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Program Description
The Middle Level Education major prepares graduates to teach all subjects in grades 4-6 and English, Mathematics, or Social Studies in grades 7-8. The Middle Level Education major supports candidates' understanding of subject-specific content as well as methods of teaching appropriate for early adolescents in grades 4-8. Upon graduation, students will have met all coursework and field experience requirements for the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) 4-8 English, 4-8 Mathematics, or 4-8 Social Studies Instructional I Certificate. In addition, they will have been prepared for the appropriate teacher certification exams as required by PDE for initial certification.
This program undergoes accrediation by the Council for Accrediation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) with a Specialized Professional Association (SPA) review conducted by the American Middle Level Association (AMLE).
What is Middle Level Education?
The Middle Level Education major is a Teacher Education program for all subjects in Grades 4-6 and English, Mathematics, or Social Studies in Grades 7-8. Our program is committed to responsive teaching that is challenging, empowering, equitable, and engaging, and designed especially for the promise and possibilities of young adolescent learners.
Students complete three field experiences in middle grades classrooms. First, they join a classroom once a week for a semester as part of entering the major. Later, they have a semester-long field experience for part of each week, alongside their university courses. The major culminates in a full-time, semester-long student teaching experience. This major supports candidates' understanding of subject-specific content as well as methods of teaching appropriate for inclusive settings in grades 4-8. Upon graduation, teacher candidates will have met all coursework and field experience requirements for the Pennsylvania Department of Education Instructional I Certificate (All subjects 4-6) and Mathematics 7-8, Social Studies 7-8, or English Language Arts & Reading 7-8). In addition, the Praxis assessment is required for certification.
You Might Like This Program If...
You recognize and value the unique and tremendous opportunities for learner growth in the middle grades (4-8). Maybe you loved your experience in the middle grades—or maybe you despised it—and you want to bring your energy and experience to facilitating major, life-altering growth. If you share in or want to learn about middle level educators' commitments to collaboration, integration, democracy, and inclusivity, in meaningful academic learning environments, join us!
Entrance to Major
Baccalaureate degree candidates must meet the following requirements before Entrance to Major:
- Completion of at least 48 semester credit hours, including ENGL 15 or ENGL 30H, six credits of quantification, and three credits of natural science, as well as three credits of literature for Mathematics Education 4-8 Option, three credits of literature for Social Studies 4-8 Option, or six credits of literature for English Education 4-8 Option.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.
- A grade of "C" or better in all specified courses.
- Completion of CI 295B.
- Completion of a core of Education courses specified by the certificate program.
- Completion of additional credits as specified by the certification program.
- Approval form the professional education adviser or the head of the pertinent certification program.
Retention Requirements
Candidates must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00. If a student's cumulative GPA drops below 3.00, a warning letter will be sent to the student, their adviser and the program head. Generally, a student is given one semester to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher or they will not be permitted to continue in a Teacher (Educator) Preparation Program.
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Education a minimum of 125 credits is required for the English 4-8 and Mathematics 4-8 Options and 130 credits is required for the Social Studies 4-8 Option:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 0-6 |
| Requirements for the Major | 107-113 |
27 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 6 credits of GH courses; 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS courses. Six of these 27 credits may also satisfy the Integrative Studies requirement.
