| Department: | Department of Teacher Education / College of Education and Human Performance |
| Hours Required: | 120 |
| Categories: | Major, Undergraduate |
| Delivery: | On-Campus |
The B.S.E. in Middle School Education consists of 120 credit hours and prepares candidates to work as middle school teachers in their selected content area(s) of language arts, mathematics, science (STEM), or social studies. SAU also offers degrees in math, English, social studies, chemistry, and foreign language for those seeking secondary licensure. The middle school and secondary education tracks allow candidates to focus on specific content areas of most significant interest.
Additionally, for those who choose the middle school pathway upon degree completion and standard licensure, completers may seek to add secondary licensure to their current license by passing a content exam in an area of choice. Then after passing the test, the completer can add that content area to their standard license.
The Middle and Secondary programs of study are approved by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and meet Arkansas academic requirements for licensure. Middle and Secondary content areas are critical shortage areas in Arkansas, and employment opportunities are high.
Most courses in these programs are taught in a traditional face-to-face classroom setting on the SAU campus, but several hybrid and online course offerings are provided within the programs. The hybrid and online course offerings help candidates create a more flexible schedule conducive to preparing a personalized plan that meets individual needs.
Middle and Secondary Education majors may add a select group of courses to their degree plan and receive a coaching endorsement for those interested in coaching. Upon completing the degree program, coaching endorsement coursework, and licensure exams, completers can obtain a teaching license in a highly desired content area and credentials for coaching.
Program Expectations
Pre-candidates must meet the requirements for admission into the Teacher Education Program before advancing in the core and upper-level education coursework. Many unique field experiences are incorporated into courses to enable candidates to work with teacher mentors in public schools. Organized campus-based experiences allow candidates to practice their teaching skillsets. Candidates must meet unconditional admissions requirements to enroll in their final semester of student teaching.
Learning Goals
- Our graduates demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through various mediums.
- Our graduates demonstrate an understanding of the various cultures and backgrounds of students in the classroom.
- Our graduates can think critically, solve problems, and make informed decisions.
- Our graduates utilize instructional technology effectively.
- Our graduates display mastery of content knowledge, pedagogy, and professional skills.
The Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) is an online licensure pathway for future teachers that is grounded in the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for teachers in 21st-century schools as their roles change to fit the needs of students and society.
To obtain a BSE with a major in middle school education, candidates must earn a cumulative grade point average of at 3.00 or higher on all University courses (120 hours), complete the required curriculum (major courses with a C or higher), be admitted to the Educator Preparation Program unconditionally, and complete the Middle School Education Content Knowledge Praxis II and pedagogy assessment.
BSE candidates must declare one content area (language arts, math, science, or social studies) and one area for professional electives.
Middle School Education: Language Arts Content Area, BSE Degree Plan
Middle School Education: Mathematics Content Area, BSE Degree Plan
Middle School Education: Science Content Area, BSE Degree Plan
Middle School Education: Social Studies Content Area, BSE Degree Plan
University Requirement (2 hours)
GSTD 1002 – Freshman Seminar
General Education (35 hours)
CHEM 1013/CHEM 1011 or CHEM 1023/CHEM 1021 are required for science content areas.
MATH 1023 is required for mathematics and science content areas; MATH 1053 is recommended for language arts and social studies content areas.
Social studies general education requirements may be met in the social studies content area; please see the content area section below for specific course requirements.
Professional Requirements (15 hours)
EDUC 2023 – K-12 Education Technology
ENGL 4013 – Second Language Acquisition *
ENGL 4033 – TESOL Methods and Materials *
SPED 4073 – Introduction to Special Education **
TEDU 2003 – Introduction to Education
Education Requirements (24 hours)
Conditional or unconditional admission to the Education Preparation Program is required to enroll in the following courses:
SPED 4003 – Special Education 101 **
SPED 4043 – Inclusive Education **
SPED 4063 – Designing Assessments for General and Special Populations **
TEDU 3013 – Creating Environments for Learning
TEDU 4093 – Collaborative Practice
TEDU 4103 – Holistic Pedagogy
Select 6 hours from the following:
E ED 4173 – Teaching Literacy I and E ED 4273 – Teaching Literacy II
or
EDUC 4203 – Strategies for Content Area Reading and EDUC 4113 – Reading Diagnostics
Concentration Area (21 or 22 hours)
Select one of the content area options below:
Language Arts Content Area (21 hours)
ENGL 2213 – World Literature I or ENGL 2223 – World Literature II
MSED 4333 – Assessment-Driven Language Arts Instruction
MSED 4363 – Language Arts Content for Teachers
USTD 3003 – Information Literacy
Select 6 hours from the following:
ENGL 3583 – Shakespeare
ENGL 3623 – American Literature I
ENGL 3633 – American Literature II
