Middle Level Education Dual Major - Teaching B.A.

Middle Level Education Dual - Teaching Major

This major is designed to prepare students to teach young adolescents at the middle level of education (grades 5-8). This is a dual major and must be combined with either an elementary or secondary education teaching major. Students will complete UNIFI/General Education requirements, the Professional Experiences requirements, the Educator Essentials requirements, major requirements for middle level education, major requirements for elementary or secondary education, and endorsement requirements for the Iowa Middle School endorsement for a minimum total of 120 hours.

This major leads to 2-4 of the following endorsements: 1821: 5-8 Middle School Language Arts, 1822: 5-8 Middle School Mathematics, 1823: 5-8 Middle School Science, 1824: 5-8 Middle School Social Studies. The holder of this endorsement is authorized to teach in grades five through eight in two to four concentration areas in which the specific requirements have been completed. The holder is not authorized to teach art, industrial arts, music, reading, physical education and special education, but may teach in other areas allowed by the State of Iowa.

Students majoring in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, or Middle-Level Education may not repeat or withdraw from any courses within the ELEMECML, LRNTECH, or LITED course categories more than twice (a total of 3 times for any course). Students in these programs are also limited to a maximum of five course retakes across these same courses. Under extraordinary circumstances, an elementary, early childhood, or middle-level education major may request in writing that an exception be made to this policy. All written requests will be reviewed by the department head, who will determine whether or not an exception will be granted. Where an exception is not granted, a student may appeal the decision through the regular appeal process for other teacher education-related appeals. This policy applies to all majors declared after April 2016. 

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A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required for all Methods courses.

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Middle Level Education majors can count ELEMECML 3120 for category 4 of Educator Essentials.

Students will complete a minimum of 12 hours of coursework in two, three, or four subject area concentrations. Subject area concentrations are limited to the following four areas and must include the specified coursework:

Language Arts:

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LITED 3121/5121 has prerequisite of LITED 1044 and junior standing.

Mathematics:

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Excluding MATH 100, MATH 1310, MATH 1900, MATH 3203, MATH 3304.

Science:

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Excluding BIOL 1033 and BIOL 3101.

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Excluding CHEM 1610.

Social Studies:

Some or all of this coursework may be completed as part of the UNIFI/General Education requirements. Students should contact their advisor, the College of Education Advising Center, or the undergraduate record analyst in the Office of the Registrar to determine specific courses required for the endorsement.

Professional Experiences

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A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required for all Methods courses.

Students should plan their coursework so that all Middle-Level Education courses are taken before student teaching. To student teach, students must have a cumulative, UNI, and major GPA of 2.50. In addition, students must achieve a grade of C (2.00) or higher in the methods classes and other methods courses required by their second major. 

Students should apply for their student teaching one year in advance.

The student teaching semester will include two experiences, one in an elementary or secondary classroom, depending on the primary major, and the other in a teamed or departmentalized, grades 5-8, middle-level classroom. Students enroll for EDUC 4137 and EDUC 4134 or EDUC 4138 for 12 hours.

Educator Essentials

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A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required in each Educator Essentials course.

Learning Outcomes

Middle Level Education Dual Major Teaching, B.A.

Teacher candidates:

• Demonstrate competence in oral, written, and visual communication to ensure age-appropriate literacy (e.g., reading, writing, listening, speaking) strategies throughout the curriculum based on current research on middle-level education (Grades 5-8). (UNI SLO - Communication)

• Integrate knowledge of middle-school age development and best practices, associated curriculum and instructional models, and assessment practice in the analysis of planning, implementation of instruction, and evaluation of learning. (UNI SLO - Content Knowledge)

• Engage in field experience for 30 hours before student teaching, reflecting on and evaluating the relationship between theory and practice in middle schools. (UNI SLO - Critical Thinking)

• Select at least two areas for teaching specializations with pedagogical and discipline-specific content knowledge and skills appropriate to middle-level students (Grades 5-8):

  • Mathematics: completes 12 semester hours in mathematics that includes coursework in algebra

  • Science: completes 12 semester hours in science, including life, earth, and physical science coursework

  • Language Arts: completes 12 semester hours in language arts to include coursework in composition, language usage, speech, young adult literature, and literature across cultures

  • Social Studies: completes 12 semester hours of coursework in social studies to include US History, world history, government, and geography

Related Programs

• Early Childhood Education - Teaching B.A.
• Elementary Education - Teaching B.A.