Whether you need a job today, are looking to advance professionally in the future, want to explore new ideas, and/or are just ready to finish what you have started, we have a program for you. We’ll listen to your goals and help you pick the path that will work for you.

Available fully online and/or on-campus.

The Professional Studies degree allows you to customize your education, building upon what you already know and can do while gaining the new learning you need to achieve personal and professional goals. 

We’ll work with you to design a path to degree completion that combines prior college credits, credit for learning from life and work experiences, and UMF courses.

This 120 credit-hour degree has four parts:

  1. General education, 40 credit hours that provide breadth of knowledge and skills.  
  2. Core Skills, 18 credit hours in any 4 of 6 skill areas in demand across professions: communication, technology, creativity, quantitative reasoning, critical reading, leadership and/or business.
  3. Focus Area, at least 18 credit hours focusing on an area of relevance to you.
  1. Open Electives, up to 44 credit hours, giving you additional flexibility to incorporate prior and explore new learning.

For detailed degree requirements, see  Bachelor of Arts: Professional Studies 

  • Bachelor of Science in Special Education
    • available fully online and/or on-campus 
    • best fit for those who have limited experience in the field and/or few prior college credits
    • this degree prepares you to be a fully certified special education teacher
  • Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with the courses required for Special Education (282) Endorsement 
    • available fully online and/or on-campus
    • best fit for Ed Tech 2s and 3s and others already working in the field with significant transfer credit 
    • this degree prepares you to be a conditionally certified special education teacher with the ability to earn full certification after one year of successful teaching
Already have a bachelor’s degree?
  • Take just the courses you need for 282 certification through our Special Education Alternative Route to Certification (SPARC)
    • available fully online
    • best fit for those with a bachelor’s degree who are already working in the field
  • Advance your career with a Master’s Degree in Special Education 
    • classes 30% in-person/Zoom and 70% online
    • works best for those with a bachelor’s degree who are already working in the field and interested in career advancement 
    • includes the courses needed for 282 certification
  • Bachelor of Science: Early Childhood Education (Off-campus at Southern Maine Community College)
    • combines online and in-person classes held at Southern Maine Community College
    • best fit for working professionals in the Portland area 
    • this degree prepares you to be fully certified as an early childhood educator with the 081 or 029 endorsement
  • Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with the courses required for the Birth-K (081) Endorsement
    • most, but not all, of the classes for this degree can be taken online through UMF
    • classes are also available on-campus in Farmington or at Southern Maine Community College and online from other UMS colleges
    • best fit for those already working in the field, particularly those with significant transfer credit
    • this degree prepares you to be a conditionally certified PreK-3 teacher with the ability to earn full certification after one year of successful teaching
Already have a bachelor’s degree?
  • Bachelor of Science: Early Childhood Education (Off-campus at Southern Maine Community College)
    • combines online and in-person classes held at Southern Maine Community College
    • best fit for working professionals in the Portland area
    • this degree prepares you to be fully certified as an early childhood educator with the 081 or 029 endorsement
  • Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with the courses required for the PreK-3 (029) Endorsement
    • most, but not all, of the classes for this degree can be taken online through UMF
    • classes are also available on-campus in Farmington or at Southern Maine Community College and online from other UMS colleges
    • best fit for those already working in the field, particularly those with significant transfer credit 
    • this degree prepares you to be a conditionally certified PreK-3 teacher with the ability to earn full certification after one year of successful teaching
Already have a bachelor’s degree?

Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with the courses required for the K-6 (020) Endorsement

  • available fully online and/or on-campus
  • best fit for those already working in the field
  • this degree prepares you to be a conditionally certified K-6 teacher with the ability to earn full certification after one year of successful teaching
Already have a bachelor’s degree?

Take just the courses you need for certification through our Office of Graduate & Continuing Education

Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with the courses required for the 6-12 (100, 200, 300, 350, or 395) Endorsement

  • most, but not all, of the classes for this degree can be taken online through UMF 
  • classes are also available on-campus at UMF and online from other UMS colleges
  • best fit for those already working in the field
  • this degree prepares you to be a conditionally certified middle and secondary school teacher with the ability to earn full certification after one year of successful teaching
Already have a bachelor’s degree?

Take just the courses you need for certification through our Office of Graduate & Continuing Education

Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with the courses required for the PE PreK-12 (510) Endorsement

  • the classes for this degree can be taken online through a partnership between UMF and UMPI
  • best fit for those already working in the field
  • this degree prepares you to be a conditionally certified Physical Education teacher with the ability to earn full certification after one year of successful teaching
Already have a bachelor’s degree? 

Take just the courses you need for certification through our Office of Graduate & Continuing Education

Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with the courses required for the Health Education PreK-12 (520) Endorsement

  • the classes for this degree can be taken online through UMF 
  • best fit for those already working in the field
  • this degree prepares you to be a conditionally certified Health Educator with the ability to earn full certification after one year of successful teaching
Already have a bachelor’s degree? 

