JMU - ECED MAT Application Process
ECED MAT
Application Process
Applying to the ECED MAT Program is a three-step process.
STEP 1: TRANSCRIPT REVIEW AND INTERVIEW
Schedule a meeting with Dr. Holly McCartney (program coordinator and advisor). You will need to bring a copy (unofficial is sufficient) of your undergraduate transcript(s) to determine eligibility and any prerequisite courses that may be needed. *
E-mail (preferred): mccarthb@jmu.edu
Phone: (540) 568-6337
Office: Memorial Hall 3210-F, 365 S. High Street, Harrisonburg, VA
Mailing address: MSC 6909, James Madison Univ, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
STEP 2: APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL
Complete the on-line application for obtaining the graduate degree - Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T. in ECED)
Required for application:
1. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
2. Satisfactory test scores (TWO OPTIONS)
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) http://www.gre.org/splash.html
OR
The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) (least expensive)
May be taken locally at Eastern Mennonite University, Tues-Thurs.
Contact Jenny Litwiller at careerservices@emu.edu or (540)432-4131.
Online information is available at:
NOTE: Your application to the Graduate School, if accepted, will likely be "conditionally" accepted. After all conditions have been met, including acceptance into Teacher Education (Step 3), your status can be upgraded to "unconditional". Conditions are specified in your acceptance letter and include receipt of satisfactory Praxis I and II scores. All must be met before registering for the 2nd semester of classes or beyond 12 credit hours. It is your responsibility to let your advisor know when you have been accepted. Print the Graduate Status Change Request, add your name and student ID#, and bring it to your advisor/program coordinator for a signature.
*The state of Virginia requires that candidates for licensure in early education must have completed a liberal arts degree or demonstrate competencies in the following areas through the following content requirements: 12 credit hours in English composition, literature and oral communications; 9 credit hours each of math and science; 3 each in world history, US history, geography and economics plus 6 credit hours in arts and humanities. These credits may be transferred from other institutions including community colleges.
Also required for all teacher education programs at JMU are 3 credits each in Human Development Across the Life Span and Foundations of American Education.
Step 3: APPLYING TO TEACHER EDUCATION
After you have been admitted to the Graduate School and have received your student ID, you should apply for admission to Teacher Education. Your application to Teacher Education through JMU’s Education Support Center is the first step in the process of obtaining your Virginia State Teaching License.
To be accepted into Teacher Education, candidates must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or must establish a JMU GPA of 2.75 or better by taking 9 or more credit hours. These may include GPSY 160 and EDUC 300, content prerequisites or courses within the program.
Unconditional acceptance into Teacher Education for the ECED MAT program requires both Praxis I (unless waived) and Praxis II. They may be taken in any order and may be taken PRIOR TO or AFTER submitting your application to Teacher Education. Passing scores on both tests are required for “unconditional” acceptance into the ECED MAT graduate program.
1. Complete the online application form http://www.jmu.edu/coe/admissions/application.shtml
Print it and bring it to Dr. Holly McCartney for signature or mail to Dr. McCartney at JMU, MSC 6909, Harrisonburg, VA 22807. Your signed form will be forwarded to the Education Support Center.
2.Within a few weeks you will receive a packet including reference forms that must be completed and returned to the Education Support Center.
3. If you are not a JMU graduate, you must provide a copy of your final undergraduate transcript to the Education Support Center after you have submitted your application.
4. Submit transcripts of all additional content courses, those specified as “conditions” in your Graduate letter of acceptance, to the Education Support Center.
NOTE: The application will request a 200 word response to “Why I want to become a teacher?” You may use the same essay or a portion of the essay you used to apply to graduate school.
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Praxis I PPST – Reading, Writing, Mathematics - Praxis I is waived for candidates with SAT scores of 1100 or higher, the minimum scores: 530 Math and 530 Verbal. Before 4/1/1995, a score of 1000 and minimum of 450 Verbal and 510 Math will exempt Praxis I. ACT composite scores of 24, Math-22, Plus Reading-46.
Praxis II – Code 10014 NOTE TEST CODE number! JMU requires the same test for early and elementary education students. The minimum score in Virginia is 143.
For PRAXIS testing dates and times see: www.ets.org
