Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Education: Middle Grades Education, B.S.


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Program Description


Grades Six Through Eight Licensure Program

Middle Grades Education is an undergraduate program designed to develop content-area teachers for grades 6-8. In this major, students learn the developmental characteristics of students aged 10 to 14; the social, emotional, physical and intellectual abilities and needs of diverse middle school students; and the design of appropriate cross-disciplinary curriculum and instruction while completing multiple field experiences in local middle school classrooms.

This program of study provides students with course offerings and experiences that form the required foundation for licensure in middle education at James Madison University. Students major in middle grades education while completing licensure area course requirements in a discipline closely associated with the desired teaching area. The state-approved licensure areas in the middle grades education major at JMU are English, mathematics, science and social studies. While students must earn licensure in one concentration, it is also possible to work toward licensure in two concentrations. In most cases, licensure courses may be counted toward a minor. Licensure endorsements for specialized teaching areas (e.g., Algebra I, journalism, gifted education) are available as add-on endorsements. Students interested in pursuing any licensure option must consult with a program advisor regarding requirements and scheduling.

For successful completion of the Middle Grades Education major, students must earn a minimum grade of “B-” in all required Middle Grades Education courses in the middle education major (excludes WRTC 103 , EDUC 200  and PSYC 160 ) and earn credit in all licensure area content course work to continue in and complete the licensure area. 

Students should consult with a middle grades education advisor in their first year to obtain information concerning completion of General Education , major and licensure area requirements. In addition to declaring the middle grades education major, students must apply and meet the requirements for admission to teacher education. Students must be fully admitted to teacher education prior to registering for MSSE 370 .

Note: Actual teacher licensure requirements may differ from the listed catalog requirements because of changes enacted by the Virginia Department of Education and/or national accrediting agencies. Students are encouraged to confer regularly with their advisor to determine their progress toward graduation.

Admission Requirements


Students must meet specific requirements to be admitted to programs within the College of Education . These criteria can be found on the College of Education  catalog page.

Degree and Major Requirements


Degree Requirements
Credit Hours
41
Quantitative Requirement
3
Scientific Literacy Requirement
3
Middle Grades Education Major Requirements 4
47
Licensure Area Course Requirements

Total
28

120

Footnotes


1 General Education  courses must include PSYC 160 . While required for the major, credits for PSYC 160  are counted in the General Education  total of 41 credit hours.
2 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some requirements may be fulfilled by courses within a program.
3 The number of credits taken to meet major and concentration requirements may vary if courses are double-counted for General Education  or to meet quantitative or scientific literacy requirements.
Students are responsible for transportation to field placements at local schools.

Before beginning the licensure portion of the professional program, candidates must meet all criteria for admission to teacher education (e.g., minimum GPA of 2.5, passing VCLA score). Candidates must meet all additional requirements of the program before completion. Candidates must submit passing scores on the Praxis Subject Assessment prior to beginning MSSE 465 

Total: 36 Credit Hours


Student Teaching/Internship Requirements


Total: 8 Credit Hours

Concentrations


Choose one of the following concentrations.

English Concentration Total: 3 Credit Hours

Mathematics Concentration


Mathematics Concentration Total: 3 Credit Hours

Science Concentration Total: 3 Credit Hours

Social Studies Concentration


Social Studies Concentration Total: 3 Credit Hours

Major Requirements Total: 47 Credit Hours


Recommended Schedule


First Year


Total: 27 Credit Hours


Total: 34 Credit Hours


Third Year


  • Remaining General Education  11.00 Credit Hours
  • Content courses 7.00-16.00 Credit Hours

Content Specific Methods Course: 3 Credit Hours


Total: 30 Credit Hours


Fourth Year


Applications of Middle Grades Education


Total: 29 Credit Hours


Program Total: 120 Credit Hours


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