As a caring teacher you are the first responder to trauma, disciplinary issues, and
student support. Our experienced professors and collaborative classroom environment
can enhance your skills to respond effectively to your students and build relationships
that enhance learning.
At EMU we specialize in restorative justice and trauma-informed practices. Consider
one of our courses to learn and reflect on your teaching practice and classroom experiences.
Given the tremendous sociological changes in our modern world, teachers are now social change agents, collaborating within the home and community to address issues like literacy and diversity. It’s both the social and ethical responsibility of today’s teacher to make a difference in the classroom, and we’re ready to help!
Our teacher education programs have carried the highest national accreditation standards in the nation for more than 45 years. EMU's undergraduate teacher education programs, graduate initial licensure TESL program, graduate Reading Specialist program in Virginia, and graduate school counseling program are accredited through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
We are not currently accepting new enrollment into our Reading Specialist or school counseling programs in Harrisonburg until further notice. If you have interest in pursuing Reading Specialist or school counseling licensure, please contact graduate@emu.edu or call 540-432-4027.
We offer concentrations, graduate certificates, add-on endorsements and/or initial licensure in the following programs:
Areas of Expertise: Curriculum and Instruction
Areas of Expertise: Restorative Justice in Education,
Special Education
Areas of Expertise: Social Studies, Teaching English as a Second Language, Foundations of Education
Area of Expertise: Elementary Education
Area of Expertise: Literacy
Areas of Expertise: Psychology, Special Education
Graduate Teacher Education Faculty
Chair of Undergraduate Teacher Education; Professor of Teacher Education; Jesse T.
Byler Endowed Chair
Cathy Smeltzer-Erb
Associate Professor of Special Education
Kathy Evans
Director, Graduate Teacher Education; Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Paul Yoder
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Ronald Shultz
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Barbara Wheatley
Professor of Teacher Education and Psychology
Judy Mullet
Program News