Requirements for the Major
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CI 280 | Introduction to Teaching English Language Learners  | 3 |
| CI 295B | Introductory Field Experience in Middle Level Education | 3 |
| CI 405 | Reimagining Classroom Management | 3 |
| CI 495B | Clinical Application of Instruction - Middle Level Education | 3 |
| CI 495D | Practicum in Student Teaching--Childhood and Early Adolescent Education | 12 |
| CI 495F | Professional Development Practicum | 3 |
| EDPSY 14 | Learning and Instruction | 3 |
| EDTHP 115 | Education in American Society | 3 |
| HDFS 239 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| LLED 400 | Teaching Literacy in Early Childhood | 3 |
| LLED 401 | Teaching Literacy in Elementary School | 3 |
| LLED 402 | Teaching Children's Literature | 3 |
| MATH 200 | Problem Solving in Mathematics | 3 |
| MTHED 420 | Teaching Mathematics In The Elementary Schools | 3 |
| SCIED 458 | Teaching Science in the Elementary School | 3 |
| SPLED 400 | Inclusive Special Ed Foundations: Legal, Characteristics, Collaboration, Assessment, and Management | 4 |
| SPLED 403A | Evidence-Based Instruction for Elementary Students with Disabilities in Reading, Math, and Writin | 3 |
| SSED 430W | Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3 credits in literature of the following: | 3 | |
| Race, Gender, and Identity in World Literature | ||
| Native American Myths, Legends, and Literatures | ||
| Jewish Literature: An International Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Literatures of India | ||
| Alternative Voices in American Literature | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Women Writers | ||
| British Literature to 1798 | ||
| British Literature from 1798 | ||
| Latina and Latino Border Theories | ||
| American Literature to 1865 | ||
| American Literature from 1865 | ||
| Introduction to LGBTQ Studies | ||
| Select 9 credits: 3 credits each (including one course with a lab) from biological science, earth science, and physical science (GN courses) | 9 | |
| Requirements for the Option 1 | ||
| Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select an option | 30-37 | |
Requirements for the Option
English 4-8 Option (31-32 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| LLED 450 | Content Area Reading | 3 |
| SOC 119N | Race, Ethnicity and Culture | 4 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3-4 credits of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Analysis and Interpretation of Statistical Data in Education | ||
| Statistical Concepts and Reasoning | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Select any MATH GQ course | 3 | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| British Literature | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| British Literature to 1798 | ||
| British Literature from 1798 | ||
| Studies in Shakespeare | ||
| Chaucer | ||
| Medieval English Literature | ||
| The English Renaissance | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
ENGL 445 | ||
| Milton | ||
| The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century | ||
| The English Novel to Jane Austen | ||
| The Romantics | ||
ENGL 451 | ||
| The Victorians | ||
| Victorian Novel | ||
| Modern British and Irish Drama | ||
| Topics in British Literature | ||
| British Fiction, 1900-1945 | ||
| British Fiction Since 1945 | ||
| Twentieth-Century Poetry | ||
| American Literature | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| American Literature to 1865 | ||
| American Literature from 1865 | ||
| The American Novel to 1900 | ||
| The American Novel: 1900-1945 | ||
| Topics in American Literature | ||
| The American Short Story | ||
| American Fiction Since 1945 | ||
| The Poet in America | ||
| American Drama | ||
| American Nonfiction Prose | ||
| Comparative Literature | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Race, Gender, and Identity in World Literature | ||
| Native American Myths, Legends, and Literatures | ||
| Jewish Literature: An International Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Literatures of India | ||
| Topics in Asian Literature | ||
| African Drama | ||
| African Novel | ||
| Alternative Voices in American Literature | ||
| African American Literature | ||
| Women Writers | ||
| Latina and Latino Border Theories | ||
| From Folk Shouts and Songs to Hip Hop Poetry | ||
| Introduction to LGBTQ Studies | ||
| Black American Writers | ||
ENGL 461 | ||
| Reading Black, Reading Feminist | ||
| African American Autobiography | ||
| African American Novel I | ||
| African American Novel II | ||
| African American Poetry | ||
| Slavery and the Literary Imagination | ||
| Writing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Fiction Writing | ||
| Introduction to Poetry Writing | ||
| Introduction to General Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Television Script Writing | ||
| Advanced Fiction Writing | ||
| Advanced Poetry Writing | ||
| Biographical Writing | ||
| Advanced Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Media Literacy | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Persuasive Speaking | ||
| Argumentation | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Storytelling and Speaking | ||
| Rhetoric and Public Controversy | ||
| Contemporary African American Communication | ||
COMM 100 | ||
COMM 120 | ||
| The Art of the Cinema | ||
| Survey of Electronic Media and Telecommunications | ||
| Gender, Diversity and the Media | ||
| Film History and Theory | ||
| Narrative Theory: Film and Literature | ||
| Documentary in Film and Television | ||
Mathematics 4-8 Option (31 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| MATH 140 | Calculus With Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| MATH 141 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Problem Solving in Mathematics II | 3 |
| MATH 220 | Matrices | 2 |
