A-to-Z Index

Pre-Professional Education Programs



JMU offers various programs that lead to licensure or advanced study in education.  Some initial teacher education licensure programs are completed at the undergraduate level.  Most teacher education programs are 5-year programs with an undergraduate pre-professional program and a 5th year graduate program.

A pre-professional education program is a professional preparation program consisting of courses and experiences designed to prepare you for a teaching career.  In these programs students complete a pre-professional program at the undergraduate level and complete the remainder of the education coursework at the graduate level, earning a Master of Arts in Teaching. 

JMU's pre-professional education programs are designed to provide you with the content knowledge, skills, and behaviors that are hallmarks of teaching excellence, and to prepare you for licensure and graduate study. You must complete a formal application to be admitted to any teacher education licensure program.

Pre-Professional Education Programs in the College of Education:

  • Early, Elementary and Reading Education
  • Exceptional Education
  • Middle, Secondary and Mathematics Education

 

Pre-Professional Education Programs in the College of Health and Behavioral Studies:

  • Physical and Health Education in the Department of Kinesiology

 

Pre-Professional Education Programs in the College of Visual and Performing Arts:

  • Art Education
  • Dance Education
  • Music Education
  • Theatre Education

What Should I Major In?

You should major in the discipline associated with your specific teacher licensure area of interest. Please refer to the table below.  Programs, noted with an asterisk *, are 5-year teacher licensure programs leading to a master's degree.

Teaching Area Major
Art (preK-12) Art
Dance (PreK-12) Dance
Music (PreK-12) Music
Theatre (PreK-12) Theatre
English as a Second Language (PreK-12)** Suggested: Modern Foreign Language or English 
Elementary Education (PreK-6)* Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies
Inclusive Early Childhood (PreK-3 & Special Education Birth-age 5) * Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies
Middle Education * Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies
Special Education (K-12) * Suggested: Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies or Psychology
Foreign Languages * Modern Foreign Language
Spanish Spanish
German German
French French
Health and Physical Education (PreK-12)* Kinesiology
Secondary Education (6-12) * Select the major below that best represents the discipline you wish to teach:
Biology Biology
Chemistry Chemistry
Physics Physics
Earth Science Earth Science
Math Math
English English
Social Studies History or Political Science with a minor in Interdisciplinary Social Science
** ESL can be a 4 or 5 year program


Advising

All students pursuing a teacher licensure program must meet with their major adviser and an education adviser.  You are assigned to an education advised based upon your teacher licensure area of interest.

If you are interested in becoming a teacher, inform your freshman or transfer adviser at orientation or contact the education coordinator for the licensure program you are interested in. Refer to the Education Licensure Program Coordinators.



Admission to a Teacher Education Licensure Program

All students must apply to teacher education and be accepted before they can take education courses.

To apply:    

    1. Submit an application to teacher education and 2 reference forms.

    2. Students cannot have any record of felony convictions or misdemeanors involving children or drugs.

    3. Complete training in universal precautions and child abuse prevention.


To be eligible for admission, you should meet all of the following requirements:

    1. Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5

    2. Make a grade of C or better in GWRTC 103, a math course and GPSYC 160

    3. You must have passed PRAXIS I exam or have acceptable SAT or ACT scores.

    5. Students must make at least a C grade in all required pre-professional coursework and satisfactory demonstration of  professional behaviors, and acceptable performance in practicums and key assessments.


  

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