Elementary Education

George Mason students who are interested in teaching grades 1 – 6 must complete one of our two graduate level elementary school licensure programs:

  • The Professional Development School (PDS) program that includes a year long internship
  • The Partnership School (PS) program that includes a fifteen week internship

Students prepare for graduate school by completing by completing an undergraduate degree in one of several different colleges at George Mason. While students are not restricted to a specific major, it is recommended that students complete a major in English, social science, mathematics, or integrative studies. Listed below are the most common paths to initial licensure for elementary education.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Students who plan to teach elementary school may elect to major in English, psychology, sociology or a social science at the undergraduate level through the College of Arts and Sciences.

For more information, please go to http://chss.gmu.edu

The College of Science

Students who plan to teach elementary school may elect to major in mathematics or science at the undergraduate level through the College of Science.

For more information, please go to http://cos.gmu.edu

New Century College

New Century College offers a flexible series of interdisciplinary degrees which prepare students for graduate study in education. Students may choose a five-year degree program that allows early admission to the George Mason University Graduate School of Education.

  • Students would complete a B.A. in Integrative Studies (B.A.IN.) with a concentration in Liberal Studies for Education.
  • Completion of the B.A.IN. degree (fulfilling all concentration requirements with a grade of C or better) meets the Virginia state requirements for licensure endorsements.
Before their senior year, students may apply for spring admission to Mason’s Graduate School of Education in the College of Education and Human Development. If admitted:
  • Students will be dual-enrolled in their final spring semester
  • They will complete their undergraduate degree requirements while beginning the first 6 credits of the 32 credit graduate-level program.
  • These six-credit graduate-level courses (EDUC 542 and 543) will be excluded from the student’s bachelor’s degree and held in reserve to be applied toward professional licensure.

In this way, the usual Mason path toward licensure, which is 4 years undergraduate degree plus a 1.5 year graduate licensure program becomes a 5 year integrative process.

For more information, please visit the website at www.ncc.gmu.edu.

Graduate School of Education

Students with a baccalaureate degree may apply to one of the two following graduate level elementary licensure programs:

  • Professional Development Schools (PDS) The PDS program begins each spring and licensure is completed in four academic terms. During the first spring term students will participate in up to 30 clock hours of field experience and take two late-afternoon or evening courses. The summer term is compacted and requires field experiences and course work during the school day. During the final two terms, students must attend day-time classes and/or work in schools five days a week.
  • Partnership Schools (PS) The Partnership program begins each fall term and licensure is completed in five academic terms. Students attend two late-afternoon/evening courses and participate in up to 30 clock hours of field experience each term. The summer session is on a compacted schedule and may require multiple evenings per week. A 15-week full-time internship is completed in the final spring term.

For more information, please visit the Elementary Education website.