Become a Teacher through EMU

Get in the classroom your first semester! Alexa Weeks '18 got valuable student teaching experience in the Harrisonburg school system. She now teaches 3rd grade at a local elementary school.

Colton Frey '18 was a volleyball player and education major. He now teaches 2nd grade at Stone Spring Elementary in Harrisonburg.

Janae Kauffman's student teaching in Rockingham County Schools helped propel her to a position teaching 7th grade math at a local school.

Prepare for your future as a teacher with EMU's education program.

Change the world, become a teacher!

At EMU you can prepare to be the very best educator. You will be in a K-12 classroom in the first five weeks of class, getting hands-on experiences and learning to teach right from the start of your program. You will learn to become a reflective educator, asking yourself "How can I engage my students more effectively? How can I make this lesson better?" At the end of your program you will be a highly sought-after educator, ready to begin your teaching career!

What's unique about EMU's program?
- EMU's teacher education program has been nationally accredited for more than 45 years.
- You get hands-on experiences early and often.
- You will learn reflective practice techniques to continually be the best teachers in your field, year after year.
- You will be mentored by PhD-level faculty who model being excellent educators by caring for students and calling out each student's gifts.
Practical Experiences
At most universities teacher education students don’t get into a K-12 classroom until their third year. At EMU it's different.
- At EMU, you are in local classrooms, observing and learning, by the fifth week of classes.
- Field experiences are embedded throughout program so that you are in the field nearly every semester.
- Local school divisions are richly diverse in culture, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
- Elementary and Early/Primary education majors assist in EMU’s lab school, the Early Learning Center. The Early Learning Center provides valuable interactions with 2-4-year-olds.
- You are in schools full-time during student teaching, and receive regular feedback and assistance from the classroom teacher and EMU faculty.
- Student teaching takes place in more than one setting and location.
- Student teachers participate in a seminar class to receive additional support during the student teaching semester and learn about preparing for job searches and interviews, among other topics.
Employability and Career Opportunities
- Completing our program makes you eligible for a Virginia teaching license, and we'll process the paperwork for you.
- The Virginia Department Of Education reported in 2017 a shortage of more than 6,000 teachers.
- Harrisonburg and Rockingham County school supervisors seek EMU teacher-education graduates.
- The average starting salary for teachers in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County Schools is $44,000
- EMU teacher-education graduates often move on to graduate school to further specialize and often give leadership in administrative leadership roles.
- 96% of 2019-20 program graduates who sought positions in education were employed in education settings and graduated with an average grade point average (GPA) of 3.7.
- 100% of program graduates pass the state licensure exams.
- We will work with you to understand how to obtain a teaching license in another state if you want to teach outside of Virginia after completing our program.
Affordability
- Declare an education major and you may be eligible for a $3000 renewable scholarship.
- Students pursuing a degree in biology, chemistry, computer science, or math with Teacher Education licensure are encouraged to apply for selection as a Noyce Scholar. STEM education students heading into their junior year at EMU are eligible for an annual scholarship of $10,000 or more during their junior and senior years.
- EMU has offered close to $1 million in academic merit scholarships collectively to students with outstanding academic achievement.
- Academic scholarships range from $12,000 to $20,000 per year and are renewable for four years depending on academic performance.
- EMU students are eligible for Pell Grants and Federal Need-Based Grants as well as student loans.
- Virginia students may be eligible for a Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG).
- Learn more by contacting EMU's Financial Assistance Office.