B.S.Ed. in Middle Grades Education

B.S.Ed. in Middle Grades Education Program Flyer

Middle grades teachers educate children in the 4th through 8th grade, giving them a solid foundation to continue their studies in high school, instilling them with a love of learning, and helping them gain confidence as they grow into teenagers and young adults.

 The Middle Grades Education (MGED) program at Valdosta State University provides experiences that allow pre-service teachers to develop the content knowledge and teaching skills necessary for meeting the diverse needs of their future students. Emphasis is placed on student-centered and reflective approaches for teaching and learning, communicating effectively, integrating technology into teaching, and fostering positive relationships within the larger community.

Middle grades education majors pursuing a bachelor’s degree are required to specialize in two subject areas, creating a more versatile, well-rounded educator.  Students choose two concentrations from the areas of language arts, mathematics, science, reading, or social studies and engage in an extensive amount of hands-on teaching.

The mission of the Middle Grades Education (MGE) faculty is to prepare and support educators to model the highest standards of professionalism in their field.  It is the College of Education and Human Services’ policy to find student teacher placement throughout Valdosta and the surrounding areas for all of the students.  These placements are ideal tools for student exposure and networking within the field; such opportunities often lead to job placement. 

Middle Grades Education Program Highlights

• Participate in a clinically-based model of teacher education
• Engage in methods courses taught on-site at local middle schools
• Work in classrooms with middle school students while receiving immediate feedback from professors
• Assist with multiple aspects of school processes
• Analyze authentic school data with professors and middle school teachers
• Includes more than 900 hours of field experience in public schools grades 4-8 in diverse settings
• Use of and access to instructional technology
• Accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Recognized by the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE)

Program of Study (120 credit hours)

Core Curriculum Areas A-E and Physical Ed. & Health Requirement (48 hours)

Core Curriculum Area F (18 hours)

EDUC 2999: Entry to the Education Profession

EDUC 2110:  Written and Verbal Communication for Educators

EDUC 2120:  Exploring Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Diversity

EDUC 2130:  Exploring Learning and Teaching

SPEC 2000:   Serving Students with Diverse Needs

Concentration Area 1 (3 hours of coursework; included below in concentration courses)

Concentration Area 2 (3 hours of coursework; included below in concentration courses)

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Schedule of Course Offerings

Professional Courses 11 hours	Senior Block 13 hours	Student Teaching 12 hours
MGED 3020:  Introduction to Standards, Planning and Assessment MGED 3220:  Reading and Writing in the Content Areas MGED 3990:  Development and Education of the Middle Grades Student, Part 1 MGED 3991:  Differentiated Classroom for Middle Grades	2 Content Methods Courses (MGED 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, 4500) MGED 4000:  Development and Education of the Middle Grades Student, Part 2 MGED 3110:  Integrating  Technology in Middle Grades Education MGED 4620:  Apprenticeship in Middle Grades Teaching	MGED 4790:  Student Teaching in Middle Grades MGED 4800:  Professional Practices Seminar

TEACHING CONCENTRATION COURSES (Select Two Areas)

Language Arts 12 hours	Social Studies 12 hours	Math 12 hours	Science 12 hours
Area F ENGL 2060: Introduction to Literature	Area F GEOG, ECON, HIST, SOCI (1-2 Electives)	Area F MATH: 1101, 1111, and/or 1112	Area F BIOL 1030 & 1040:  Intro. to Biology/Lab ASTR, BIOL,CHEM GEOG, PHSC, or PHYS (1 Elective)
Major ENGL 2080: Grammar and Style MGED 3210: Literature for Middle Grades Education LING 4000:  Principles of Language Study or ESOL 4010: Applied Linguistics of ESOL Teachers  British Lit.  (1 Elective) -or- Amer. Lit.  (1 Elective)	Major HIST 4210, 4211 or 4212:  History of Georgia GEOG 3410:  Cultural Geography POLS (1 Elective) HIST, POLS, or ANTH  (1 Elective)	Major MATH 3180:  Mathematics for Middle School Teachers MATH 3190:  Algebra and Geometry for Teachers MATH 4161:  Mathematical Reasoning MATH 2620:  Statistical Methods	Major ISCI 3101:  Matter & Energy for MGE ISCI 3102:  Earth & Space Science for MGE ISCI 3103:  Natural History for MGE

Recommended Four-Year Program of Study for Full-Time Students

Contact:

Dr. Debbie Paine, Department Head and Program Coordinator    

• Telephone: 229.333.5611   
• Email: dgpaine@valdosta.edu

Department of Teacher Education Homepage