ENGL 3683 – Young Adult Literature
ENGL 4623 – British Literature I
ENGL 4633 – British Literature II
Select 3 hours from the following:
ENGL 3103 – Advanced Composition
ENGL 4503 – Creative Writing: Poetry
ENGL 4513 – Creative Writing: Fiction
ENGL 4523 – Writing: Special Topics
ENGL 4533 – Writing: Special Topics II
ENGL 4543 – Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction
Mathematics Content Area (22 hours)
MAED 2063 – Math for Teachers II
MAED 3013 – Math Connections
MAED 4012 – Content Pedagogy in STEM
MAED 4373 – Assessment-Driven Math Instruction
MATH 1033 – Plane Trigonometry
MATH 1525 – Calculus I
MATH 3043 – Applied Probability and Statistics I
Science Content Area (21 hours)
ENGR 1023 – Introduction to Engineering
GEOL 1003 – Physical Geology and GEOL 1001 – Physical Geology Lab
TEDU 4343 – Assessment-Driven STEM Instruction
TEDU 3243 – STEM Content for Teachers
Select 4 hours from the following:
CHEM 1013 – College Chemistry I and CHEM 1011 – College Chemistry I Lab
CHEM 1023 – University Chemistry I and CHEM 1021 – University Chemistry I Lab
Select 4 hours from the following:
BIOL 2063 – Anatomy and Physiology I and BIOL 2061 – Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
BIOL 2073 – Anatomy and Physiology II and BIOL 2071 – Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
BIOL 3183 – Botany and BIOL 3181 – Botany Lab
BIOL 3373 – Introduction to Neuroscience and BIOL 3371 – Introduction to Neuroscience Lab
CHEM 3003 – Organic Chemistry I and CHEM 3001 – Organic Chemistry I Lab
CHEM 3073 – Biochemistry I and CHEM 3071 – Biochemistry I Lab
CSCI 2103 – Computer Science I and CSCI 2101 – Computer Science I Lab
PHYS 2133 – Astronomy and PHYS 2131 – Astronomy Lab
Social Studies Content Area (21 hours)
21 hours + 9 general education hours (social studies general education requirements are met in social studies content)
ECON 2103 – Principles of Microeconomics
GEOG 2003 – Introduction to Geography
HIST 1003 – World History I
HIST 1013 – World History II
HIST 2013 – United States History I
HIST 2023 – United States History II
HIST 4083 – History of Arkansas
PSCI 2003 – American Government: National
TEDU 4363 – Social Studies for Teachers
TEDU 4373 – Assessment-Driven Social Studies Instruction
Professional Electives (8 or 9 hours)
Select one of the following options:
Option 1: Additional Content Area
8 or 9 hours selected from an additional content area outside the candidate’s focus:
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Option 2: TESOL Certificate
9 hours selected from the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate requirements:
ENGL 4003 – Teaching People from Other Cultures
ENGL 4023 – Second Language Assessment
ENGL 4053 – Comparative English Grammar or ENGL 4063 – Introduction to Linguistics
Option 3: Coaching Endorsement
9 hours selected from the Coaching Endorsement requirements:
ESCI 3003 – Motor Learning and Development
HPSS 4323 – Organization and Administration of HPSS
HS 2043 – Human Anatomy and Physiology
HS 2413 – First Aid & Safety/CPR
HS 2443 – Techniques in the Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
HS 3243 – Kinesiology and Biomechanics
Residency Requirements (14 hours)
TEDU 4001 – Professional Learning I
TEDU 4006 – Residency I
TEDU 4011 – Professional Learning II
TEDU 4016 – Residency II
Notes:
*ENGL 4013 and ENGL 4033 will provide candidates with the opportunity to test and add an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement.
**SPED 4003, SPED 4043, SPED 4063, and SPED 4073 will provide candidates the ability to test and add a Special Education Resource endorsement.
Degree Concentration Options
Select the degree plan option with the two content concentration areas desired for teacher licensure.
Middle School Education – STEM
This middle school degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in math and science in grades 4 – 8 and 9th-grade physical science and algebra.
Middle School Education – Math and Language Arts
This middle school degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in math and language arts in grades 4 – 8 and 9th-grade algebra.
Middle School Education – Math and Social Studies
This middle school degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in math and social studies in grades 4 – 8 and 9th-grade algebra.
Middle School Education – Language Arts and Social Studies
This middle school degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in language arts and social studies in grades 4 – 8.
Middle School Education – Language Arts and Science
This middle school degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in language arts and science in grades 4 – 8 and 9th-grade physical science.
Middle School Education – Science and Social Studies
This middle school degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in science and social studies in grades 4 – 8 and 9th-grade physical science.
Please note: Completers from the middle school degree programs who obtain a standard license are eligible to take and pass any secondary content exam and add that to their license.
Secondary English Education
This English education degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in 7th-12th grade English.
Secondary Math Education
This math education degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in 7th-12th grade math.
Secondary History Education
This history education degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in 7th-12th grade history.
Secondary Foreign Language
This foreign language education degree plan prepares candidates for teaching and licensure in 7th-12th grade foreign language.
Please note: Completers from secondary education degree programs who obtain a standard license are eligible to take and pass any middle school content exam and add that to their license.
