Reynolds/JMU IdLS Academic Advising Guide
Designed for students who want to pursue licensure in Inclusive Early Childhood (birth – 3rd grade), Elementary (PK-6th grade), Middle (6th -8th grade), see notes* for specific Middle Education requirements.It is the recommended content-area major forSpecial Education (K-12). This guide is a checklist of courses required to earn the appropriate Reynolds degree while incorporating IdLS major courses. Please note courses do not have to be taken in the order listed below.
Associate of Science (A.S) Social Science – Teacher Preparation Specialization
Student Name: ______Student ID: ______
SDV101 / Orientation to Teacher Preparation / 2 / None
ENG111 / College Composition I / 3 / WRTC100
ENG112 / College Composition / 3 / WRTC103
ENG___ / Literature / 3 / ENG (see notes)
ENG___ / Literature / 3 / ENG (see notes)
ECO201* or ECO202 / Principles of Economics I-Macroeconomics or Principles of Economics II-Microeconomics / 3 / ECON200 or ECON201
EDU200 / Introduction to Teaching as a Profession / 3 / EDUC300
FOREIGN LANGUAGE _____ / Foreign language elective / 4 / See notes below / No FL needed forIdLSmajor at JMU
FOREIGN LANGUAGE_____ / Foreign language elective / 4 / See notes below
GEO210* / People and the Land: Introduction to Cultural Geography / 3 / GEOG280
HIS121* or HIS111 / U.S. History I or History of World Civilization I / 3 / HIST000 or HIST101 / Only HIS 111 gives credit for HIST 101
HIS122* or HIS112* / U.S. History II or History of World Civilization II / 3 / HIST225 (see notes) or HIST102 / Only HIS 112 is equivalent to HIST 102, and only the combo of 121 and 122 gives credit for HIST 225
HLT110 or 116 / Concept of Personal and Community Health or Introduction to Personal Wellness / 3 / HTH100
ITE115 or CSC155 / Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts or Computer Concepts and Applications / 3 / None or CS000
(BIO101 or BIO106) or (CHM101 or PHY101) or GOL105 / (General Biology I or Life Science) or
(General Chemistry I or Introduction to Physics ) or Physical Geology / 4 / ISCI173 or ISCI172 or
ISCI171 / BIO for ISCI 173, CHEM/PHYS for ISCI 172, GEOL for ISCI 171
(BIO101 or BIO106) or (CHM101 or PHY201) or GOL105 / (General Biology I or Life Science) or
(General Chemistry I or Introduction to Physics ) or Physical Geology / 4 / ISCI173 or ISCI172 or
ISCI171
MTH170 or MTH163 / Foundations in Contemporary Mathematics or Pre-calculus / 3 / MATH103 or MATH155
MTH240 / Statistics / 3 / MATH220
(PLS135 or 211)* or (CST100 or 110) or additional HIS – (see notes) Approved Elective for A.S. degree / (American National Politics or United States Government) or (Principles of Public Speaking or Introduction to Speech Communication) / 3 / POSC225 or (SCOM122 or SCOM121) / 1 course from each set needs to be completed for IdLS. If not completed at Reynolds must be completed at JMU
PSY230 – Approved elective for A.S. degree / Developmental Psychology / 3 / PSYC160
Total Minimum Credits for Reynolds Social Science – Teacher Preparation A.S. DEGREE = 61
Advising Notes for Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies (IdLS) - (Inclusive Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle & Special Education)
Literature Options
ENG 241Survey of American Literature I or ENG 242Survey of American Literature II or
ENG 243Survey of English Literature I or ENG 244Survey of English Literature II or
ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I or ENG 252Survey of World Literature II or ENG 253Survey of African-American Literature
Foreign Language Options
Foreign language is not required for the B.S. degree and IdLS major at JMU but is required at Reynolds. Please Note: JMU does not grant credit for the introductory levels of a language that a student has studied for two or more years in high school.