| MTHED 428 | Fundamentals of Middle Grades Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| MTHED 429 | Fundamentals of Middle Grades Mathematics 2 | 3 |
| MTHED 431 | Data Analysis in Secondary School Mathematics | 3 |
| MTHED 433 | Function Concept in Secondary School Mathematics | 3 |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Humanities (GH) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
AFAM/WMNST 101 | ||
| African Diaspora Religions and Spiritualities | ||
| The Life and Thought of Martin Luther King, Jr. | ||
| Freedom's First Generation: African American Life and Work, from the Civil War to World War II | ||
GEOG 122 | ||
| World History to 1500 | ||
| World History since 1500 | ||
| History of Pennsylvania | ||
| American Civilization Since 1877 | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| The Roman Republic and Empire | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| Medieval Europe | ||
| The American Jewish Experience | ||
| History of the Holocaust 1933-1945 | ||
| Introduction to the Civil War Era, 1848 through 1877 | ||
| The World at War: 1939-1945 | ||
| African American History | ||
| Native American History | ||
| American Business History | ||
| History of the American Worker | ||
| History of American Immigration | ||
| East Asia to 1800 | ||
| East Asia since 1800 | ||
| Survey of Indian History | ||
| Latin-American History Since 1820 | ||
| Ancient Warfare | ||
| Introduction to the Middle East | ||
| Early African History | ||
STS/HIST 123 | ||
| Women of the African Diaspora | ||
| Women and the American Experience | ||
| Women in United States History | ||
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
AFAM 100 | ||
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Educational Reform and Public Policy | ||
| Education and Public Policy | ||
| Environment and Society in a Changing World | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Geography of Developing World | ||
| Economic Geography | ||
GEOG 130 | ||
| Mapping Our Changing World | ||
HIST 120 | ||
| Comparing Politics around the Globe | ||
| Contemporary Political Ideologies | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Introduction to Political Theory | ||
PLSC 110 | ||
PLSC 123 | ||
PLSC 130 | ||
PLSC 135 | ||
| Race, Ethnicity and Culture | ||
STS/PLSC 135 | ||
Social Studies 4-8 Option (36-37 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| GEOG 10 | Physical Geography: An Introduction | 3 |
| GEOG 20 | Human Geography: An Introduction | 3 |
| HIST 20 | American Civilization to 1877 | 3 |
| PLSC 1 | American Politics: Principles, Processes and Powers | 3 |
| SSED 412W | Teaching Secondary Social Studies II | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3-4 credits of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Analysis and Interpretation of Statistical Data in Education | ||
| Statistical Concepts and Reasoning | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Select any MATH GQ course | 3 | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas 1 | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Economics Policy | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Elements of Cultural Geography | ||
| Economic Geography | ||
| American Business History | ||
| History of the American Worker | ||
PLSC 135 | ||
| Gender, Occupations, and Professions | ||
| Civics and Society | ||
| Select at least 6 credits of the following: | 6 | |
| African Diaspora Religions and Spiritualities | ||
| From Folk Shouts and Songs to Hip Hop Poetry | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Inequality in America | ||
| Educational Reform and Public Policy | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Education | ||
| Ethnic Minorities and Schools in the United States | ||
| Education and the Status of Women | ||
| Education and Public Policy | ||
| Intelligence and Educational Policy | ||
| Urban Geography: A Global Perspective | ||
| History of American Immigration | ||
PLSC 2 | ||
| Comparing Politics around the Globe | ||
| Contemporary Political Ideologies | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Introduction to Political Theory | ||
PLSC 110 | ||
PLSC 123 | ||
| Pennsylvania Government and Politics | ||
PLSC 130 | ||
| Race, Ethnicity and Culture | ||
STS/PLSC 135 | ||
| Women and the American Experience | ||
| Women in American Society | ||
| Lesbian and Gay History | ||
| Historical and Geographical Perspectives | ||
| Select at least 6 credits of the following: | 6 | |
AFAM 100 | ||
AFAM/WMNST 101 | ||
| The Life and Thought of Martin Luther King, Jr. | ||
| Freedom's First Generation: African American Life and Work, from the Civil War to World War II | ||
| History of Education in the United States | ||
| Child Labor and Education in the Global Economy | ||
| Environment and Society in a Changing World | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Climates of the World | ||
| Landforms of the World | ||
GEOG 122 | ||
| Mapping Our Changing World | ||
| World History to 1500 | ||
| World History since 1500 | ||
| History of Pennsylvania | ||
| American Civilization Since 1877 | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| The Roman Republic and Empire | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| Medieval Europe | ||
| The American Jewish Experience | ||
| History of the Holocaust 1933-1945 | ||
| Introduction to the Civil War Era, 1848 through 1877 | ||
| The World at War: 1939-1945 | ||
| African American History | ||
| Native American History | ||
| East Asia to 1800 | ||
| East Asia since 1800 | ||
| Survey of Indian History | ||
| Latin-American History Since 1820 | ||
| Ancient Warfare | ||
| Introduction to the Middle East | ||
| Early African History | ||
STS 123 | ||
| Women of the African Diaspora | ||
| Women in United States History | ||
WMNST/GEOG 426Y | ||
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At least 6 credits must be taken at the 100-level or above.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Kasey Packer, M.Ed.
