Degree Offered
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Education, concentration in Secondary Education
A program for college graduates and career changers who want to earn their master's degree to meet requiremetns for a teaching license for grades 6-12. For more than a century, JMU has prepared highly qualified licensed professionals through our outstanding teacher preparation programs
Description
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree in Education with a concentration in Secondary Education (Grades 6-12) emphasizes the preparation of effective and reflective teachers who are knowledgeable in the content they are preparing to teach and cognizant of the characteristics of adolescents, ages 12-18. The areas in which individuals may be licensed include English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth and space science, physics, and history and social sciences (includes licensure to teach history, economics, geography and political science).
This M.A.T. pathway is designed specifically for and only available to college graduates, undergraduate seniors, and career switchers who have decided to pursue a teaching license. Candidates planning to teach at the secondary level (grades 6-12) should contact the Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Department (www.jmu.edu/coe/msme/) for more information and to meet with an education advisor prior to applying to the program to discuss program options.
To be eligible for a teaching license in Virginia, candidates must not only meet certain pedagogical competencies set by the state, but must also meet certain content-area competencies for the chosen endorsement area, also set by the state. Interested candidates are highly encouraged to contact the MSME Department to determine which pre-requisites have already been met, either through coursework or comparable work experience.
This three-semester graduate licensure program starts with foundational pedagogical concepts and skills, with the following semesters building on those experiences. Candidates who complete the program will leave with field experiences in middle school and high school, as well as be fully equipped with essential teacher “tool-kit” skills for successful classroom instruction.
Candidates interested in the requirements for the M.A.T. program with a concentration in physical and health education (PreK-12) should refer to the description for that program in the Department of Kinesiology. Candidates interested in the requirements for the secondary licensure program with a concentration in foreign languages should refer to the description for that program in Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures in the undergraduate catalog.
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Mon - Fri:
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. &
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. for lunch
