Program Mission
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in education with a concentration in secondary education (grades 6-12) program 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. The licensure areas for which individuals are prepared include English, mathematics, natural sciences (biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics), and history and social sciences (includes licensure to teach history, economics, geography and political science). 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 licensure program in foreign language preK-12 should refer to the description for that program in the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the undergraduate catalog.
This dual-degree program leading to secondary education (grades 6-12) licensure is an integrated program of undergraduate and graduate dual degree requirements and experiences. This licensure pathway builds on the extensive foundational coursework and experiences candidates have completed in their undergraduate program at JMU (i.e. the pre-professional secondary education (SEED) minor) to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors needed for the successful completion of the M.A.T. All students applying to the M.A.T. program must have earned a minimum of 120 undergraduate credit hours to receive their bachelor’s degree and completed the pre-professional secondary education coursework before they will be admitted to the M.A.T. program. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 is required for admission to the graduate program. Admission to and the satisfactory completion of the M.A.T. program are required in order to receive a recommendation through JMU for a teaching licensure at the secondary school level.
Licensure/Certification
Candidates should note that actual teacher licensure requirements may differ from the catalog requirements listed for a program because changes enacted by the Virginia Department of Education or accrediting agencies may have occurred after the catalog copy was approved. Therefore, it is important for students to confer with their education advisors on a regular basis.
This program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please refer to the JMU Professional Licensure Program Status by Jurisdiction Index to determine if this JMU program meets the educational requirements specified by the associated licensing or certification agency in the state or territory in which you are located and/or in which you plan to obtain licensure. Requirements vary by state and are subject to change. The information provided is current as of the review date indicated in the table.
Admission Criteria
To be considered for admission to the M.A.T. in education with a concentration in secondary education degree program, candidates must have:
- Satisfied all requirements for admission into the teacher education program at JMU. Criteria for admission to teacher education are described in the undergraduate catalog.
- Submitted Virginia passing scores on the Praxis Subject Assessment to the JMU Education Support Center prior to beginning more than 12 hours of MAT graduate coursework.
- Exhibited and demonstrated personal qualities and dispositions that reflect effective development as a professional educator.
- Satisfied all requirements for admission to The Graduate School, including achieving a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale).
The Post-Baccalaureate Entry Option
Prospective students interested in becoming a teacher but who have not completed the undergraduate Pre-Professional Secondary Education (SEED) minor at JMU are NOT eligible for this program. Students may be eligible for the Education, Initial Licensure in Secondary Education Concentration, M.A.T. or the Education, Initial Licensure in Middle Education Concentration, M.A.T. graduate-only programs.