Take just the courses you need for certification through our Office of Graduate & Continuing Education

Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with the courses required for the Health and Physical Education PreK-12 (512) Endorsement

  • the classes for this degree can be taken online through a partnership between UMF and UMPI
  • best fit for those already working in the field
  • this degree prepares you to be a conditionally certified Health & Physical Education teacher with the ability to earn full certification after one year of successful teaching
Already have a bachelor’s degree? 

Take just the courses you need for certification through our Office of Graduate & Continuing Education

We also can provide you with guidance for other teaching certifications such as becoming a certified music, art, or world language teacher. To learn more, make an appointment at a time that works for you by clicking here  

  • Available fully online
  • Designed for graduates of Montgomery College’s Associates of Applied Science (AAS) in Biotechnology program, but applies to any AAS degree holder working in the Biotechnology industry
  • This 120 credit-hour bachelor’s degree
    • Builds upon Montgomery College’s 60 credit hour AAS in Biotechnology
    • Adds breadth with courses in Chemistry, Physics, the Humanities, and the Social Sciences
    • Adds depth with advanced coursework in Biology
    • Adds flexibility to incorporate prior and explore new learning with 15 open elective credits
    • Includes opportunities to earn credit for life and work experiences
  • For detailed degree requirements, see this program planning sheet

Professional Studies with a Focus on Health Promotion and Wellness

  • Available fully online or with a mix of online and on-campus courses
  • Designed for those working in health and wellness such as community health, health advocacy, and healthcare
  • Allows you to make the most of prior college credits and credit for learning from life and work experiences while gaining new knowledge and skills for personal and professional development.
  • This 120 credit-hour bachelor’s degree has four parts:
    • General education, 40 credit hours that provide breadth of knowledge and skills.  
    • Core Skills, 18 credit hours in any 4 of 6 skill areas in demand across professions: communication, technology, creativity, quantitative reasoning, critical reading, leadership and/or business.
    • Health Promotion and Wellness Focus Area, at least 18 credit hours including the following courses:
      • HEA 218 – Health Behavior Change Theory
      • HEA 310 – Principles of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
      • HEA 350 – Principles of Epidemiology
      • HEA 410 – Resource Management and Grant Writing
      • HEA 411 – Planning for Health Education
      • HEA Electives, at least 3 credit hours
    • Open Electives, up to 44 credit hours, giving you additional flexibility to incorporate prior and explore new learning.
  • Available fully online
  • Designed for state and municipal government employees and those interested in careers in government service
  • This 120 credit-hour bachelor’s degree has four parts:
    • General education, 40 credit hours that provide breadth of knowledge and skills.  
    • Required Major Courses, 12 credit hours:
      • ANT 360 – Social Science Research Methods 
      • MAT 120 – Introductory Statistics 
      • POS 200 – Public Policy 
      • POS 300 – Comparative Policy Analysis 
    • Major Electives, 18 credit hours from an interdisciplinary selection of courses that allow you to focus on areas of public policy most relevant to you.
    • Open Electives, up to 50 credit hours, giving you additional flexibility to incorporate prior and explore new learning.
  • For detailed degree requirements, see Public Policy Bachelor’s of Arts

Earn certifications that can get you a job today and move you forward for the career you want tomorrow. Not sure which is the right fit for you? Make an appointment to talk over your goals and review options by clicking here  

  • Employment Specialist Certification
    • Length: 2 courses, 6 credit hours
    • Available online
    • Best fit for someone who wants to quickly start work helping people with disabilities and other limiting conditions to find and maintain employment
    • Qualifies you for Employment Specialist positions at the Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, the Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services, the Maine Office of Behavioral Health, and many community rehabilitation agencies
    • Courses can be applied to a Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation and Human Services
  • Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Certificate
    • Length: 10 courses, 30 credit hours
    • Available online
    • Best fit for someone who wants to work in the field of substance abuse rehabilitation 
    • Qualifies you to apply for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) license in Maine
    • Courses can be applied to a Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation and Human Services, with 15 in the major and 15 as general electives
  • Rehabilitation & Human Services Bachelor of Science (BS)
    • Length: 120-credit hour college degree program, of which 59 credits hours are in the major
    • Can include Employment Specialist Certification and/or Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Certificate
    • Available fully online and/or on-campus 
    • Best fit for those who have limited experience in the field and/or few prior college credits
    • Option for Counseling 3+2 – B.S. in Rehabilitation Services to M.S. with USM
  • Professional Studies with Focus in Rehabilitation & Human Services Focus (BA)
    • Length: 120-credit hour college degree program, of which 18 credits hours are in the focus area
    • Can include Employment Specialist Certification and/or Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Certificate
    • Available fully online and/or on-campus 
    • Best fit for those already working in the field who have significant prior college credits