Looking to make a change in your life and positively impact the people around you? Train to become a teacher! Educators are essential to the growth and future of our communities. 

For more than a century, JMU has been preparing students to enter the noble profession of teaching. Find your future in education as a highly qualified teacher by developing instructional skills in one of our exemplary teacher preparation programs.

This Master of Arts in Teaching pathway with concentrations in Secondary Education and Middle Grades Education is designed specifically for and only available to candidates who already possess an undergraduate degree and who decide to pursue a teaching license after graduation or at the end of their undergraduate career.

This three-semester graduate licensure program starts with foundational pedagogical concepts and skills, with the subsequent semesters building on those experiences. Candidates who complete the program will participate in field experiences in addition to student teaching, as well as be fully equipped with essential teacher “tool-kit” skills for successful classroom instruction.

Graduates of this program will:

• Learn how to be an educator through hands-on and practical learning experiences
• Design and deliver curricula that effectively impact student learning
• Implement cutting-edge best practices for classroom instruction
• Value diversity of and collaborate with colleagues, parents, and students
• Experience fieldwork hours in diverse school settings in addition to student teaching
• Learn from nationally recognized faculty who consistently deliver real, formative support
• Be reflective practitioners who continually evaluate their instruction,
• Value lifelong learning, engage in professional development, and conduct educational research
• Help alleviate the Virginia teacher shortage

*Our programs specifically prepare students for a Virginia Teaching License. Contact the Education Support Center for more information on how to be eligible for an out-of-state license after completion of our program.

Which program is right for you?

• Ideal for highly motivated future educators wanting to get in the field quickly with adequate classroom preparation
• Designed for candidates with degrees in subjects other than Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, or Political Science

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• Ideal for highly motivated future educators wanting to get in the field quickly with adequate classroom preparation
• Designed for candidates with degrees in one or more of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, or Political Science

Have questions? Email Middle and Secondary Education to learn more about what our programs can offer you.

Don't miss out on an opportunity to fund your education! Explore offered awards, scholarships, and assistantships.

Explore COE advising and resources to help you become the teacher you want to be.

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