Program Overview
Middle Level Education, B.S.Ed.
The B.S.E. in Middle Level Education prepares students to teach in schools in historically marginalized communities by emphasizing political, historical, and cultural community contexts and integrating a strong justice and equity orientation.
Program Overview
The Middle Level Education degree program is designed for students who seek a bachelor's degree and initial teaching certification in Middle Level Education grades 4-8 in two of the following concentration areas:
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Program Details
- Total Program: Minimum of 120 semester hours
- Total Program for the ESOL Concentration: Minimum of 129 hours
- Total Program for the Special Education Concentration: Minimum of 129 hours
- Location: Atlanta Campus
Admissions Requirements
- Minimum 2.50 overall grade point average on all undergraduate coursework previously completed
- Successfully completed all courses in Core IMPACTS and Field of Study: apply as you near completion of these courses
- Take the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (351)
- Purchase Tort Liability and upload proof of Tort Liability with your application
- Complete the online application
Program of Study
Core IMPACTS
Students must complete 42 semester hours for Core IMPACTS with the recommendations listed in this section. ENGL 1101, ENGL 1102, and MATH 1001 (or higher) must be completed with "C" or higher grades.
Mathematics and Quantitative Skills
Students who choose mathematics or science as one of their areas of concentration should select pre-calculus or a more advanced mathematics course to fulfill the mathematics requirement.
Arts, Humanities, and Ethics
Students who choose language arts as one of their areas of concentration should select ENGL 2110 World Literature (3), ENGL 2120 British Literature (3), or ENGL 2130 American Literature (3) to fulfill three semester hours of the Arts, Humanities, and Ethics requirements.
Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences
Students who choose mathematics as one of their areas of concentration should select calculus of one variable (or a more advanced mathematics course) to fulfill three semester hours of the Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences requirements. Students who choose science as one of their concentration areas are encouraged to choose CHEM 1101K and CHEM 1102K or BIOL 1103K and BIOL 1104K. Students who choose Social Studies as an area of concentration are encouraged to choose GEOG 1112 and GEOG 1113.
Social Sciences
Students who choose social studies as one of their areas of concentration should select either AAS 1140 Introduction to African and African-American History and Culture (3), AAS 2010 Introduction to African-American Studies (3), ANTH 1102 Introduction to Anthropology (3), ECON 2105 Principles of Macroeconomics (3), ECON 2106 Principles of Microeconomics (3), GEOG 1101 Introduction to Human Geography (3), or HIST 1140 Introduction to African and African-American History (3) to complete the Social Science Foundations requirement.
Field of Study (18 hours)
Courses include EDUC 2120 Exploring Socio Cultural Perspectives on Diversity (3), EDUC 2130 Exploring Teaching and Learning (3), and lower division courses from content areas of Language Arts, Mathematics, Sciences, and/or Social Studies.
Major Courses (48-57 semester hours)
Content Concentrations for Middle Level Education (24 hours)
In consultation with their advisors, students select TWO areas of concentration from among language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Each area of content concentration consists of 12 semester hours of coursework. Students are expected to have completed all prerequisites prior to enrolling in any of the following courses requiring prerequisites.
Core Knowledge for Middle Level Education (12-15)
Courses include EDCI 3200 Organization and Instruction of the Middle Grades Curriculum (3), EDCI 3220 Understanding and Supporting Middle School Learners (3), and LT 3210 Teaching, Learning, and Technology Integration (3). Students pursuing the optional Special Education or ESOL concentration will complete an additional course in this section.
Pedagogical Knowledge (12-18)
Courses in this section include EDCI 4600 Practicum (3), EDRD 4600 Reading and Writing in the Content Areas-CTW (3), and courses from the chosen content areas. Students pursuing the Special Education or ESOL concentrations will complete two additional courses in this section.
Student Teaching (12 semester hours)
Exit Criteria:
- Successful completion of all program coursework and professional portfolio.
- Students must post passing scores on the GACE Content Assessments, the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (360) in order to be recommended by Georgia State University for clear, renewable certification.
Program Financial Information
B.S.E majors must pay all tuition and fees charged by the University and the College. A lab fee of $125 will be charged at the time students register for the student teaching experience. Educator preparation students must be aware that extra costs such as tort liability and transportation will be incurred at various times during the completion of various teacher education field experiences, particularly during the students' senior year. The cost of the edTPA portfolio submission is $300.00, which will also be associated with student teaching.
Field Placement Experience
In the final semesters of the program, students conduct field experiences in the metro Atlanta area where students will see the application of theory and research, test ideas, and practice strategies that they have learned throughout the program of study. Each student works closely with a mentor teacher at the practicum school and is supervised by faculty from the Department of Middle and Secondary Education.
Georgia Teacher Certification Requirements
All students must meet Georgia Professional Standards Commission requirements to be eligible for certification:
- GaPSC Preservice Certificate
- Georgia Educator Ethics Assessments
- GACE Content Assessment(s)
Careers
Successful program graduates will be well prepared to work in prominent public, charter, and private schools and school systems in the metro Atlanta region and beyond. Our graduates teach in a range of local public schools and counties such as Atlanta, Cobb, and DeKalb as well as in local charter schools and private schools in other U.S. states and international settings. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Teaching degree, program graduates are also well prepared to pursue a Master of Education or other advanced education degrees.