Teaching, Master of (M.T.) with a concentration in early and elementary education

Program goal

The Master of Teaching curricula are designed to incorporate eligibility for initial teaching licensure in Virginia in early and elementary, or secondary education (biology, chemistry, earth science, English, history and social studies, mathematics or physics).

The approved curricula include undergraduate qualifying courses as well. Baccalaureate degree recipients who meet the admission criteria may pursue the Master of Teaching degree program, including the qualifying courses. 

Early and elementary education

Freshman students bound for the Master of Teaching program with a concentration in early and elementary education are required to enroll in an appropriate undergraduate liberal arts major.

Undergraduate liberal arts majors are encouraged to select at least one minor in order to deepen knowledge and appreciation of a subject area. Philosophy, religious studies, African American studies and international studies have relevance in their understanding of human investigation of knowledge, human behavior and world cultures. A minor in a science area such as environmental studies may be more employable because of school and societal concerns about our planet and its preservation. In selecting the humanities and sciences minor, the choice should be based on the student’s interest and perceived relevance.

Consult with the appropriate professional studies adviser for additional information regarding professional studies and liberal arts requirements.

Student teaching requirements

All students pursuing a concentration in early and elementary education within the Master of Teaching program will student teach. To do so, students must take and pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment and their subject-specific Praxis II exams before the fall or spring semester of the academic year in which they will student teach.

Student learning outcomes

Teaching core outcomes

1. Learner and learning: Understand human development and learning theories appropriate to the age group they will teach and acquire an awareness of the diversity of the school-age populations’ cultural backgrounds, learning strengths and needs
2. Instructional practice: Demonstrate an ability to plan and implement effective teaching and measure student learning in ways that lead to sustained development and learning
3. Professional responsibility: Develop an understanding of purposes for education and a defensible philosophical approach toward teaching and demonstrate professional dispositions

Early and elementary education concentration-specific outcome

1. Content: Demonstrate knowledge of the subjects they will teach as an elementary educator

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Degree candidacy requirements

A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.