Academic Adviser
College of Education Advising and Certification Center
228 Chambers Building
University Park, PA 16802
kjp5188@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2023-24 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contains suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).
English Option: Middle Level Education, B.S. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or 30H*# | 3 | CAS 100A*#† | 3 |
| MATH 200*#† | 3 | Earth Science Selection*†5 | 3 |
| Biological Science Selection*#†5 | 3 | Literature Selection*#†7 | 3 |
| EDTHP 115*#† | 3 | EDPSY 14*#† | 3 |
| EDUC 100* | 1 | Media Selection*†6 | 3 |
| Arts Selection*† | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Physical Science Selection*†5 | 3 | CI 280*† | 3 |
| Writing Selection*†6 | 3 | STAT 100, 200, or EDPSY 101*#† | 3-4 |
| SOC 119N*† | 4 | CI 295B*#† | 3 |
| American Literature Selection*†6 | 3 | HDFS 239*#† | 3 |
| Comparative Literature Selection*†6 | 3 | Health and Physical Activity† | 1.5 |
| Art Selection*† | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16.5-17.5 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LLED 400*† | 3 | ENGL 202A or 202B*† | 3 |
| LLED 401*† | 3 | LLED 450*†2 4 | 3 |
| LLED 402*† | 3 | SPLED 403A*† | 3 |
| SPLED 400*† | 4 | Mathematics Selection*† | 3 |
| Media Selection*†6 | 3 | British Literature Selection*† 6 | 3 |
| Health and Physical Activity† | 1.5 | ||
| 17.5 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MTHED 420*†1 | 3 | CI 495D*†3 | 12 |
| SCIED 458*†1 | 3 | CI 495F*†3 | 3 |
| SSED 430W | 3 | ||
| CI 495B*† | 3 | ||
| CI 405*†1 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 126-127 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
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4-8 only offered in the fall
- 2
Only offered in the spring
- 3
No additional coursework permitted during Student Teaching. Student teaching may be completed fall or spring semester.
- 4
Must be 6 semester standing
- 5
Selection list of acceptable courses for Biological, Earth, and Physical Sciences here.
- 6
Selection list of acceptable courses for British Literature, American Literature, Comparative Literature, Writing, and Media Literacy here.
- 7
Literature Selection list of acceptable courses available here.
Additional Notes:
- Must complete at least 3 cr. of United States (US) and 3 cr. of International Cultures (IL).
- ETM notes a course is required for entrance to major/certification program.
- All students must complete one lab course as indicated on the Natural Sciences (GN) Course Selection List.
- Summer study could reduce some of the credit loads above.
- Effective Fall 2012, all incoming Schreyer Honors College freshmen at University Park will take ENGL/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry GWS designation and replace both ENGL 030 and CAS 100. Each course is 3 credits. At the discretion of the college, ENGL/CAS 138T satisfies the first-year seminar requirement.
- Academic Advising Notes: The course series listed above is only one of many possible ways to move through this curriculum. Please be sure to also use the curriculum checksheets and degree audits, as well as consult with an adviser about appropriate scheduling sequences, clearances for field experiences and Testing requirements. Advisers also can assist students in identifying coursework offered at Penn State in the SUMMER.
