Department of Curriculum & Instruction

Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Education - English/Language Arts and Social Studies

 

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 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.

Concentrations³

English/Language Arts

• ENGL 2043 Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENGL 2063 Introduction to Literary Studies
• ENGL 3013 Systems of Grammar
• ENGL 3323 Modern American Literature

Social Studies

• ECON 2003 Principles of Economics I
• GEOG 2013 Regional Geography of the World
• HIST 2013 United States History since 1877

Curriculum

The matrix below is a sample plan for all coursework required for this program.

•  Freshman

  Fall		Spring
  ENGL 1013 Composition I1	3	ENGL 1023 Composition II1	3
  HIST 1503 World History to 1500	3	HIST 1513 World History since 1500	3
  BIOL with Lab	4	PHSC with Lab	4
  MATH 1113 College Algebra2	3	MATH 2033 Mathematical Concepts I	3
  TECH 1001 Orientation to the University	1	MLED 2003 Introduction to Education	3
  Total Hours	14	Total Hours	16

•  Sophomore

  Fall		Spring
  Fine Arts & Humanities1	3	Fine Arts & Humanities1	3
  HIST 2003 United States History to 1877	3	POLS 2003 American Government	3
  COMM 2003 Public Speaking	3	EDMD 3013 Integrating Instructional Technology	3
  Concentration3	8	Concentration3	6
  Total Hours	17	Total Hours	15

•  Junior

  Fall		Spring
  ENGL 4703 Teaching English as a Second Language	3	MLED 3041 School to Home Communication	1
  MLED 3012 Research Foundations	2	MLED 3062 Tests & Educational Measurements	2
  MLED 3024 Psychological Foundations for the Nature and Needs of Middle Level Students	4	MLED 3072 Diversity in the Classroom	2
  MLED 3034 Literacy Development in the Middle Grades	4	Concentration3	1
  MLED 3102 Reading Through Literature in the Middle Ages	2	Elective	9
  Total Hours	15	Total Hours	15

•  Senior

  Fall		Spring
  HIST 2153 Introduction of Arkansas History	3	MLED 4912 Internship	12
  MLED 4004 Middle Level Curriculum and Pedagogy	4
  MLED 4023 Guided Field Experiences	3
  Concentration3	6
  Total Hours	16	Total Hours	12

¹See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements".
²Any higher level Mathematics course may be substituted for MATH 1113 College Algebra.
³Select from the English Language/Arts and Social Studies concentrations above.