Overview

Offered by the the Department of Teaching and Learning, the Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Grades Education prepares undergraduate students for middle level teaching (fourth to eighth grades). Middle grades teachers, particularly in math and science education, are increasingly sought out and in high-demand in Pennsylvania as well as across the country.

The College of Education and Human Development's program in Middle Grades Education is designed to ensure not only that there are certified teachers to fill the growing vacancies, but that our students graduate highly knowledgeable about learning and teaching as well as committed to pre/adolescent learners from diverse ethnic, economic and geographic backgrounds. To that end, our program focuses on building deep content-specific pedagogical knowledge aligned to the breadth of academic standards and the wide-ranging developmental needs of middle grades students. To develop a strong link between learning theories and actual pedagogical practice, we also require that our students engage in early, often and strategic field/clinical education experiences in middle grades settings.

Our program stands out as cutting-edge because we prepare undergraduate students to teach in both the upper elementary and middle grades classrooms.

Middle Grades Education students must select one of the following concentrations:

  • Language Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematics and Language Arts
  • Mathematics and Science
  • Science
  • Science and Language Arts
  • Social Studies

In addition to becoming certified to teach all elementary subjects in 4-6th grades, all students in the BSEd in Middle Grades Education with a Concentration in Mathematics and Language Arts will pursue dual certification for 7-8th grades in the areas of mathematics and language arts. The required minimum number of credit hours is 126.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: ED-MGRE-BSED

GPA Requirements

In order to maintain good standing in Middle Grades Education, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and a 2.0 grade point average in the course work in their concentration area.

Accreditation

The program is approved as a teacher preparation program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Licensure/Certification

Upon successful completion of the program requirements, candidates may apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate. Please note, Pennsylvania requires assessment of candidates in General Knowledge, Professional Knowledge and/or Subject Area Knowledge prior to issuance of a certificate. Please refer to the PDE web site for testing requirements.

Contact Information

Undergraduate Advising, College of Education and Human Development
edadvising@temple.edu

Tim Fukawa-Connelly, Program Coordinator
tim.fc@temple.edu

Kristie Newton, Teaching and Learning Department Chair
KJNewton@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Grades Education.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

University Requirements

All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum. 

All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive (WI) courses at Temple University. Writing intensive course numbers end in 96, 97 and 98. 

College Requirements

Students receive a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a recommendation for Pennsylvania teacher certification upon the successful completion of their program requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or must meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education's qualifying Praxis score standards.

The required total minimum credit hours for the Middle Grades Education concentration in Mathematics and Language Arts is 126. These credit hours are satisfied by taking courses in four categories:

  1. University General Education requirements (General Education)
  2. Education courses
  3. Teacher Education Certification Courses (i.e. methods and student teaching)
  4. Concentration courses

All students seeking to graduate with the recommendation for certification must also meet the requirements for Candidacy.

Major Requirements

EDUC 2103Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States 13
EDUC 2109Adolescent Development for Educators 13
MGSE 2111Applications of Teaching and Learning Theories to Classroom Practice (grades 4-12)3
SPED 2231Introduction to Special Education 13
EDUC 2296Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice 13
EDUC 2306Assessment and Evaluation3
SPED 3187Integrated Literacy and Special Education Practicum3
MGSE 3404Teaching and Learning Math in the Middle Grades3
MGSE 3405Teaching and Learning Science in the Middle Grades3
TESL 3631Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners3
SPED 3211Effective Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities3
SPED 4103Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support3
MGSE 3196Teaching and Learning Literacy in the Middle Grades3
MGSE 4296Cultures, Communities, and Families3
MGSE 4801Senior Seminar and Performance Assessment in Grades 4-12 Education3
MGSE 4888Student Teaching in Grades 4-129
Total Credit Hours54
1

These courses must be completed with a C- or better to be eligible for Candidacy approval. Pre-Candidacy coursework includes a variety of courses, including a minimum of 1) two college-level math courses totaling at least six credits, 2) one college-level writing/composition course with a minimum of three credits (GenEd Analytical Reading and Writing), and 3) one literature course with a minimum of three credits: Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life, Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good, or an ENG 2000 level course as specified in footnote 2 below the program requirements; no 0700 or pre-college level courses can count toward these requirements.

Program Requirements for Middle Grades Education with Concentration in Mathematics and Language Arts

BIOL 1011General Biology I4
BIOL 1012General Biology II4
or PHYS 1022 Introduction to General Physics II
MATH 1013Elements of Statistics 13
or MATH 2031 Probability and Statistics
or MATH 2021 Functions and Modeling
MATH 1015Introduction to Numbers & Figures4
PHYS 1021Introduction to General Physics I4
MATH 1022Precalculus 14
MATH 1041Calculus I 14
MATH 1042Calculus II 14
HIST 1101U.S. History to 18773
or HIST 1102 U.S. History since 1877
CSCD 1108Introduction to Linguistics3
or ENG 2821 Introduction to Linguistics
or ANTH 2507 Language and Culture
ENG 2000 level course 23
ENG 2000 level course 23
ENG 2000 level course 23
MATH 2061Euclidean Geometry3
Total Credit Hours49
1

These courses must be completed with a C- or better to be eligible for Candidacy approval. Pre-Candidacy coursework includes a variety of courses, including a minimum of 1) two college-level math courses totaling at least six credits, 2) one college-level writing/composition course with a minimum of three credits (GenEd Analytical Reading and Writing), and 3) one literature course with a minimum of three credits: Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life, Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good, or an ENG 2000 level course as specified in footnote 2; no 0700 or pre-college level courses can count toward these requirements.

