Program Overview

Program Overview

The Site-based Implementation of Teacher Education (SITE) is an alternative teacher certification M.A.E. program designed for career-path changers who possess an undergraduate degree in education. This program offers a unique opportunity for individuals to earn a Master of Arts in Education degree (M.A.E.) in Elementary Education.

Program Details

• The program is a 30 credit Master of Arts in Education degree (M.A.E.) in Elementary Education.
• Upon completion, students are eligible for a professional certificate in grades K-6.
• The program consists of an intense 3 semester sequence (Summer, Fall, Spring) that includes a yearlong internship under the supervision of a mentor teacher and UF coach.
• SITE interns have the experience of co-teaching for an entire school year before assuming their first teaching experience.
• The coursework includes the Florida Reading Endorsement and 60 hours of the ESOL requirement.

Program Structure

• Formal course work is taught by the University of Florida’s College of Education.
• Because the internship coincides with course work, students apply the theory they learn to their daily classroom practices.
• This Educator Preparation Institute (EPI), an alternative to traditional teacher preparation, provides a learning environment in which the interns’ previous careers and volunteer experiences supplement their classroom instruction.
• SITE also has National program accreditation through CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation).

Program Schedule

• Summer B: two online classes
• Fall and Spring: work (co-teaching) in a classroom, with online coursework.
• Graduation

Curriculum Approach

The program emphasizes staying current with trends and hot topics in teaching. Recommended readings come from blogs and recent articles, not only textbooks, allowing students to learn about contemporary issues in education as they pertain to the current time period.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), ensuring that it meets high standards of quality in educator preparation.