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 Social Studies will pursue certification for 7-8th grades in the area of social studies.
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 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 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 Social Studies 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 | 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 | 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; no 0700 or pre-college level courses can count toward these requirements.
Program Requirements for Concentration in Social Studies
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1011 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL 1012 | General Biology II | 4 |
| or PHYS 1022 | Introduction to General Physics II | |
| ECON 1001 | Introduction to the Economy | 3 |
| or ECON 1103 | Global Economics | |
| ENG 2501 | Survey of British Literature | 3 |
| or ENG 2502 | Survey of American Literature | |
| or ENG 2503 | Survey of Global Literature | |
| GUS 2002 | Space and Place | 3 |
| or GUS 2014 | ||
| HIST 1101 | U.S. History to 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 1102 | U.S. History since 1877 | |
| HIST 1702 | World History Modern | 3 |
| or HIST 2304 | 20th Century Europe: A Continent in Crisis | |
| or HIST 2511 | Introduction to African History | |
| HIST 2103 | African American History to 1865 | 3 |
| or HIST 3101 | Colonial America | |
| HIST 2104 | African American History 1865-Present | 3 |
| or HIST 2111 | Recent American History | |
| or HIST 2216 | U.S. Civil War | |
| or HIST 2217 | Vietnam War | |
| MATH 1015 | Introduction to Numbers & Figures 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1021 | College Algebra 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1022 | Precalculus 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 1021 | Introduction to General Physics I | 4 |
| POLS 1301 | International Politics | 3 |
| or POLS 1101 | The American Political System | |
| 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; no 0700 or pre-college level courses can count toward these requirements.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Grades Education with Social Studies Concentration
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2025-2026 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 1015 | Introduction to Numbers & Figures 3,4 | 4 |
| PHYS 1021 | Introduction to General Physics I 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Space and Place | ||
GUS 2014 | ||
| 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 | ||
| EDUC 2103 | Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States 4 | 3 |
| MATH 1022 | Precalculus 3,4 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: 4 | 3 | |
| Survey of British Literature | ||
| Survey of American Literature | ||
| Survey of Global Literature | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| African American History to 1865 | ||
| Colonial America | ||
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] 4 or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| 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 | ||
| Introduction to General Physics II | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History since 1877 | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course 5 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| TESL 3631 | Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners 2 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| World History Modern | ||
| 20th Century Europe: A Continent in Crisis | ||
| Introduction to African History | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course 5 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| 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 |
| SPED 3187 | Integrated Literacy and Special Education Practicum | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| African American History 1865-Present | ||
| Recent American History | ||
| U.S. Civil War | ||
| Vietnam War | ||
| 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 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to the Economy | ||
| Global Economics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| International Politics | ||
| The American Political System | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MGSE 4801 | Senior Seminar and Performance Assessment in Grades 4-12 Education | 3 |
| MGSE 4888 | Student Teaching in Grades 4-12 | 9 |
| 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 constitutes 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; 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.