Department of Curriculum & Instruction

Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Education

The Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence degree exists to provide quality preservice educational programs and services in preparation for teaching grades 4-8. The program prepares and nurtures interdisciplinary teachers who reflect content knowledge as well as facilitate creative talents.

The program is designed around a conceptual framework which organizes learning expectations and experience into manageable discipline-specific strands including: professional and pedagogical knowledge, knowledge of the student, developmentally appropriate and effective practices, knowledge of integrated disciplines, global and cultural perspectives, technology, and a liberal arts and science background. The teaching candidate entering the middle-level program must complete one of the following combinations:

English/Language Arts and Social Studies

English/Language Arts, Social Studies and Math

English/Language Arts, Social Studies and Science

Math and English/Language Arts

Math and Science

Math and Social Studies

Math, Science and English/Language Arts

Math, Science and Social Studies

Science and English/Language Arts

Science and Social Studies

The first stage of the middle level program is a pre-professional program and admission to this stage does not constitute approval for admission to the professional program in teacher education. Stage II is the professional stage of the preparation program. Teacher candidates must satisfactorily complete the requirements of the first stage, have a cumulative grade point average of 2.70 on all coursework, complete English composition courses, an oral communication course, a college-level mathematics course, and complete MLED 2003 Introduction to Education with grades of "C" or higher. Competence in oral and written grammar will be assessed. Teacher candidates must submit scores from the Core Academic Skills Test that meet or exceed the levels established by the Arkansas Department of Education.

After satisfying all of the requirements at this level, the teacher candidate will apply for internship. Admission to internship requires completion of all professional education courses, senior standing, satisfactory completion of all prerequisites listed in the course descriptions, a minimum grade of “C” in all courses with a cumulative grade point average of 2.70, and the minimum score on the licensure examination as required by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Teacher candidates should complete an application for admission to the internship for the spring semester by October 1 or for the fall semester by March 1. Teacher candidates must present scores on the appropriate licensure examination as directed by the Arkansas Department of Education.

See the College of Education page for additional requirements.

Concentrations

English/Language Arts
Social Studies
Math
Science