Nov 08, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalogue

Middle Grades Education, B.A.

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:

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.
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.
Teacher candidates will demonstrate content knowledge by applying major content-specific constructs (concepts, principles, theories, language, and standards) during field experiences and internship.
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.
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 Academic Programs and 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

Select 6 credit hours from the following:
ENG 211 - British Literature to 1800 Credit Hours: 3
ENG 212 - British Literature Since 1800 Credit Hours: 3
ENG 223 - American Literature to 1870 Credit Hours: 3
ENG 224 - American Literature Since 1870 Credit Hours: 3
ENG 225 - World Literature to 1600 Credit Hours: 3
ENG 226 - World Literature Since 1600 Credit Hours: 3
ENG 232 - African American Literature Credit Hours: 3
ENG 233 - The Bible as Literature Credit Hours: 3
ENG 290 - Themes in Literature Credit Hours: 3
Select 6 credit hours from the following:
ENG 303 - Reading and Writing Arguments Credit Hours: 3
ENG 337 - Victorian Literature Credit Hours: 3
ENG 350 - American Romanticism Credit Hours: 3
ENG 356 - Indigenous American Literature Credit Hours: 3
ENG 362 - Studies in the Novel Credit Hours: 3
ENG 381 - Literature for Young Adults Credit Hours: 3
ENG 382 - Ways of Teaching Literature Credit Hours: 3

Language and Vocabulary

Select 6 hours from the following:

ENG 310 - Editing for Journalism and Mass Media Credit Hours: 3
ENG 320 - Introduction to Linguistics Credit Hours: 3
ENG 321 - Structure of the English Language Credit Hours: 3
ENG 322 - Language and Meaning Credit Hours: 3
ENG 323 - History of the English Language Credit Hours: 3
ENG 324 - Topics in Linguistics Credit Hours: 3
ENG 325 - Studies in Sociolinguistics Credit Hours: 3
ENG 332 - Shakespeare’s Early Plays and Poems Credit Hours: 3
ENG 333 - Shakespeare’s Later Plays Credit Hours: 3

Writing, Speaking and Listening

Select 6 credit hours from the following:

ENG 202 - Introduction to Journalism Credit Hours: 3
ENG 204 - Introduction to Professional Writing Credit Hours: 3
ENG 205 - Introduction to Literary and Cultural Studies Credit Hours: 3
ENG 302 - Journalism Workshop Credit Hours: 3
ENG 304 - Writing for Teachers Credit Hours: 3
ENG 311 - Professional Magazine Writing Credit Hours: 3
CRW 201 - Introduction to Creative Writing Credit Hours: 3
CRW 207 - Fiction Writing I: Invention and Story Craft Credit Hours: 3
CRW 208 - Poetry Writing I: Image and Pattern Credit Hours: 3
CRW 209 - Creative Nonfiction I: Discovery and Story Craft Credit Hours: 3
The English Department will allow ENG 200 as a prerequisite for courses listed with a prerequisite of ENG 201. Candidates may substitute 3 credit hours from a study abroad or an International Studies course.

Math

Required Courses

MAT 112 - Trigonometry Credit Hours: 3
MAT 141 - Concepts of Mathematics: Number, Operations, and Problem Solving Credit Hours: 3
MAT 142 - Concepts of Mathematics: Geometry, Measurement, and Problem Solving Credit Hours: 3
MAT 161 - Calculus with Analytical Geometry I Credit Hours: 4
MAT 243 - Concepts and Applications of Discrete Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 or
MAT 346 - Historical Development of Mathematics Credit Hours: 3
MAT 245 - Euclidean Geometry Credit Hours: 3 or
MAT 345 - Modern College Geometry Credit Hours: 3
MAT 396 - Mathematical Explorations in Technology Credit Hours: 3 or
MAT 275 - Axiomatic Systems Credit Hours: 3
STT 215 - Introduction to Statistics Credit Hours: 3
* Candidates may substitute 3 credit hours from a study abroad or an International Studies course that has a demonstrated mathematics component.

