Requirements for English
Secondary Education

To teach English at the secondary level (grades 6-12 in Virginia), you will need to meet the requirements for a state-issued teaching license:

State-required courses in English and related areas.

These courses can be taken at the undergraduate level as part of the BA program at George Mason University. Click here for George Mason's Graduate School of Education (GSE) "Endorsement Worksheet," which specifies the kinds of English courses you are expected to take to meet state licensure requirements.

State-required courses in education.

These five courses can be taken as part of the M.Ed./Licensure Program in Secondary Education.   Completion of the graduate-level licensure program takes approximately a year after you receive your BA   For additional information about GSE's graduate-level licensure program in Secondary Education, go to http://gse.gmu.edu/programs/secondaryed

Information about application procedures is available at http://gse.gmu.edu/programs/secondaryed/admissions

State-required test scores.

Virginia requires a passing score on the Praxis I exam or documentation of a satisfactory minimum score on the SAT or ACT.   This testing requirement must be met prior to participation in the GSE licensure program.   The state also requires a passing score on the Praxis II exam in English; this test can be taken after admission to the GSE licensure program but must be passed prior to participation in an internship.   Information about testing requirements is available at http://cehd.gmu.edu/teacher/test

For general information about the Secondary Education Licensure Program at George Mason University, please contact Dr. Linda Rikard, Director of Undergraduate Studies in Education, at lrikard@gmu.edu or 703-993-2026.

For information about the Endorsement Worksheet for licensure in Secondary English, please contact Brenden Roy, GSE Licensure Specialist, at broy@gmu.edu or 703-993-2094, or stop by Robinson A 103A.