What will I study?
The bachelor’s program in middle level education will prepare you to support the educational and developmental needs of young adolescent learners. Designed specifically for those who have an interest in teaching fifth through eighth grades, our middle level education degree program is nationally recognized by the Association of Middle Level Education as one of the top in the nation.
Our faculty believe that middle level educators and supervisors are responsible for fostering an educational experience that is developmentally responsive, challenging, empowering and equitable. In accordance with accreditation standards, the program’s goals emphasize:
- research-based characteristics of effective middle grades education in curriculum, instruction and assessment
- leadership and organization
- culture and community
For information on types of required classes, please review the Typical Course Work section.
What kinds of work will I be able to do?
A major in middle level education can prepare you for careers in teaching, school administration, children’s advocacy or in state agencies that focus on children’s tutoring. Other potential careers include museum programs, camp programs and child service organizations.
Typical Coursework
Education (total 50 hours)
Your education course work consists of the Education Core, Middle Level Core and Clinical
Experiences.
Education Core (10 hours)
The goal of this group of courses is to provide you with a broad context in which
teaching and learning occurs.
Middle Level Core (22 hours)
This group of courses contains content knowledge that is framed by the Association
for Middle Level Education (AMLE). Also, the knowledge gained from these courses serves
as the knowledge base for skills that you will develop later in the degree program.
Clinical Experiences (18 hours)
Throughout this portion of the degree program, you will gain experiences in middle
school settings, integrating the theories and practices that you have studied in your
core courses.
Content Area Specialization (36-41 hours)
In addition to the required courses for meeting Carolina Core requirements, you are
required to specialize in two different content areas chosen from:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Note:
- If you choose the Bachelor of Arts degree, you cannot choose the Math/Science combination.
- If you choose the Bachelor of Science degree, you cannot choose the English/Social Studies combination.
Specialization A (18-23 hours): To be completed with courses listed in the academic bulletin and approved by College of Education advisor in English, mathematics, science, or social studies.
Specialization B (18-23 hours): To be completed with courses listed in the academic bulletin and approved by College of Education advisor in English, mathematics, science, or social studies and different from Specialization A.