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 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 Language Arts will pursue certification for 7-8th grades in the area of language arts.
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 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 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. All students seeking to graduate with the recommendation for certification must also meet the requirements for Candidacy.
The required total minimum credit hours for the Middle Grades Education concentration in Language Arts is 120. These credit hours are satisfied by taking courses in four categories:
- University General Education requirements (General Education)
- Education courses
- Teacher Education Certification Courses (i.e. methods and student teaching)
- Concentration courses
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 2103 | Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 2109 | Adolescent Development for Educators 1 | 3 |
| SPED 2231 | Introduction to Special Education 1 | 3 |
| SPED 3187 | Integrated Literacy and Special Education Practicum | 3 |
| SPED 3211 | Effective Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| MGSE 3196 | Teaching and Learning Literacy in the Middle Grades (WI) | 3 |
| MGSE 3404 | Teaching and Learning Math in the Middle Grades | 3 |
| MGSE 3405 | Teaching and Learning Science in the Middle Grades | 3 |
| TESL 3631 | Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners | 3 |
| SPED 4103 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| MGSE 4296 | Cultures, Communities, and Families (WI) | 3 |
| MGSE 4801 | Senior Seminar and Performance Assessment in Grades 4-12 Education | 3 |
| MGSE 4888 | Student Teaching in Grades 4-12 | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
- 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 Concentration in Language Arts
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1011 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL 1012 | General Biology II | 4 |
| or PHYS 1022 | Introduction to General Physics II | |
| MATH 1015 | Introduction to Numbers & Figures 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1021 | College Algebra 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 1021 | Introduction to General Physics I | 4 |
| MATH 1022 | Precalculus 1 | 4 |
| Select a US history course that is a broad survey course, such as one of the following or another with advisor approval: | 3 | |
| U.S. History since 1877 | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| Select a linguistics course, such as one of the following or another with advisor approval: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| Language and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| ENG 2000 level course 1,2 | 3 | |
| ENG 2000 level course 1,2 | 3 | |
| ENG 2000 level course 1,2 | 3 | |
| ENG 2000 level course 1,2 | 3 | |
| ENG 2000+ course | 3 | |
| ENG 2000+ course | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
- 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 Language Arts Concentration
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 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.)
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| BIOL 1011 | General Biology I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1021 | College Algebra 3,4 | 4 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] 4 or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course 5 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 1022 | Precalculus 3,4 | 4 |
| PHYS 1021 | Introduction to General Physics I 1 | 4 |
| Select a linguistics course, such as one of the following or another with advisor approval: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| Language and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] 4 or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course 5 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MATH 1015 | Introduction to Numbers & Figures 3,4 | 4 |
| ENG 2000 level course 4,6 | 3 | |
| ENG 2000 level course 4,6 | 3 | |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] 4 or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course 5 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 2103 | Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States 4 | 3 |
| SPED 2231 | Introduction to Special Education 2,4 | 3 |
| ENG 2000 level course 4,6 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | |
| General Biology II | ||
| Introduction to General Physics II | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course 5 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDUC 2109 | Adolescent Development for Educators 2,4 | 3 |
| TESL 3631 | Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners 2 | 3 |
| ENG 2000 level course 4,6 | 3 | |
| ENG 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| ENG 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPED 3187 | Integrated Literacy and Special Education Practicum | 3 |
| MGSE 3196 | Teaching and Learning Literacy in the Middle Grades [WI] | 3 |
| MGSE 3404 | Teaching and Learning Math in the Middle Grades 3 | 3 |
| MGSE 3405 | Teaching and Learning Science in the Middle Grades | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MGSE 4296 | Cultures, Communities, and Families [WI] | 3 |
| SPED 3211 | Effective Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 4103 | Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support | 3 |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Select a US history course that is a broad survey course, such as one of the following or another with advisor approval: | 3 | |
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History since 1877 | ||
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| MGSE 4888 | Student Teaching in Grades 4-12 | 9 |
| MGSE 4801 | Senior Seminar and Performance Assessment in Grades 4-12 Education | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
The sequence of either 1) BIOL 1011 and BIOL 1012 or 2) PHYS 1021 and PHYS 1022 constitutes 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 1) MATH 1015, 2) MATH 1021, 3) MATH 1022, and 4) MGSE 3404 constitutes a waiver for the GenEd Quantitative Literacy (GQ) category if the courses are 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.