4140 Middle Level Education (B.S.E.)

Program Offered:

1. Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Level Education
   Additional Teacher Education information is found in section 1600 of the catalog.

Department of Middle-Secondary Education and Instructional Technology
600 College of Education Building
404/413-8060
msit.gsu.edu

Dana L. Fox, Chair

Program Theme: Teacher as Facilitator of Learning in a Supportive Environment

The B.S.E. major in Middle Level Education prepares outstanding middle level educators who can meet the needs of young adolescents in today's diverse, highly technological, and changing society. Graduates have a well developed content knowledge in two fields (language arts, mathematics, reading, science, or social studies), and they are able to construct and implement interdisciplinary instruction creatively.

Successful completion of this program and the appropriate GACE Content Assessment tests leads to a recommendation for licensure for grades four through eight in the two areas of concentration.

Program Degree Requirements

B.S.E. Middle Level Education

Students must complete 42 semester hours in Areas A-E of the Undergraduate Core Curriculum with the recommendations listed in this section. Courses in Area A must be completed with "C" or higher grades.

Semester hours are shown in parentheses following an entry.

Area A. Essential 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.

Area C. Humanities and Fine Arts

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 Humanities and Fine Arts requirements.

Area D. Science, Mathematics, and Technology

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 Science, Mathematics, and Technology requirements. Students who choose science as one of their concentration areas are encouraged to choose CHEM 1101K and 1102k or BIOL 1103K and BIOL 1104K. Students who choose Social Studies as an area of concentration are encouraged to choose GEOG 1112 and 1113.

Area E. Social Science

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.

Area F. Preparation for a Major (18 semester hours)

Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in each course used to fulfill Area F requirements.

Required (9):

• EDUC 2110 Investigating Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education (3)
• EDUC 2120 Exploring Socio Cultural Perspectives on Diversity (3)
• EDUC 2130 Exploring Teaching and Learning (3)

Select three (9):
With advisor approval, students select two additional 1000- or 2000-level courses for a minimum of six semester hours in one concentration area and one course for three semester hours in a second concentration area.

• Language Arts: ENGL 2110 World Literature, ENGL 2120 British Literature, or ENGL 2130 American Literature
• Reading: AL 2101 Introduction to Language (highly recommended prerequisite for Area G.1. AL course), ENGL2110 World Literature, ENGL 2120 British Literature, or ENGL 2130 American Literature
• Mathematics: MATH 2008 Foundations of Numbers and Operations (3); MATH 2212 Calculus of One Variable II (4) or MATH 2420 Discrete Mathematics (3)
• Sciences: CHEM 1101K and/or CHEM 1102, or BIOL 1103K and/or BIOL 1104 K are recommended if not taken in Area D.
• Social Studies: GEOG 1101 Introduction to Human Geography, GEOG 1112 Introduction to Weather and Climate or GEOG 1113 Introduction to Landforms recommended if not taken in Area D

Area G. Major/Teaching Field (48 semester hours)

Students must apply for teacher education prior to beginning coursework in G.3 (Pedagogical Knowledge) of their program. To be accepted into teacher education:  

• students must have a 2.50 composite grade point average on all undergraduate coursework previously completed;
• Students must present passing scores on the GACE Basic Skills Assessment or demonstrate an exemption upon application to an initial educator preparation program. The current options for satisfying the Basic Skills Assessment, including the exemptions, are outlined at www.gapsc.com/documentation/basicskillsinfo.asp. Under "Basic Skills Testing," go to "Options to Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement";
• students must have successfully completed Areas A through F of the program of study;
• students must have successfully completed at least 18 of the 24 hours in Area G.1 Content Concentration courses (at least 9 hours in each concentration); and

• students must have successfully completed all Area G.2 Core Knowledge courses.

Content Concentrations for Middle Level Education (24 hours)

In consultation with their advisors, students select TWO areas of concentration from among language arts, mathematics, reading, science, and social studies. Each area of concentration consists of 12 semester hours of coursework, at least 6 of which must be numbered 3000 or higher. Students are expected to have completed all prerequisites prior to enrolling in any of the following courses requiring prerequisites. Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in each course used to fulfill Area G.1 requirements.

