This document summarizes three routes to teacher licensure at George Mason University: undergraduate, bachelor's/accelerated master's (BAM), and traditional master's. It provides details on degree programs, subject areas, admission requirements, and exams required for each route. It also outlines the four components needed to earn teacher licensure in Virginia: a bachelor's degree, completion of an approved educator preparation program, passing scores on state exams, and a successful internship. Contact information is provided for education advising.

1. Learn about paths
toward Virginia teacher
licensure

3. Three Routes to Teacher Licensure at George Mason
1. Undergraduate
2. Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s (BAM)
3. Traditional Master’s

4. Undergraduate Route
This path gets you ready to teach in….
• English (6-12)
• Biology (6-12)
• Chemistry (6-12)
• Earth Science (6-12)
• Math (6-12)
• Physics (6-12)
• Dance (PK-12)
• Health & Physical Education
(PK-12)
• Music (PK-12)
• Theater (PK-12)

5. Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Route
This path allows you to earn both degrees in five years
Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree
[any] Early Childhood
[any] Early Childhood Special Ed
[any] Special Education
Biology (BA or BS) Secondary Ed Biology
Chemistry (BA or BS) Secondary Ed Chemistry
Earth Science (BS) Secondary Ed Earth Science
Math (BA or BS) Secondary Ed Mathematics
Physics (BS) Secondary Ed Physics
English (BA) Secondary Ed English
Integrative Studies (BA) with a concentration in Social Science for Education Secondary Ed Social Science
Integrative Studies (BA) with a concentration in Elementary Education Elementary Education

6. Traditional Master’s Route
Apply to the Graduate School of Education after you graduate
• Early Childhood Education (PK-3)
• Early Childhood Special Education
(Birth-5)
• Elementary Education
• English as a Second Language
• Foreign Language (Arabic, Chinese,
French, German, Japanese, Korean,
Latin, Spanish)
• International Education,
Elementary (PK-6)
• International Education, ESOL (PK-
12)
• Secondary Education (BIOL,
CHEM, Earth Sci, ENGH,
HIST/SOC, MATH, PHYSICS)
• Special Education

7. Four Components to Earning Teacher Licensure
1. A bachelor’s degree that allows space for endorsement courses.
You must first learn the subject(s) you’ll teach.
2. Completion of a state-approved educator preparation program.
You must also learn how to teach your subject(s).
3. Passing scores on all state-required exams.
4. Successful internship (student teaching).

8. A bachelor’s degree that allows space for
endorsement courses.
Examples:
To teach: Credit requirements include:
Elementary school 12 credits English, 15 credits history/social science, 12 credits natural science,
12 credits math, 3 credits art/music, 3 credits humanities
Physics A major in physics, making sure to include 32 credits magnetism, electricity,
optics, and mechanics
History/Social Science 18 credits history, 18 credits government, 9 credits geography, 6 credits
economics
cehd.gmu.edu/endorse

9. Completion of a state-approved educator
preparation program
This may include the following courses:
• Foundations of Education
• Human Growth and Development
• Content specific methods courses (math, science, elementary,
etc.)
• Literacy/Reading
• Internship (student teaching)

10. Passing scores on all state-required
exams exams
• Praxis Core (or qualifying substitute)
Must pass in order to be accepted into ANY teacher prep
program.
• Praxis II (Content Specific)
• VCLA (Virginia Communications and Literacy Assessment)
• RVE (Reading for Virginia Educators)
cehd.gmu.edu/teacher/test

11. Successful internship (student teaching)
• The final piece: You must pass all exams and complete all
applicable endorsements before applying for an internship
• 40 hours a week in the classroom
• You must apply early in the semester before you plan to intern
o Application deadlines vary among programs

12. Admission Requirements
• 3.0 grade point average
• Endorsement/prerequisite content courses
• Passing test scores
• Statement of goals
• 3 letters of recommendation
• BONUS: Get experience through substitute teaching, working as
an instructional assistant, private school teaching, camp
counselor, home school groups, education minor

13. Will my Virginia teacher’s license “transfer” to other
states?
• George Mason’s Virginia state-approved educator preparation
programs have an interstate agreement with most U.S. states
and territories.
• Each state has its own licensure regulations and requirements.

14. I’ve decided that I want to teach! What should I do now?
• Meet with a CEHD advisor and set up an endorsement review (if
applicable).
• Speak to your current academic advisor on how to best fulfill any
required endorsement courses in tandem with your bachelor’s
degree requirements.
• Prepare to apply to a George Mason teacher-prep program by
the program’s deadline.

15. Education Minors
• Applied Behavior Analysis Minor
• Assistive Technology Minor
• Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners Minor
• Education Studies Minor
• Human Development and Family Science Minor
• Mild Disabilities Minor
• Secondary Education English Minor (Licensure)
• Severe Disabilities Minor
• Visual Impairment and Blindness Minor

16. Contact Information
• Education Advising: askCEHD@gmu.edu
• Endorsement Advising: endorse@gmu.edu
cehd.gmu.edu

17. Today’s Event Evaluation Form
www.surveymonkey.com/s/thinkteacher

18. Arne Duncan
U.S. Secretary of Education
April 14: 2 -3 pm
Center for the Arts
http://cehd.gmu.edu/makemore