University of Southern Maine

Adult Nurse Practitioner

Family Nurse Practitioner

Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist

Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health/Clinical Nurse Specialist

Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health/CNS/Nurse Practitioner

Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The post-master’s certificate is designed to meet the educational needs of the master’s prepared registered nurse interested in obtaining preparation for advanced practice. Students enrolled in this program join the master’s students enrolled in the respective concentrations.

Program Requirements for Adult and Family Nurse Practitioner

* Required only of Family Nurse Practitioner students

Program Requirements for Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health/CNS/Nurse Practitioner, or Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

*Required only of Family P/MH Nurse Practitioner students

Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission must meet the following requirements:

Adult Learning

The post-master’s certificate of advanced study in adult learning is designed for the experienced educator—teacher, counselor, administrator, program planner, or policy maker—who works with adults in any educational setting, or seeks to explore the use of adult learning strategies as an alternative educational approach for working with younger learners. The 30-credit program emphasizes personal learning as a central theme, both as an approach to educator development and as a set of concepts and tools for working with adults in schools, businesses, social service agencies, hospitals, and other community organizations where adult education programs are planned and delivered. This is an individualized, flexible program which permits students to apply their learning to field-based projects.

Admission Requirements
The Certificates of Advanced Study programs have additional admission requirements outlined in the Admission to the Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) section of the catalog.

Special Admissions Requirements
Candidates should have a master’s degree in adult education or a related field from a regionally accredited college or university and at least 2 years of experience in professional practice. Professional practice may include, but is not limited to, work in student affairs in higher education, training, teaching in a variety of contexts, program administration, or community education. In addition to the general requirements of the college, candidates should provide a narrative that includes:

Note: Candidates whose master’s degree and/or work experiences are not strongly related to adult education will be advised to apply to the master’s in adult and higher education program.

Transfer Credit
Candidates may transfer up to 15 credit hours of graduate-level study earned at other universities into the CAS in adult learning if these credits were not used as part of another degree or graduate certificate, relate to the subject of adult education/learning, were earned no more than five years prior to admission, and that students received grades of B or better in the classes. In rare situations and when compelling evidence is provided, the program faculty reserves the right to expand the number and age of credits transferred into the CAS in adult learning program beyond the 15 credit, 5-year rule.

Program Requirements

A field-based capstone project will be completed as one of the following: a field-based study; a public policy initiative; a publishable empirical research and/or theory paper; or a personal learning curriculum for adults. Students will present their projects in a seminar of faculty and peers.

Counseling

The post-master’s certificate of advanced study (CAS) in counseling is designed to offer a broad range of professional development opportunities for practicing counselors. The overall goal of the certificate program is to enhance and enrich the counselor’s educational foundation and to give focus to advanced knowledge and skills that will shape future professional practice. The CAS in counseling requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework. Students will work cooperatively with faculty to design a certificate program that is substantive, developmental and focused, and may also take advantage of special certification options in counseling supervision, play therapy, substance abuse counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and couple and family therapy.

Admission Requirements
The Certificates of Advanced Study programs have additional admission requirements outlined in the Admission to the Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) section of the catalog.

Special Admission Requirements
Candidates should have a master’s degree in counseling or allied field and, preferably, two years of experience in professional practice. In addition to the general requirements of the College, candidates should provide a proposed plan of study for the CAS that includes:

Transfer Policy

Students may not transfer courses that were part of a master’s degree of fewer than 60 credits toward the CAS. Up to six post-master’s graduate credits may be accepted by the CAS admissions committee, provided these credits were earned no more than three years prior to matriculation in the CAS and were completed with a grade of B or better. .

Students may be able to apply up to 12 credits that were part of a master’s degree that required 60 or more credits toward the CAS. These courses must be directly related to the student’s proposed CAS program of study, provided these credits are approved by the counselor education program faculty and were completed with a grade of B or better.

Program Requirements

Focus Area (30 credits)
Students can pursue one or more of the focus areas detailed below, or design a professionally relevant focus area of their own with the assistance of a faculty advisor.

Portfolio
Students develop a professional portfolio describing progress toward professional goals while in the CAS program. Portfolios are used in final seminars as the basis for discussion, summary, and sharing among completing students.

Educational Leadership

The post-master’s certificate of advanced study program in educational leadership is designed to meet the needs of practicing educators, including teachers, principals, curriculum directors, and superintendents, who are interested in pursuing advanced academic work in educational reform and leadership. The CAS requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the master’s degree and a 3-6 credit capstone experience. Students engage in careful reading of research and scholarship, oral and written presentations, and applied projects. As a result of completing this program, students will have demonstrated: self-assessment and reflective practice tools, skills, and habits of mind; research design and methodological decision-making skills; advanced oral and written communication skills; knowledge of current scholarship in educational reform and leadership; and capacity for connecting theory and practice in posing and solving educational problems. Maine certification as a principal, assistant principal, or curriculum coordinator may be earned through the CAS program.

Admission Requirements
The Certificates of Advanced Study programs have additional admission requirements outlined in the Admission to the Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) section of the catalog.

Please also refer to the transfer credit policies outlined in the educational leadership degree program.

Program Requirements

Self-designed Concentration (24-27 credits)

Graduate coursework may be taken in any existing graduate program within the College of Education and Human Development or USM’s Muskie School of Public Service, School of Business, and College of Arts and Sciences or from other institutions, upon approval of the faculty advisor.

Capstone Project (3-6 credits)

Three capstone project options are available: EDU 612 Practicum/Seminar, EDU 685/686/687/688 Internship in Administration/Special Education Administration/Superintendency/Curriculum Management; or EDU 665 CAS Directed Study.

English as a Second Language

The post-master’s certificate of advanced study in English as a second language (ESL) is designed to meet the needs of classroom teachers, administrators, and other educators who want to pursue advanced graduate study in ESLand related areas and/or earn Maine endorsement as an ESLteacher,K-12. The CAS requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the master’sdegree, including a capstone experience. Students may design a program to suit their needs for advanced study. The program will vary depending on the master’sdegree focus and the goals of the student. Participants will have considerable choice in designing coursework and projects, and will work closely with a faculty advisor.

Admission Requirements
The Certificates of Advanced Study programs have additional admission requirements outlined in the Admission to the Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) section of the catalog.

Please also refer to the transfer credit policies outlined in the literacy education degree program.

Program Requirements

Electives (6 credits)
Advanced Seminar in Literacy/Capstone(3 credits)

For specific requirements please see the literacy education Web site at www.usm.maine.edu/cehd/Literacy-Education/prog_materials.htm.

Literacy Education

The post-master’s certificate of advanced study program in literacy education is designed to meet the needs of classroom teachers, administrators, and other educators who want to pursue advanced graduate study in literacy education and related areas.

The CAS requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework, including a capstone experience. Students may design a program to suit their needs for advanced study. The program will vary, depending on the focus of the master’s degree and the student’s goals. Students will have considerable choice in designing coursework and projects, and will work closely with a faculty advisor. Maine certification as a literacy specialist may be earned through the CAS program. Please consult your advisor.

Admission Requirements
The Certificates of Advanced Study programs have additional admission requirements outlined in the Admission to the Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) section of the catalog.

Please also refer to the transfer credit policies outlined in the literacy education degree program.

Program Requirements (30 credits)

Electives (30 credits)

With advisor consultation, students may select graduate courses in education or other disciplines that relate to their focus in literacy and contribute to their overall plan of study.

Advanced Seminar in Literacy/Capstone Project

For specific requirements please see the literacy education Web site at www.usm.maine.edu/cehd/Literacy-Education/prog_materials.htm.