• Language Arts Concentration (12)
  • Required (3):
    • EDLA 3200 Topics in Middle Childhood Language Arts (3)
  • Literature/Folklore
    Select one (3):
    • ENGL 3040 Introduction to Literary Studies (3)
    • ENGL 3290 English Fiction (3)
    • ENGL 3850 American Poetry (3)
    • ENGL 3860 American Drama (3)
    • ENGL 3870 American Fiction (3)
    • ENGL 3890 Contemporary Ethnic American Literature (3)
    • ENGL 3910 The Tradition of Children's and Young Adults' Literature (3)
    • ENGL 3920 Southern Literature (3)
    • ENGL 3950 African-American Literature (3)
    • ENGL 3960 African-American Literature by Women (3)
    • ENGL 3970 Caribbean Literature (3)
    • ENGL 4130 Shakespeare, Earlier Works (3)
    • ENGL 4140 Shakespeare, Later Works (3)
    • FOLK 3000 American Folklore (3)
    • FOLK 4000 Georgia Folklore (3)
    • EDLA 3230 Special Topics in the Middle Level Literature Curriculum (3)
    (Another course may be selected with consent of advisor.)
  • Composition
    Select one (3):
    • ENGL 3080 History, Theory, and Practice of Argumentative Writing (3)
    • ENGL 3090 History, Theory, and Practice of Expository Writing (3)
    • ENGL 3100 Twentieth-Century Composition Theory and Practice (3)
    • ENGL 3150A Introduction to Creative Writing - Poetry (3)
    • ENGL 3150B Introduction to Creative Writing - Fiction (3)
    • EDLA 3240 Special Topics in the Middle Level Literature Curriculum (3)
    (Another course may be selected with consent of advisor.)
  • Language
    Select one (3):
    • AL 3021 Introduction to Linguistics (3)
    • ENGL 3105 Practical Grammar (3)
    • ENGL3190 Language Analysis for Teachers of English (3)
    • ENGL 3200 Introduction to the English Language (3)
    • ENGL 3220 History of the English Language (3)
    • ENGL 3955 Language in the African-American Community (3)
    • SPCH 3750 Intercultural Communication (3)
    • SPCH 4500 Visual Communication (3)
    • (Another course may be selected with consent of advisor.)
• Mathematics Concentration (12)
  • Required (9):
    • EDMT 3350 Topics in Middle Childhood Mathematics (3)
    • MATH 3050 Geometry and Spatial Sense (3)
    • MATH 3070 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
  • Select one (3):
    • MATH 3000 Bridge to Higher Mathematics (3)
    • MATH 3090 Algebraic Concepts (3)
    • MATH 3420 Applied Combinatorics (3)
    • MATH 3820 Historical and Cultural Development of Mathematics I (3)
    • EDMT 3420 Special Topics in the Middle Level Mathematics Curriculum (3)
    • (Another course may be selected with consent of advisor.)
• Reading Concentration (12)
  • Required (9)
    • EDRD 3490 Topics in Middle Childhood Reading (3)
    • EDRD 3500 Assessment and Instruction of Middle Childhood Students with Reading Difficulty (3)
    • EDLA 3200 Topics in Middle Grades Language Arts (3) (Students selecting Language Arts as their second concentration may select another literacy elective with recommendation of their advisor.)
    • AL 3021 Introduction to Linguistics (3)
• Science Concentration (12)
  • Select three or four (12):
    Students are required to take 6 hours of upper-level (3000-level or above) science courses.
    • BIOL 2240 Intro to Human Physiology (3)
    • BIOL 2250 Human Physiology Lab (1)
    • BIOL 2300 Micro and Public Health (3)
    • BIOL 2310 Fundamental Micro Lab (1)
    • BIOL 2800 Intro to Molecular Biology (3)
    • BIOL 4050K Natural Environment of Georgia (4)
    • CHEM 4590 Special Topics in Physical Chemistry (3)
    • EDSC 3250 Topics in Middle Grades Science (4)
    • NSCI 3001 Integrated Science I: Physics and Astronomy (4)
    • NSCI 3002 Integrated Science II: Chemistry and Geology (4)
    • NSCI 3003 Integrated Science III: Geology and Biology (4)
    • (Another course may be selected with consent of advisor.)
• Social Studies Concentration (12)
  • Required (6):
    • EDSS 3400 Topics in Middle Grades Social Science/History (3)
    • HIST 4310 Georgia History (4)
  • Select two (6):
    • North American or World Studies
      • GEOG 4400 Geography of the United States and Canada (3)
      • HIST 3200 North American before 1800 (4)
      • HIST 3210 United States in the Nineteenth Century (4)
      • HIST 3220 United States in the Twentieth Century (4)
      • HIST 3500 The Ancient Mediterranean (4)
      • HIST 3510 Medieval Europe to 1500 (4)
      • HIST 3520 Early Modern Europe, 1500-1789 (4)
      • HIST 3530 Europe since 1789 (4)
      • HIST 3620 Atlantic World (4)
      • HIST 3700 China and Japan to 1600 (4)
      • HIST 3710 China and Japan after 1600 (4)
      • HIST 3720 Colonial Latin America (4)
      • HIST 3730 Latin America since 1810 (4)
      • HIST 3780 The Middle East, 600-1800 (4)
      • HIST 3790 The Middle East since 1800 (4)
      • HIST 3800 South Asia to 1757 (4)
      • HIST 3810 South Asia after 1757 (4)
      • HIST 4320 Metropolitan Atlanta (3)
      • HIST 4750 East Africa and the Horn (4)
      • HIST 4760 Central and South Africa (4)
      • (Another course may be selected with consent of advisor.)
    • Political Science
      • POLS 3110 State Government (3)
      • POLS 3170 American Legislative Process (3)
      • POLS 3200 Comparative Politics (3)
      • POLS 3400 International Politics (3)
      • POLS 3800 Introduction to Political Research (3)
      • POLS 4115 Urban Politics (3)
      • POLS 4130 American Constitutional Law (3)
      • POLS 4131 Civil Liberties and Rights (3)
      • POLS 4180 American Chief Executives (3)
      • (Another course may be selected with consent of advisor.)
• Core Knowledge for Middle Level Education (12)
  
  Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in each course used to fulfill Area G.2 requirements.
  
  Required (12)
  • EDCI 3200 Organization and Instruction of the Middle Grades Curriculum (3)
  • EDCI 3220 Understanding and Supporting Middle School Learners (3)
  • EXC 4020 Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (3)
  • IT 3210 Teaching, Learning, and Technology Integration (3)
• Pedagogical Knowledge (12)
  
  Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in each course used to fulfill Area G.3 requirements.
  
  Students must complete the majority of their Content Concentrations (at least 9 of 12 hours in each concentration) and their Core Knowledge concentration prior to enrolling in the pedagogical knowledge courses. These courses must be taken concurrently.
  
  • Required (6):
    • EDCI 4600 Practicum (3)
    • EDRD 4600 Reading and Writing in the Content Areas-CTW (3)
  • Select two (6):
    • EDLA 4400 Concepts and Methods in Language Arts for Middle Childhood Education (3)
    • EDMT 4460 Concepts and Methods in Middle Childhood Mathematics (3)
    • EDRD 4450 Concepts and Methods in Reading for Middle Childhood Education (3)
    • EDSC 4470 Concepts and Methods in Middle Childhood Science (3)
    • EDSS 4480 Concepts and Methods in Middle Childhood Social Studies (3)

Area H: Student Teaching (12 semester hours)

Students must successfully complete all courses in Area G.2 and Area G.3 with a grade of “B” or higher to be authorized to enroll in Area H courses.

Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in each course used to fulfill Area H requirements.

Required (12):

• EDCI 4640 Critical Issues in Middle Grades Education-CTW (3)
• EDCI 4700 Student Teaching in Middle Grades (9)

Exit Criteria:

• Successful completion of all program coursework.
• Successful completion of professional portfolio.

Total Program: minimum of 120 semester hours