2

Choose one ENG 2000 level course from the following: ENG 2001, ENG 2003, ENG 2004, ENG 2112, ENG 2115, ENG 2501, ENG 2502, ENG 2503, ENG 2831.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Grades Education with Mathematics and Language Arts Concentration

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year

To best prepare students in this major for the Praxis II exams, we strongly encourage taking the suggested GenEds listed.

(Certain courses require that a student secure clearances as per the College of Education and Human Development policy; students should check the current list of courses that require clearances on the College of Education and Human Development web site.)

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing 4
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL
or Honors Writing About Literature
4
GenEd Breadth Course 5 3
BIOL 1011 General Biology I (includes a lab) 1 4
MATH 1022 Precalculus 4 4
 Credit Hours15
Spring
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life 4
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
3
GenEd Breadth Course 5 3
PHYS 1021 Introduction to General Physics I 1 4
MATH 1041 Calculus I 3,4 4
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Linguistics
Introduction to Linguistics
Language and Culture
 Credit Hours17
Year 2
Fall
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good 4
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
3
GenEd Breadth Course 5 3
MATH 1042 Calculus II 3,4 4
EDUC 2103 Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States 4 3
ENG 2000 level course 6 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
EDUC 2109 Adolescent Development for Educators 2,4 3
SPED 2231 Introduction to Special Education 2,4 3
Select one of the following: 1 4
General Biology II ((includes a lab))
Introduction to General Physics II ((includes a lab))
ENG 2000 level course 6 3
Select one of the following: 4 3
Elements of Statistics
Probability and Statistics
Functions and Modeling
 Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
GenEd Breadth Course 5 4
EDUC 2296 Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice 3
MGSE 2111 Applications of Teaching and Learning Theories to Classroom Practice (grades 4-12) 3
TESL 3631 Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners 2 3
MATH 1015 Introduction to Numbers & Figures 4
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MGSE 3404 Teaching and Learning Math in the Middle Grades 3
MGSE 3196 Teaching and Learning Literacy in the Middle Grades ((Spring only)) 3
MGSE 3405 Teaching and Learning Science in the Middle Grades 3
SPED 3187 Integrated Literacy and Special Education Practicum 3
MATH 2061 Euclidean Geometry ((Spring only)) 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
SPED 3211 Effective Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities 3
MGSE 4296 Cultures, Communities, and Families 3
EDUC 2306 Assessment and Evaluation 3
Select one of the following: 3
U.S. History to 1877
U.S. History since 1877
ENG 2000 level course 6 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
MGSE 4888 Student Teaching in Grades 4-12 9
MGSE 4801 Senior Seminar and Performance Assessment in Grades 4-12 Education 3
SPED 4103 Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours126
1

The sequence of either 1) BIOL 1011 and BIOL 1012 or 2) PHYS 1021 and PHYS 1022 constitute a waiver for both of the GenEd Science and Technology (GS) courses required in the GenEd Science and Technology (GS) category if the courses are completed with a C- or better. Students must successfully complete all requirements in one sequence or the other.

2

Completion of 1) SPED 2231, 2) EDUC 2109 and 3) TESL 3631 constitute the waiver for the GenEd Human Behavior (GB) category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.

3

Completion of either 1) MATH 1041/MATH 1941 or 2) MATH 1042/MATH 1942 constitutes a waiver for the GenEd Quantitative Literacy (GQ) category if the course is completed with a C- or better.

4

These courses must be completed with a C- or better to be eligible for Candidacy approval. Pre-Candidacy coursework includes a variety of courses, including a minimum of 1) two college-level math courses totaling at least six credits, 2) one college-level writing/composition course with a minimum of three credits (GenEd Analytical Reading and Writing), and 3) one literature course with a minimum of three credits: Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life, Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good, or an ENG 2000 level course as specified in footnote 6; no 0700 or pre-college level courses can count toward these requirements.

5

Suggested GenEd courses: Global/World Society (GG) = ANTH 0867 or GUS 0867; Race & Diversity (GD) = AAAS 0829, ANTH 0829, GUS 0829, HIST 0829, POLS 0829, SOC 0829 or SOC 0929; U.S. Society (GU) = AMST 0848 or HIST 0848.

6

Choose one ENG 2000 level course from the following: ENG 2001, ENG 2003, ENG 2004, ENG 2112, ENG 2115, ENG 2501, ENG 2502, ENG 2503, ENG 2831.