Science

Required Courses (12 hours)

BIO 105 - Concepts of Modern Biology Credit Hours: 0 To 4
CHM 101 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHML 101 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hours: 1
CHM 102 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
CHML 102 - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credit Hours: 1

Elective Courses* (6-13 hours)

BIO 150 - Humans and Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 190 - Microbes and Human Society Credit Hours: 3
BIO 201 - Principles of Biology: Cells Credit Hours: 0 To 4
BIO 202 - Principles of Biology: Biodiversity Credit Hours: 0 To 4
BIO 240 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit Hours: 3
EDN 426 - Island Ecology for Educators Credit Hours: 3
EVS 195 - Introduction to Environmental Sciences Credit Hours: 3
GGY 230 - Introduction to Weather and Climate Credit Hours: 3
GLY 101 - Earth Revealed Credit Hours: 3
GLY 135 - Prehistoric Life Credit Hours: 3
PHY 101 - Elementary College Physics I Credit Hours: 4
PHY 102 - Elementary College Physics II Credit Hours: 4
PHY 103 - Great Ideas in Physics Credit Hours: 3
PHY 111 - Naked-eye Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy Credit Hours: 3
PHY 260 - Introduction to Astronomy Credit Hours: 3
* Candidates may substitute 3 credit hours from a study abroad or an International Studies course that has a demonstrated science component.

Social Studies

Required US History Courses (6 hours)

HST 105 - United States to 1865 Credit Hours: 3
HST 106 - United States from 1865 to Present Credit Hours: 3

Global Content (Academic Concentration - select 9 hours, Additional Teaching Field - select 6 hours)

At least 3 hours must be GGY.

ANT 205 - Human Societies Credit Hours: 3
ANT 312 - Collapse. The Fall of Complex Civilizations Credit Hours: 3 To 6
GGY 101 - Modern World Geography Credit Hours: 3
GGY 180 - World Regional Geography Credit Hours: 3
GGY 215 - The Digital Globe Credit Hours: 3
GGY 220 - Cartography and Data Visualization Credit Hours: 3
GGY 340 - Global Change: Population, Resources, and the Environment Credit Hours: 3
GGY 435 - Environmental Geography Credit Hours: 3
HST 102 - Europe in the World II Credit Hours: 3
HST 103 - Introduction to Global History 1500-1848 Credit Hours: 3
HST 104 - Introduction to Global History Since 1848 Credit Hours: 3
HST 270 - Global Issues in Historical Perspective Credit Hours: 3
HST 305 - The Ancient Near East Credit Hours: 3
HST 306 - Ancient Greece and Rome Credit Hours: 3
OCN 250 - Coasts and Society Credit Hours: 3

Civics, Culture, and Economics Electives (Academic Concentration - select 9 hours, Additional Teaching field - select 6 hours)

ANT 205 - Human Societies Credit Hours: 3
ANT 206 - Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
ECN 125 - Survey of Economics Credit Hours: 3
ECN 221 - Principles of Economics-Micro Credit Hours: 3
ECN 222 - Principles of Economics-Macro Credit Hours: 3
ECN 250 - Capitalism and the Global Market Credit Hours: 3
ECN 326 - Comparative Economic Systems Credit Hours: 3
HST 358 - The United States Since 1945 Credit Hours: 3
PAR 205 - American Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
PAR 230 - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Credit Hours: 3
PLS 101 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3
PLS 111 - Politics and Government in Global Perspective Credit Hours: 3
PLS 202 - Contemporary American Political Issues Credit Hours: 3
PLS 217 - Ethics and Leadership in Public Life Credit Hours: 3
PLS 222 - Contemporary International Political Issues Credit Hours: 3
PLS 230 - Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics Credit Hours: 3
SOC 215 - Modern Social Problems Credit Hours: 3
*Candidates may substitute 3 credit hours from a study abroad or an International Studies course that has a demonstrated Social Studies component.

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, CHML 101 and CHM 102, CHML 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.

Professional Semester:

EDN 411 - Student Teaching (K-6; 6-9) Credit Hours: 12

Professional Semester (Non-Licensure option)

Requires program approval

EDN 467 - Non-Licensure Practicum Credit Hours: 6 to 12

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.