Saint Michael's College

With three programs that lead to a teaching license, Saint Michael’s produces educators with solid professional training and strong liberal arts backgrounds anchored in specific academic disciplines.

Our education programs are perfect for those who have a strong commitment to children, adolescents and learning.  Our students agree that the program is rigorous, due in part to the high expectations of our experienced education faculty.  We are especially proud of the way local school educators eagerly take on the supervision of Saint Michael’s students during their student-teaching semesters, noting their high level of preparedness.

Our programs are set up to give students early exposure to classroom practices through 20 hours of observations in a local school as part of our introductory course, Schools and Society.  Students' work in a major and/or licensure program culminates with a semester-long student teaching experience, where theory is put into everyday practice. 

Undergraduates choose among sequences that lead either to an elementary education major, elementary education licensure or secondary education licensure. Students who complete one of these programs earn licensure through the State of Vermont, which has reciprocal agreements with many states throughout the country.

Differences Between the Major and the Licensure

The elementary education major leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in education. 

The elementary education licensure program leads to a license to teach grades K-6.  The courses required for an elementary education license are identical to those required for the major.  The primary difference is that in order to complete the major, students must take some additional education credits.

Similar to the elementary education licensure program, the secondary education licensure program is not a major, meaning it does not lead to a Bachelor's degree on its own.  Rather, it is a separate set of courses that students complete, leading to a license to teach secondary school, grades 7-12.  

In all three programs, students must complete the requirements for a major in one of the liberal arts and sciences at Saint Michael's College. Refer to the Guide to Teacher Education Programs and Licensure for more requirement information and program details.

Grade Requirement

We require that all education students maintain an overall "B" average and a "B" average in education courses before student teaching, and at graduation.

According to Federal Title II mandates, Saint Michael's College must publish the percentage of those students who are recommended for licensure. To be recommended for licensure, students must successfully complete our programs by meeting all GPA, course, portfolio and testing requirements. Based on those criteria, we have recommended 100% of our program completers for licensure.

To contact the Department of Education:

View a complete list of faculty in the Department of Education.

Valerie Bang-Jensen
Associate Professor of Education

Karen Donovan 
Special Education Coordinator

Mary Beth Doyle
Associate Professor of Education 

Kevin Hunt '12

Aostre Johnson 
Associate Professor of Education

Anne Judson
Instructor of Education,
Director, Graduate Education

Elizabeth Siracusa '11

Read a blog post by Dan Ozimek '11 about his experience as an education major