Knowing your content area well has become much more important, because teachers have to be able to relate it to the real world and show children how and why the knowledge is important. And as one might imagine, just as there have been enormous changes on campus, teacher education has changed dramatically as well. Most states have raised standards for both students and new teachers, and Virginia is no exception. Teacher education students must pass reading, writing and mathematics tests prior to student teaching, and when they graduate, they must pass more rigorous tests in their respective disciplines. The Commonwealth of Virginia has also strengthened the regulations that govern teacher licensure.
Teachers know their stuff.
Due to these new regulations and the increasing complexity of teaching in contemporary schools, nearly all teacher education students entering JMU after the fall 2000 semester will complete a five-year, Master of Arts in Teaching program. We think we've made the right choice. Learning to teach is a great deal more than what most people realize. Education also reaches across JMU's entire campus. The Adult Education and Human Resources program that helps JMU graduates become business trainers and supervisors is also a popular program and has strong links to local and regional businesses.