, shortages have been declared in just about every content area and local jurisdiction. McDaniel Education graduates are poised to fill those positions in a variety of capacities.

Outstanding Graduate Programs

McDaniel College is proud of our many Master's programs in Education, giving you a direct pathway to advancing your own education while honing your skills. Attaining your M.S. also advances your pay scale.

Explore our Graduate Programs in Education

B.A./M.S. Pathways for Education Majors Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathway

McDaniel’s bachelor’s to master’s (BA/MS) pathway programs provide the unique opportunity for academically qualified McDaniel students to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in an accelerated timeframe with less cost.

Structured BA/MS Pathways for Education Majors: Structured programs are accelerated programs between an undergraduate major and master’s degree program that have an approved, existing agreement for coursework choices between the undergraduate and graduate course requirements.

Bachelor of Arts – Master of Science in Secondary Education/Special Education

Student Designed BA/MS Pathways for Education Majors: Student-designed BA/MS Pathway is an accelerated program in which a student works with their undergraduate advisor and a master’s degree program coordinator in the graduate program of their choice to develop.

Master of Science in Special Education
Master of Science in Teaching

Learn more about BA/MS Pathways for Education Majors

Distinctive Courses

HIS 1109 - Survey of Modern U.S. History, 1865-2000

An inquiry into the events and forces that have shaped the United States since 1865, including industrialization, urbanization, race relations, reform, social and cultural tensions, and global conflict.

This course will explore the challenges and opportunities facing teachers in the 21st Century. Students will unpack and assess different pedagogical approaches, strategies, and tools to develop an understanding of the role of the teacher in the 21st Century classroom. Students will work in collaborative teams to design and implement interdisciplinary learning experiences that engage and inspire students.

Current trends in social studies for the elementary school level with an emphasis on student involvement in the learning environment are studied. Students acquire familiarity with a variety of teaching techniques and curriculum materials in this content area.

Engage in the analysis and interpretation of adult and children’s literature to identify mentor texts as models for composing and teaching personal narrative and explanatory informational writing. Building on the reading-writing connection, you’ll apply a writer’s lens to analyze elements of craft and literary devices in mentor texts and plan literature-based craft lessons that address varied disciplines, purposes, genres, and audiences.

Elementary Education Program Requirements

Keep in Touch

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See Yourself Here

Take your first steps on the Hill! Visiting campus is one of the best ways to determine if McDaniel is right for you.

Visit McDaniel

Department Faculty

Learn more about the faculty and staff behind this program.

See Education faculty

The McDaniel Commitment in Action

The McDaniel Commitment—a series of opportunities guaranteed to all students—provides enhanced mentoring and coaching, and ensures every undergraduate student completes at least two meaningful experiential learning opportunities.

Study Abroad

Student interacting with elementary school children on carpet.

Internships

Students presenting for Innovation Challenge.

Research

Alumna Amara Foster stands in front of a classroom board with colorful art and lessons on it.

Amara Foster ’21

By the time she was a sophomore, Amara Foster ’21 was student teaching in local schools as an Elementary Education major on the Hill. That real-world experience and mentorship from McDaniel educators led her right into her job as a fifth-grade teacher, where she makes a big impact every day.

Impressive Outcomes First-year teachers find themselves prepared thanks to their McDaniel education

Adaptability, flexibility, and problem-solving skills are all traits McDaniel College has instilled into recent alumni who have begun their first year of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly all of those who graduated with either a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education or a Secondary Education minor or who earned a master’s degree in Teaching as part of the Class of 2020 secured teaching positions this fall.

Read "First-year teachers find themselves prepared thanks to their McDaniel education"

Q&A with Associate Professor of Education Becca Gibson, Ph.D.

What do you hope students take away from your courses?: I hope students come away from my courses with an understanding of both how complex and how important teaching reading and writing is to children and a sense of self-efficacy in literacy teaching. It’s not supposed to be easy, and students won’t know all the answers, but they will be able to teach effectively — and joyously!; Read the full Q&A.

Education graduates recognized as rising stars

Eight graduates who majored in Elementary Education or minored in PreK-12 or Secondary Education were recognized as rising stars in education. Kate Cramer, Emma Lindell, Brittany Mitchell, Jessica Raver, Carlena Sheeto, Heather Shockley, and Jada Stump were named Teachers of Promise by the Maryland State Department of Education, while Carly Ludwig was selected as a 2023 Distinguished Teacher Candidate by the Maryland Association of Teacher Educators (MATE).

Read "Education graduates recognized as rising stars "

American Sign Language (ASL) Studies Cross Cultural Studies Teaching, M.S. Special Education, M.S. Educational Leadership, M.S.