Middle Level Candidates will be able to:
- Appropriately demonstrate knowledge of Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards for Middle Level Education
- Apply concepts and theories related to young adolescent development
- Make explicit connections between middle level content areas, cognitive development, literacy, special education and English Language Learners
- Assess student learning and align instruction to meet the student’s individual needs
- Use instructional strategies and other evidence-based best practices in the content areas
- Establish effective classroom routines and procedures and appropriately establish and maintain rapport with students
• Acquire knowledge of school and district procedures for growth and professional development
- Abide by the Pennsylvania Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators
Requirements for Middle Grade Certification
All candidates for a B.S. in Middle Grades Education must meet the following general studies requirements:
HI 106 or 107 Topics in US History* - 3 credits
HI 258 Pennsylvania History* - 3 credits
EL 129 Young Adult Fiction* - 3 credits
AR 100 Art and Music of Western Culture* - 3 credits
EL 102 Language and Rhetoric - 3 credits
EL 208 Pedagogy of Composition* - 3 credits
MA 104 Elementary Functions* - 3 credits
Earth Space Science with lab* - 4 credits
Life Science with lab* - 4 credits
CA 235 Introduction to Web Design* - 3 credits
PS 100 American Politics* - 3 credits
*Also fulfills Core Curriculum requirements.
Required Studies in Psychology (15 credits)
PY 115 Educational Psychology* - 3 credits
PY 201 Applied Statistics and Research - 3 credits
PY 214 Adolescent Development - 3 credits
PY 290 Psychology and Education for Exceptional Students - 3 credits
PY 381 Educational Testing – 3 credits
Required Studies in Mathematics (6 additional credits than general studies)
MA 102 Mathematics for Teachers - 3 credits
MA 103 Geometric and Measurement Theory - 3 credits
Required Studies in Science (4 additional credits than general studies)
PH 106/107 Physical Geology and Lab or 108/109 Our Dynamic Planet and Lab - 4 credits
Required Studies in Education (39 credits Middle Grade Education 4-8)
ED 100 Educational Foundations - 3 credits*
ED 102 or 207 Field Experience - 1 credit
ED 109 Physical and Cultural Geography - 3 credits
ED 205 Strategies and Techniques of Instruction - 2 credits
ED 206 Field Experience II: Strategies and Techniques of Instruction - 1 credit
ED 208 Classroom Partnerships and Inclusion - 3 credits
ED 235 Teaching of Science and Mathematics for Middle and Special Learners - 2 credits
ED 237 Teaching of Humanities for Middle and Special Learners - 2 credits
ED 311 Field Experience III: Middle Grade Instruction and Theory - 3 credits
ED 320 Composition and Language Arts for Upper Elementary - 2 credits
ED 390 Teaching of Nonnative Speaking and Culturally Diverse Students - 3 credits
ED 400 Field Experience IV: Pre-Student Teaching - 2 credits
ED 410 Field Experience V: Student Teaching Internship - 9 credits
ED 411 Professional Seminar - 3 credits
Required Additional Studies in one (1) content area:
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics (18 credits)
Students enrolled in the B.S. in Middle Grades Education (4-8) are required to take 18 credits in one (1) concentration area in addition to the above requirements.
Language Arts [six (6) courses must include at least one (1) communication course, one (1) writing course, and one (1) literature course]:
EL 110 Introduction to Creative Writing
EL 131 Survey of American Literature I
EL 137 American Short Story
EL 146 Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking
CA 100 Introduction to Mass Media
CA 120 Public Presentation
Social Studies [six (6) courses must include at least one (1) economics course, one (1) political science course, one (1) sociology course, and (1) history course]:
HI 123 Global History I
HI 228 Twentieth Century America 1941-1980
EC 101/2 Micro or Macro Economics
PS 121 National Government
PS 227 Criminal Law and Process
SO 106 Sociology and Global Issues
Science [five (5) courses not more than two (2) biology, chemistry, environmental science courses]:
CH 101/103 General Chemistry I and Lab
BL 150/151 General Biology and Lab
BL 112 Understanding Biotechnology
PH 103/104 Introduction to Physics and Lab
ES 150/152 Earth Systems Science and Lab
Mathematics [six (5) courses] Recommended courses:
MA 109 Calculus I
MA 110 Calculus II
MA 210 Euclidean and Non Euclidean Geometrics
MA 117 Methods of Proof
BA 350 Statistics I
*Also fulfills Core Curriculum requirements.