Education Programs at James Madison University
The College of Education does not offer majors. Individuals interested in pursuing a teacher license major in a discipline and complete a teaching area pre-professional program at the undergraduate level. The teacher licensure program is completed during the fifth year Master of Arts in Teaching program. Individuals wishing to become licensed teachers in inclusive early childhood, elementary, special or middle education major in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies (IDLS) and complete a pre-professional licensure program specific to the teaching license pursued at the undergraduate level.
Inclusive Early Childhood Education Master's Level Licensure Program
Birth – Age Five
Elementary Education
PreKindergarten through Sixth Grade Master's Level Licensure Program
Middle Education
Grades Six through Eight Master's Level Licensure Program
Secondary Education
Grades Six through Twelve Master's Level Licensure Program
Exceptional Education
Early Childhood Special Education
Special Education – Kindergarten through Twelve
Gifted Education
Teaching English as a Second Language
Special Education Non-teaching minor
Teacher Education Pre-professional Licensure Programs
Students interested in teacher licensure will major in an academic field and complete all of the requirements for the teacher education program. Depending on the field of study, initial licensure is earned at the bachelor's or master's level. The following chart describes the licensure areas, degree required, major field of study and academic unit.
| Licensure Area | Degree Required | Major Field of Study |
Academic Unit |
| Art Education | Bachelor's | Art | School of Art and Art History |
| PreK-12 | |||
| Dance Education | Bachelor's | Dance | School of Theatre and Dance |
| PreK-12 | |||
| Music Education | Bachelor's | Music | School of Music |
| PreK-12 | |||
| Physical/Health Education | Master's | Kinesiology | Department of Kinesiology |
| PreK-12 | |||
| Inclusive Early Childhood | Master's | IDLS with educ. | Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies |
| Education | pre-professional | Department of Early, Elementary | |
| Birth-Age 8 | licensure program | and Reading Education and | |
| Department of Exceptional Education | |||
| Elementary Education | Master's | IDLS with educ. | Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies |
| PreK-6 | pre-professional | Department of Early, Elementary | |
| licensure program | and Reading Education | ||
| Middle Level Education | Master's | IDLS with educ. | Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies |
| 6-8 | pre-professional | Department of Middle, Secondary | |
| licensure program | and Mathematics Education | ||
| Secondary Education | Master's | Content major 1 | Department of Middle, Secondary |
| 6-12 | with education | and Mathematics Education | |
| pre-professional | |||
| licensure program | |||
| Special Education 2 | Master's | IDLS with educ. | Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies |
| K-12 | pre-professional | Department of Exceptional Education | |
| licensure program | |||
| Foreign Language | Master's | Modern Foreign | Departments of Middle, Secondary |
| PreK-12 2 | Languages | and Mathematics Education | |
| with | and Foreign Languages, Literature | ||
| pre-professional | and Culture | ||
| licensure program | |||
| Theatre Education | Bachelor's | IDLS with | School of Education |
| PreK-12 | pre-professional | ||
| Theatre and Dance | licensure program | ||
| Teaching English | Master's | See program | Department of Exceptional Education; |
| to Speakers of Other | adviser for | Department of Learning Technology | |
| Languages – TESL (ESL) | options. | and Leadership Education |
1 Available majors are biology, chemistry, Earth science, English, history or political science, mathematics, or physics.
2 IDLS is the recommended major.
Add-on Endorsements
Endorsements are available in the following areas. Contact the College of Education for more information.
- Algebra I
- Gifted Education (add-on licensure)
- Journalism