Math Option: Middle Level Education, B.S. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or 30H*#† | 3 | MATH 141*#† | 4 |
| MATH 140*#† | 4 | EDPSY 14*#† | 3 |
| EDTHP 115*#† | 3 | Literature Selection*#†7 | 3 |
| EDUC 100*† | 1 | Earth Science Selection*†6 | 3 |
| Social Studies Selection*†1 | 3 | Art Selection*† | |
| Biological Science Selection*#†6 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 13 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HDFS 239*#† | 3 | MATH 201*#† | 3 |
| MATH 200*#† | 3 | CAS 100A*† | 3 |
| MATH 220*† | 2-3 | Art Selection† | 3 |
| CI 280*† | 3 | Social Studies Selection*†2 | 3 |
| Physical Science Selection*†6 | 3 | CI 295B*#†3 | 1-3 |
| 14-15 | 13-15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LLED 400*†4 | 3 | MTHED 429*† | 3 |
| LLED 401*†4 | 3 | ENGL 202A or 202B*† | 3 |
| LLED 402*†4 | 3 | SPLED 403A*† | 3 |
| MTHED 428*† | 3 | MTHED 431*† | 3 |
| SPLED 400*† | 4 | Health and Physical Activity*† | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MTHED 420*†4 | 3 | CI 495D*†5 | 12 |
| SCIED 458*†4 | 3 | CI 495F*†5 | 3 |
| SSED 430W | 3 | ||
| CI 495B*† | 3 | ||
| MTHED 433*† | 3 | ||
| CI 405*† | 3 | ||
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 121-124 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
- 1
AF AM/WMNST 101 GH;US(3), AF AM/RL ST 145 GH;US;IL(3), AF AM/RL ST 146 GH;US(3), AF AM/HIST 210 GH;US(3), GEOG 122 GH;US(3), HIST 010 GH;IL(3), HIST 011 GH;IL(3), HIST 012 GH;US(3), HIST 021 GH;US(3), HIST 100 GH;IL(3), HIST 101 GH;IL(3), HIST 104 GH(3), HIST 107 GH;IL(3), HIST 115 GH;US(3), HIST 121 GH;IL(3), HIST 130 GH;US(3), HIST 144 GH;US;IL(3), HIST 152 GH;US;IL(3), HIST 153 GH;US(3),HIST 155 GH;US(3), HIST 156 US(3), HIST 158 US;IL(3), HIST 174 GH;IL(3), HIST 175 GH;IL(3), HIST 176 GH;IL(3), HIST 179 GH;IL(3), HIST 180 GH;IL(3), HIST 181 GH;IL(3), HIST 191 GH;IL(3), S T S/HIST 123 GH(3), WMNST/AF AM 102 GH;IL(3), WMNST/AM ST 104 GH;US(3), WMNST/HIST 117 GH;US;IL(3) (Sem: 1-4)
- 2
AF AM 100 GS;US(3), ECON 014 GS(3), ECON 102 GS(3), ECON 104 GS(3), EDTHP 200 GS(3), EDTHP 420(3), GEOG 030 GS;IL(3), GEOG 040 GS;IL(3), GEOG 123 GS;IL(3), GEOG 126 GS;US;IL(3), GEOG 130 GS(3), GEOG 160 GS(3), HIST 120 GS;IL(3), PL SC 003 GS;IL(3), PL SC 007 GS(3), PL SC 014 GS;IL(3), PL SC 017 GS(3), PL SC 110 GS;US(3), PL SC 123 GS;US;IL(3), PL SC 130 GS;US(3), PL SC 135 GS(3), S T S/PL SC 135 GS(3), SOC 119N GS;US(4) (Sem: 1-4)
- 3
Only offered in spring
- 4
Only offered in fall
- 5
No additional coursework permitted during Student Teaching. Student teaching may be completed fall or spring semester.
- 6
Selection list of acceptable courses for Biological, Earth, and Physical Sciences here.
- 7
Literature Selection list of acceptable courses available here.
Additional Notes:
- Must complete at least 3 cr. of United States (US) and 3 cr. of International Cultures (IL).
- ETM notes a course is required for entrance to major/certification program.
- All students must complete one lab course as indicated on the Natural Sciences (GN) Course Selection List.
- Summer study could reduce some of the credit loads above.
- Effective Fall 2012, all incoming Schreyer Honors College freshmen at University Park will take ENGL/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry GWS designation and replace both ENGL 030 and CAS 100. Each course is 3 credits. At the discretion of the college, ENGL/CAS 138T satisfies the first-year seminar requirement.
- Academic Advising Notes: The course series listed above is only one of many possible ways to move through this curriculum. Please be sure to also use the curriculum checksheets and degree audits, as well as consult with an adviser about appropriate scheduling sequences, clearances for field experiences and Testing requirements. Advisers also can assist students in identifying coursework offered at Penn State in the SUMMER.
