As an education major, both James Madison University and George Mason University have great programs that offer prospective teachers many opportunities!! Each program offers many ways for an individual to continue on the path of becoming a teacher, great support for students and alumni, and highly talked about educational programs.

JMU-




James Madison University. James Madison University. EERE, 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013Publisher- Early, elementary & reading education

Offers graduate and undergraduate in literacy, early and elementary education.


Goals-
Programs prepare students for licensure in preschool/kindergarten- 6th grade.


The department runs "the young children's program" , a laboratory preschool for ages 3 to 4.


Elementary education-
5 year program
Must major in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies and minor in elementary Education.


Strengths/ achievements:

Nancy Barbour, one of the programs leaders. She has a Ph. D. In Human Development and Family Studies. From Witchita state, an M. Ed. In Early Childhood Ed. From Un. Of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. In English.
First started as a social worker, moved onto preschool teaching. Before coming to JMU in the fall of 2012 she was at Kent State Unn. As both an early childhood faculty member for 20 years and the associate dean for 7.
 
Deborah Cardington, B.A., longwood college, M. Ed. And Ph. D. ,UVA
Classroom teacher for 11 years in public and private. Assistant professor at Unn. Of Maine. Associate Professor at Longwood Unn. , Adjunct Professor at UVA. Involved in Phi Delta Kappa, Virginia Association of Teachers of English, National Council of Teacher of English, etc.







Alumni achievements-
Tons of teachers have come out of this program. I counted over 50. In ranging areas, elementary school, middle school, even some head start programs.




Partnership-
Project CUSP, includes 5 research steps. Comprehensive literature review, development of data collecting tools, systematic evaluation, program evaluation via harrisonburg city schools, and analysis of data. This partnership is with harrisonburg city schools.
developing innovative teaching, providing professional development.



Organizations-
Young Children's Program, an early learning program run by JMU. Each class is run by a master teacher and support staff made of students (great practice)


Additional-
There are scholarships, youth art exhibition

Here is a look at George Masons Education Program:

Graduate School of Education
George Mason University offers a great graduate school of education program. With 4,327 students currently enrolled and 20,000 alumni, the program definitely has winning credentials.  The program contains five core values to which define the program. Collaboration with in the program is one of the main values. ( Social Justice, Innovation, Collaboration, Ethical Leadership, Research-Based Practice).

George Mason believes that close partnerships with the community, surrounding agencies, foundations and business at the local, national and international levels correspond with educational success. Ethical leadership and innovation are important values to which help graduates lead professional lives and have an innovative approach to their area of work. Research based practice and social justice are core values to which graduates have the opportunities to practice discipline in research professional judgment and have access to a variety of opportunities.

                                               

George Mason has many resources for their alumni. They offer help in alumni seeking graduate programs and continuing professional education. Through Mason’s career planning centers, they offer help in finding graduates seeking jobs and other career opportunities. Their alumni have some notable achievements as well. Lani Leary who obtained her PhD in education in 97’ has been a featured speaker and a new author to her book No One Has to Die Alone: Preparing for a Meaningful Death. Neil Beech received his Med Education Leadership degree in ’06 and has since become the principal at Osbourn Park High School.
Alumni Connection

George Mason's graduate education program offers many concentrations. Counseling and development, early childhood education, elementary education, ESOL, Higher education, educational psychology, international education, secondary education and special education are naming a only a few that mason offers!! There are many more educational concentrations that are available to prospective students.

Academic Programs

"CEHD Class Notes." Class Notes. George Mason University, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.

"News & Noteworthy." GSE. George Mason University, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.

Starling, Alison. "Working Women: Alessandra Luchini." WJLA. Allbritton Communications Company, 6 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.