Five-Year Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Degree Option

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In Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education

The intent of this program is to attract well-qualified W&M undergraduate students into teaching. The five-year program leads to licensure in elementary, secondary, or special education. This option is intended for W&M undergraduates who cannot complete the currently available undergraduate programs but who wish to become licensed to teach. Primary applicants to this option would include W&M undergraduates who (1) have fewer than three semesters remaining in their programs at the time of application, and (2) who demonstrate that they cannot complete the undergraduate licensure course requirements in the number of semesters remaining in their program because of other requirements in their major or study abroad.

Qualifications:

Applicants must have a W&M undergraduate GPA of 3.0, be pursuing an undergraduate major that qualifies them for a teaching license in Virginia, and complete the Five-Year Program Application, which is available on line at education.wm.edu

Admission:

Admission to the program is dependent on space availability. Applications will be accepted as early as April 1 of the junior year and are due no later than August 1, prior to the fall semester of the senior year.

Continuation:

Students admitted to the program option must maintain a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, be in good standing with the College, and take the required professional education courses listed below as part of their undergraduate study:

EDUC 301 - Educational Psychology (3)
EDUC 310 - Social and Philosophical Foundations of American Education (2)
EDUC F65 Research Methods in Education (or an approved equivalent)

Additionally, prospective students in the graduate program in Special Education may take:

EDUC 425 - Trends and Legal Issues in Special Education (3)

Note:

Students will not be able to add education courses until they have been admitted to the 5th year program.

Elevation to Master’s Level:

In order to elevate to the Master’s level students must (1) earn a 3.0 GPA in the professional education courses completed as an undergraduate, (2) graduate with their Bachelor’s degree from W&M and (3) submit scores from the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) that meet the admissions guidelines for the SOE. The MAT (Miller Analogies Test) may be substituted for admission to the special education program only. GRE or MAT scores must be submitted no later than to January 15th of the senior year; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit scores as early as the spring of their junior year.

Continuation in the Master’s Program:

Once elevated to the Master’s portion of the program, students will enroll as full-time students and follow the continuation and program rules of the Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction. Students will complete the regular sequence of courses, excluding EDUC F11, EDUC F12 and EDUC F65. These courses or their accepted equivalents will have been satisfied in the undergraduate portion of the program.

For more information regarding the Five-Year program, please contact the Office of Academic Programs at 757-221-2317.