Social Studies Option: Middle Level Education, B.S. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or 30H*#† | 3 | GEOG 20*† | 3 |
| MATH 200*#† | 3 | STAT 100, 200, or EDPSY 101*#† | 3-4 |
| EDPSY 14*#† | 3 | HIST 20*#† | 3 |
| EDTHP 115*#† | 3 | Literature Selection*#†2 | 3 |
| EDUC 100*† | 1 | Physical Science Selection*#†1 | 3 |
| Biological Science Selection*#†1 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEOG 10*#† | 3 | CI 280*† | 3 |
| Math Selection*† | 3 | HDFS 239*#† | 3 |
| Civics and Society Selection*†3 | 3 | CI 295B*#†4 | 3 |
| Art Selection† | 3 | PLSC 1*#† | 3 |
| History and Geographical Perspective Selection*† | 3 | Economics Policy Selection*†3 | 3 |
| Health and Physical Activity† | 1.5 | ||
| 15 | 16.5 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LLED 400*†5 | 3 | ENGL 202A or 202B*† | 3 |
| LLED 401*†5 | 3 | CAS 100A*† | 3 |
| LLED 402*†5 | 3 | SSED 412W*† | 3 |
| SPLED 400*† | 4 | SPLED 403A*† | 3 |
| History and Geographical Perspective Selection*†3 | 3 | Civics and Society Selection*†3 | 3 |
| Health and Physical Activity*† | 1.5 | ||
| 16 | 16.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MTHED 420*†5 | 3 | CI 495D*†6 | 12 |
| SCIED 458*†5 | 3 | CI 495F*†6 | 3 |
| SSED 430W | 3 | ||
| CI 495B*† | 3 | ||
| CI 405*†5 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 125-126 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
- 1
Selection list of acceptable courses for Biological, Earth, and Physical Sciences here.
- 2
Literature Selection list of acceptable courses available here.
- 3
Selection list of acceptable courses for Economics Policy, Civics and Society, and History and Geographical Perspective here.
- 4
Only offered in the spring.
- 5
4-8 only offered in the fall.
- 6
No additional coursework permitted during Student Teaching. Student teaching may be completed fall or spring semester.
Additional Notes:
- Must complete at least 3 cr. of United States (US) and 3 cr. of International Cultures (IL).
- ETM notes a course is required for entrance to major/certification program.
- All students must complete one lab course as indicated on the Natural Sciences (GN) Course Selection List.
- Summer study could reduce some of the credit loads above.
- Effective Fall 2012, all incoming Schreyer Honors College freshmen at University Park will take ENGL/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry GWS designation and replace both ENGL 030 and CAS 100. Each course is 3 credits. At the discretion of the college, ENGL/CAS 138T satisfies the first-year seminar requirement.
- Academic Advising Notes: The course series listed above is only one of many possible ways to move through this curriculum. Please be sure to also use the curriculum checksheets and degree audits, as well as consult with an adviser about appropriate scheduling sequences, clearances for field experiences and Testing requirements. Advisers also can assist students in identifying coursework offered at Penn State in the SUMMER.
*MATH 200 and any 3 credits of GQ are accepted for ETM.
Career Paths
Most graduates of our program go on to teach in grades 4-8, either in elementary school or middle school settings. Depending upon their school or district, they may be generalists or teach in their area of specialization: mathematics, social studies, or English.
Careers
In addition to resources like the College’s Advising and Certification Center and Penn State Career Services, the University hosts large education career fairs in both the fall and spring semesters, which bring recruiters to campus from throughout Pennsylvania and the United States.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Many graduates of our program pursue an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction or in Special Education. Some graduates of our program pursue post-baccalaureate graduate studies while working as full-time educators.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) with a Specialized Professional Association (SPA) review conducted by the American Middle Level Association (AMLE).
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCREDITATION OF THE MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Professional Licensure/Certification
Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.
This program is a path to a Pennsylvania Middle Grades Teaching Certificate in all subjects for grades 4-6 and for Mathematics (grades 7-8), Social Studies (grades 7-8) or English Language Arts and Reading (grades 7-8). Certification testing via the Praxis assessment is required. Teacher candidates typically complete these assessments in their final academic year before graduation.
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
273B Chambers Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-1500
amy@psu.edu