ARA101 and 102Beginning Arabic I and II
ASL101 and 102American Sign Language I and II
CHI101 and 102 Chinese I and II
FRE101 and 102Beginning French I and II
GER101 and 102 Beginning German I and
SPA101 and 102Beginning Spanish I and II
U.S. History/Government
IdLS requires both U.S. History (HIS121 and HIS122) and U.S. Government (PLS135 or 211). In order to get credit for U.S. History (HIST225) at JMU, students must take both HIS121 and 122. Both HIS111-112 are required for early, elementary, and special education. Middle education only requires HIS112 and either (PLS135 or 211 – American Politics or Government) or (HIS121 & HIS122 U.S. History I & II) but not both
Science
The IdLS major requires three science courses; students will be able to complete two as part of the associate’s degree and can take the third science at JMU. Choose only one course per set (BIO101 or 106) or (CHM101 or PHY101) or GOL105. Typical selections are (BIO101 or 106 and GOL105) or (BIO101 or 106 and CHM101).
Mathematics
There are three math courses that IdLS majors must take at JMU (there are no VCCS equivalents): MATH 107, 108 and 207, Fundamentals of Mathematics I-II-III. Students must test into MATH 107 via JMU's Math Placement Exam once they are admitted or take MATH 105 before beginning the core sequence. A transferable math course is required for admission to JMU and to the College of Education. A strong background in math up through Algebra II (which should include geometry) as well as quantitative reasoning, basic computational skills, and number sense will help students be successful in math at JMU.
Approved Electives – Students will need to complete remaining IdLS major courses at JMU if not completed at Reynolds. PSY230is required to apply to the education program at JMU and should be completed prior to transfer if student is earning the associate’s degree.
*Students interested in Middle School Education (6th – 8th) at JMU
- HIS 112 is required (not HIS111)
- ECO 201 is required (not ECO 202)
- Either U.S. Politics or Government (PLS 135 or 211) or U.S. History (HIS 121 and 122) may be taken. Both are not required.
- GEO 210 is not required for Middle Educationbut is part of this associate’s degree program and thus required.
Admission to the College of Education
Once admitted and enrolled in courses at JMU, all students must apply to teacher education and be accepted before they can take the required education courses. Conditional admission to teacher education programs requires the completion of ENG112 (must transfer to JMU as WRTC103), a math class, PSY 230 and EDU 200 with a grade of C or better (B- or better for Middle Education), and one of the following: a passing score on the Praxis Core Mathematics and a passing score on the Virginia Communication Literary Assessment (VCLA), a passing score on the Praxis Core Math, Reading, and Writing assessments, or minimum required SAT or ACT scores. See for more information. Students are strongly encouraged to take and pass the Praxis Core Math and VCLA assessments or the Praxis Core Math, Reading, and Writing assessments prior to transfer with an associate’s degree. Students cannot have any record of felony convictions or misdemeanors involving children or drugs.
Other admission requirements include a cumulative JMU GPA of at least 2.5, satisfactory completion of training modules in universal precautions and child abuse prevention, and submission of two reference forms. These requirements should be completed by the end of a transfer student’s first semester at JMU.
Progression in the major/education program at JMU
IdLS majors must earn at least a C- or higher in MATH 107 (taken at JMU) in order to progress to MATH 108. In addition, students are required to test into MATH 107 through JMU’s math placement test, regardless of the math classes completed at Reynolds.
Students in Elementary Education alternate semesters between IdLS (major) coursework and Elementary Education (teacher education program) coursework. Students are expected to take a full semester of IdLS coursework during their first semester at JMU, followed by a full semester of ELED coursework. Because of the alternating schedule, students who transfer in the spring may find that they complete their required undergraduate coursework in December, but cannot start the graduate portion of their program until the following summer session. Spring transfers should talk to their education advisor about coursework options should this situation arise.
Students in Inclusive Early Childhood and Special Education typically take major (IdLS) and education program coursework concurrently during all semesters of undergraduate enrollment. Due to the education program course sequences in both programs, students may require an additional semester in order to complete the required undergraduate education coursework. Students in these programs should take EXED 200 (CHD210 at Reynolds) in their first semester at JMU or take CHD210 at their community college. CHD210 is not part of the A.S. Social Science – TP but is offered at Reynolds
Middle Education students take IdLS and education coursework concurrently during each semester of enrollment, and must earn at least a B- in all required education classes at JMU in order to progress.
In order to progress in the education programs, all students must make at least a C in all required pre-professional coursework, demonstrate professional behavior, and perform satisfactorily in practicums and key assessments.
Graduate Program
Most of JMU’s education programs require that students complete a one year Master of Arts inTeaching degree after successful completion of the undergraduate program.
JMU Transfer Advisor - Regina Adams Updated 10/12/17