Saint Joseph’s College and Southern Maine Community College, under the Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine program, support students looking to become secondary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) teachers via a 2+2 degree program at the two institutions. Click on each program to learn more and see the four-year plan toward earning your bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with a secondary education minor and Maine teaching certification.
Highlights of the secondary education minor include flexibility in format (online or on-campus), personal instruction, and a progression of teaching skills as candidates receive training in authentic contexts through sequential field experiences.
Highlights
The BSE program results in Life Sciences teaching certification in Maine, with the option to earn dual certification in Life and Physical Sciences. There is flexibility in biology electives - offerings range from Ornithology to Physiology to Disease Prevention - and all students participate in the senior research seminar program. See the full articulation agreement here.
Courses taken at SMCC (years 1 and 2, more info)
BIOL 124 Biology I & Lab
BIOL 128 Biology II & Lab
CHEM 120 General Chemistry I & Lab
CHEM 125 General Chemistry II & Lab
ENGL 100 English Composition
ENGL 110 Oral Communication
ENGL 115 Introduction to Literature
FIGS 100 Freshman Interest Group
MATH 145 College Algebra & Trig (Strongly recommend MATH 260 Calc I)
PHYS 150 College Physics I & Lab
PHYS 155 College Physics II & Lab
Art or Music Elective
Psychology or Sociology Elective
Economics or Political Science Elective
Humanities Elective (recommend HIST 125 World History since 1500)
Diversity Elective
Ethical Reasoning Elective (PHIL 105 Ethical Dilemmas)
Fine Arts or Humanities elective (recommend PHIL 100)
History Elective
Courses taken at Saint Joseph’s College (years 3 and 4)
Summer Prior to Year 3: ED 100 - Educational Foundations (online)
Year Three Fall
CH 230 Organic Chemistry I
BI 210 Anatomy and Physiology I
ED 350 Curriculum Design Practicum - Secondary Education
ED 325 - Educational Psychology
Year Three Spring
BI 235 Genetics
BI 211 Anatomy and Physiology II
ED 355 Teaching Methods in Secondary Education
ED 340 Exceptionality
TH 100 Intro to Judeo-Christian Tradition
Year Four Fall
BI 233 Ecology
BI 330 Biochemistry I
BI Elective
ED 555 Measurement and Evaluation
Theology Elective
Year Four Spring
ED 450 Secondary Student Teaching
BI 406 Senior Research
Highlights
The PSSE-Chem reflects SJC’s strength in community-based learning. PSSE-Chem students have additional opportunities to serve in schools in their chemistry classes via the NSF-funded Chemistry for the Community program. Students take upper level courses in small, personal courses and work in the Advanced Chemistry lab (built in 2016) and Trace Element lab. The program results in Physical Sciences teaching certification in Maine.
Courses taken at SMCC (years 1 and 2, more info)
BIOL 124 Biology I & Lab
BIOL 128 Biology II & Lab
CHEM 120 General Chemistry I & Lab
CHEM 125 General Chemistry II & Lab
ENGL 100 English Composition
ENGL 110 Oral Communication
ENGL 115 Introduction to Literature
FIGS 100 Freshman Interest Group
MATH 145 College Algebra & Trig (Strongly recommend MATH 260 Calc I)
PHYS 150 College Physics I & Lab
PHYS 155 College Physics II & Lab
Art or Music Elective
Psychology or Sociology Elective
Economics or Political Science Elective
Humanities Elective (recommend HIST 125 World History since 1500)
Diversity Elective
Ethical Reasoning Elective (PHIL 105 Ethical Dilemmas)
Fine Arts or Humanities elective (recommend PHIL 100)
History Elective
Courses taken at Saint Joseph’s College (years 3 and 4)
Summer Prior to Year 3: ED 100 - Educational Foundations (online)
Year Three Fall
CH 230 Organic Chemistry I
CH 240 Analytical Chemistry
ED 350 Curriculum Design Practicum - Secondary Education
ED 325 Educational Psychology
Year Three Spring
CH 231 Organic Chemistry II
TH 100 Intro to Judeo-Christian Tradition
ED 355 Teaching Methods in Secondary Education
MA 202 Calculus II
ED 340 Exceptionality
Year Four Fall
ED 450 Secondary Student Teaching
ED 555 Measurement and Evaluation
Year Four Spring
CH Elective
CH Elective
ES 100 Ecology and the Environmental Challenge
Theology Elective
Highlights
Students in the PSSE-Env program have the option to participate in the only semester- long total immersion experience offered in New England: the Environmental Science Semester (ESS), where their classroom is the White Mountains, Acadia National Park, and the Bay of Fundy, among other locations. The breadth of courses prepares the student to teach any combination of Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics or Chemistry and results in Physical Sciences teaching certification in Maine.
Courses taken at SMCC (years 1 and 2, more info)
BIOL 124 Biology I & Lab
BIOL 128 Biology II & Lab
CHEM 120 General Chemistry I & Lab
CHEM 125 General Chemistry II & Lab
ENGL 100 English Composition
ENGL 110 Oral Communication
ENGL 115 Introduction to Literature
FIGS 100 Freshman Interest Group
MATH 145 College Algebra & Trig (Strongly recommend MATH 260 Calc I)
PHYS 150 College Physics I & Lab
PHYS 155 College Physics II & Lab
Art or Music Elective
Psychology or Sociology Elective
Economics or Political Science Elective
Humanities Elective (recommend HIST 125 World History since 1500)
Diversity Elective
Ethical Reasoning Elective (PHIL 105 Ethical Dilemmas)
Fine Arts or Humanities elective (recommend PHIL 100)
History Elective
Courses taken at Saint Joseph’s College (years 3 and 4)
Summer Prior to Year 3: ED 100 Educational Foundations (online)
Year Three Fall
ES 100 Ecology and the Environmental Challenge
ES 120 Field Methods
ED 350 Curriculum Design Practicum - Secondary Education
ED 325 Educational Psychology
TH 100 Intro to Judeo-Christian Tradition
Year Three Spring
ES 130 Geology of SW US
CH 220 Survey of Organic Chemistry
ED 355 Teaching Methods in Secondary Education
ES/MS Elective (ES335 Fisheries)
ED 340 Exceptionality
Year Four Fall
ED 450 Secondary Student Teaching
ED 555 Measurement and Evaluation
Year Four Spring
MA 202 Calculus II
CH 245 Environmental Chemistry
ES/MS Elective (ES260 Aquaculture)
Theology Elective