Middle Grades Education
The middle grades education program, including the undergraduate component and the M.A.T., is designed to develop content-area teacher for grades 6-8. In middle education, students learn the developmental characteristics of students ages 10 to 14; the social, emotional, physical and intellectual abilities and needs of diverse middle school students; and the design of appropriate cross-disciplinary curriculum and instruction while completing multiple field experiences in local middle school classrooms. This program is also designed to prepare teachers who are reflective decision-makers. Teachers who are reflective decision-makers are able to choose from among known educational alternatives to maximize student learning in a variety of instructional situations.
The undergraduate program in middle education is designed to provide candidates with the prerequisite course offerings and experiences that form the required foundation for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program. Completion of the M.A.T. program is required for a recommendation for licensure in middle education through JMU. Undergraduate candidates who are planning to pursue licensure to teach in an academic area at the middle school level should complete the pre-professional middle education program.
Candidates should also complete a major in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies. The state approved licensure areas in the middle education program at JMU include: English, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students must earn licensure in two content areas. In most cases, licensure courses may be counted towards a minor. Licensure endorsements for other teaching areas (e.g., algebra I, journalism and gifted education) are available as add-on endorsements. Candidates should contact the departmental office for information concerning those programs.
Candidates should consult with the department head or an adviser in middle education early during the first year or as soon, thereafter, as possible to obtain information concerning completing the related General Education and content area requirements, as well as the undergraduate and graduate education requirements.
The middle education licensure program is an integrated program of undergraduate and graduate requirements and experiences. It is important for candidates to understand that they must meet the requirements for a baccalaureate degree and that the appropriate undergraduate pre-professional courses and experiences must be completed satisfactorily before they will be admitted to the M.A.T. program.
Candidates must earn a grade of “B-” or better in all required pre-professional undergraduate courses in the education program to continue in and complete the pre-professional program. Consult the Graduate Catalog for M.A.T. graduate requirements. Admission to and the satisfactory completion of the M.A.T. program is required in order to receive a recommendation through JMU for a teaching license at the middle school level.
Candidates should note that they must be fully admitted to Teacher Education prior to registering for MSSE 370 and MSSE 371 in the pre-professional secondary education program. Candidates should also note that actual teacher licensure requirements may differ from the catalog requirements listed for a program because of changes enacted by the Virginia Department of Education or accrediting agencies after the catalog copy is approved. Therefore, it is important for students to confer with their education advisers on a regular basis.
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