Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalogue 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

Middle Grades Education, B.A.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Watson College of Education

Name of Program Coordinator: Shelby Morge

The goal of the Middle Grades Education program at UNCW is to assist in providing an appropriate education for early adolescents in grades 6-9 through the preparation of teachers who are well educated and professional competent. Students in our program may select two areas of specialization (Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies). In addition, they complete as many as 80+ hours of field experience in at least three middle schools before the practicum/internship semester.

Target audience: undergraduate students who would like to earn a North Carolina teaching license in the middle grades (6-9).
Program goals:

  1.  Teacher Candidates will demonstrate leadership by applying the major constructs (concepts, principles, theories, and standards) related to young adolescent development and developmentally responsive middle schools.
  2. Teacher Candidates will establish a respectful educational environment for diverse learners by adapting instruction based on analysis of the individual needs (e.g., learning, social, emotional) of young adolescents and their community contexts.
  3. Teacher candidates will demonstrate content knowledge by applying major content-specific constructs (concepts, principles, theories, language, and standards) during field experiences and internship.
  4. Teacher Candidates will facilitate student learning through the learning cycle ( planning, instruction, and assessment) by applying a variety of developmentally appropriate strategies and technologies to meet the learning needs of young adolescents.
  5. Teacher Candidates will reflect on their practice by analyzing student learning to inform their instruction and professional development.

Degree Requirements for Middle Grades Education:


University Studies:


Students should follow university studies requirements of the University of North Carolina Wilmington as outlined in the University Studies  section of the catalogue.

The major in middle grades education requires 88 hours (46 hours of education courses, 18 hours in an additional teaching field and 24 hours in an academic concentration) as follows:

Academic Concentration:


An academic concentration of at least 24 semester hours is required. Academic concentrations may be chosen from one of the following four disciplines: Language Arts, Math, Science or Social Studies.

Language Arts


Students are encouraged to select courses from University Studies to fulfill requirements in both the Academic Concentration and the Additional Teaching Field.

Reading and Literature

Math


Science


Social Studies


Additional Teaching Field


An additional teaching field of at least 18 credit hours is required. Additional teaching fields may be chosen from one of the following four disciplines: Language Arts, Math, Science or Social Studies. Students are encouraged to select courses from University Studies to fulfill requirements in both the Academic Concentration and the Additional Teaching Field.

Language Arts - 18 hours


Select 18 hours from the academic concentration. At least 3 credit hours must come from each category: Reading and Literature (1 course from each section), Language and Vocabulary, and Writing, Speaking and Listening.

Mathematics - 18 hours


Select from courses listed in the academic concentration. 9 hours should be at the 200-300 level.

Science - 18 hours


Complete required courses (BIO 105 , CHM 101 , and CHM 102 ) and select 6 hours from the elective courses listed in the academic concentration.

Social Studies - 18 hours


Select from: 6 hours of U.S. History, 6 hours of Global content, and 6 hours of Civics, Culture, and Economics electives.

Note:


Students wishing to pursue teacher preparation programs must be formally admitted to the Watson College of Education and to the Teacher Education Program. Students in all programs should consult their advisors for admission procedures and for a list of courses requiring Watson College admissions.  A grade of “C-” or better is required in education courses, as well as all courses in the interdisciplinary specialty and the professional semester. Students may repeat courses in which they earn a grade lower than a “C-” only with the permission of the dean of the Watson College of Education. A cumulative grade point average of 2.70 is required for the practicum semester.

 

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Watson College of Education