Middle Level Education (Grades 5-8) (B.S. in Education)
Total Semester Hours Required for the Degree with Subject Area Endorsements: 127-136 Semester Hours
The Middle Level Education curriculum prepares candidates to teach adolescents transitioning from childhood to adulthood, placing primary focus on grades five through eight. Teacher candidates will be endorsed in two middle grades content areas of their choice which include literacy/language arts, mathematics, social science, or general science.
This major requires that all students (including native, transfer students from community colleges or senior institutions, internal transfers, and post-baccalaureate) follow and meet the requirements for Admission, Retention, and Graduation from Teacher Licensure programs as described in the "Teacher Licensure Programs" section of this catalog and as explained at the University Admission to Teacher Education Meeting which all students must attend. Additional information on Admission, Retention and Graduation for Teacher Licensure programs can be found on the College of Education, Health and Human Services website.
Students must receive a "C" or better in all courses used toward graduation, regardless of where they are taken. This includes general education, professional education, major and minor courses, all university required courses, and electives. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.65 in order to continue in the program.
Professional Course Work (57)
All professional education coursework must be completed with a "C" or better prior to student teaching.
EDF 2555
Education in a Diverse Society: The Multilingual/Multicultural Classroom. (3 credits)
EDU 2022
Teaching and Learning with Technology in Classrooms. (2 credits)
ELE 1050
Introduction to Teaching as a Profession. (1 credits)
ELE 2050
The Whole Child: Teaching and Learning in the Educational Environment. (3 credits)
ELE 3050
Diverse Contexts that Influence the Learning Process. (2 credits)
ELE 3280
Developmental Reading in the Elementary and Middle School. (3 credits)
ELE 3350
Language Arts in the Elementary and Middle Level School. (3 credits)
MLE 3110
Curriculum and Instruction in Middle-Level School. (3 credits)
MLE 3150
Interdisciplinary Teaching in the Middle-Level School. (3 credits)
MLE 4000
Practicum in Middle School Curriculum & Instruction. (1 credits)
MLE 4100
Assessing Student Learning: A Field-Based Experience. (3 credits)
MLE 4280
Content Area Reading in the Elementary, Middle and Secondary School. (3 credits)
MLE 4760
Student Social-Emotional Development in the Middle Grades. (3 credits)
MLE 4890
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students/English Language Learners: Instructional Methods. (3 credits)
PUBH 3200
School Health for K-12 Teachers. (3 credits)
SPE 2000
Disabilities in the Context of Education and the Life Span. (2 credits)
SPE 3000
Education of Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs. (3 credits)
STG 4000
Multicultural/Disabilities Practicum. (1 credits)
STG 4001
Student Teaching. (6 to 16 credits)
(12 semester hours)
Middle Grades Endorsements
All students will complete two subject area endorsements, which听must be selected from the following areas:
Middle Grades Language Arts/Literacy
听
ENG 1001
College Composition I: Critical Reading & Source-Based Writing. (3 credits)
ENG 1002
College Composition II: Argument & Critical Inquiry. (3 credits)
CMN 1310
Introduction to Speech Communication. (3 credits)
ENG 2901
Structure of English. (3 credits)
ENG 3001
Advanced Composition. (3 credits)
MLE 4280
Content Area Reading in the Elementary, Middle and Secondary School. (3 credits)
ELE 3350
Language Arts in the Elementary and Middle Level School. (3 credits)
AND
听
ENG 3405
Children's Literature. (3 credits)
or
ENG 3406
Literature for Pre-Adolescents. (3 credits)
or
ENG 4903
Young Adult Literature. (3 credits)
or
ENG 4905
Studies in Youth Literature. (3 credits)
Middle Grades Social Sciences
听
HIS 3600
The U.S. Constitution and the Nation. (3 credits)
or
PLS 1153
American Government and Constitution. (3 credits)
AND
听
HIS 3810
History of Illinois. (3 credits)
ELE 3340
Social Studies for the Elementary and Middle School. (3 credits)
AND
听
GEO 1100
Cultural Geography. (3 credits)
or
GEO 1200
World Regional Geography. (3 credits)
AND
听
HIS 2010
History of the United States to 1877. (3 credits)
and
HIS 2020
History of the United States Since 1877. (3 credits)
AND
听
ANT 2200
Introduction to Anthropology. (3 credits)
or
PLS 2253
Introduction to International Relations. (3 credits)
or
PSY 1879
Introductory Psychology. (3 credits)
or
SOC 2750
Social Problems in Contemporary Society. (3 credits)
AND
听
ECN 2800
Economics of Social Issues. (3 credits)
or
ECN 2801
Principles of Macroeconomics. (3 credits)
or
ECN 2802
Principles of Microeconomics. (3 credits)
Middle Grades General Sciences
听
BIO 1001
Biological Principles and Issues. (3 credits)
AND
听
CHM 1310
General Chemistry I. (3 credits)
and
CHM 1315
General Chemistry Laboratory I. (1 credits)
AND
听
PHY 1151
Principles of Physics I. (3 credits)
and
PHY 1152
Principles of Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)
AND
听
GEO 1400
Weather and Climate. (4 credits)
PHY 1055
Principles of Astronomy. (3 credits)
and
PHY 1056
Principles of Astronomy Laboratory. (1 credits)
AND
听
ELE 3290
Science in the Elementary and Middle School. (3 credits)
AND
听
GEO 2450
Oceanography. (3 credits)
Middle Grades Math
听
MAT 1271
College Algebra. (3 credits)
or
If MAT 1271 proficiency is met, replace with pre-approved MAT 4810. Credits: 3
AND
听
MAT 1420
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I. (3 credits)
and
MAT 2420
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II. (3 credits)
and
MAT 2620
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers III. (3 credits)
(preferred)
or
MAT 2250
Elementary Statistics. (4 credits)
and
MAT 3620
Teaching Middle Level Mathematics. (3 credits)
and
MAT 3812
Concepts of Algebra for Middle Level Teachers. (3 credits)
AND
MAT 3813
Concepts of Calculus for Middle Level Teachers. (3 credits)
MAT 3811
Rational Numbers and Proportional Reasoning for Middle Level Teachers. (3 credits)
Departmental Requirements (in addition to University General Education Requirements)
University General Education and additional departmental required courses: 58-60 semester hours
Some courses may also count toward University general education requirements.听 Consult with Departmental Advisor.
HIS 3600
The U.S. Constitution and the Nation. (3 credits)
or
PLS 1153
American Government and Constitution. (3 credits)
AND
HIS 2010
History of the United States to 1877. (3 credits)
or
HIS 2020
History of the United States Since 1877. (3 credits)
AND
听
BIO 1001
Biological Principles and Issues. (3 credits)
AND
听
CHM 1040
The World of Chemistry. (4 credits)
(See footnote 1)
or
CHM 1310
General Chemistry I. (3 credits)
and
CHM 1315
General Chemistry Laboratory I. (1 credits)
(See footnote 1)
or
CHM 3025
The Chemistry in Your Life. (3 credits)
AND
听
PHY 1051
Physics of the Modern World. (3 credits)
or
PHY 1052
Adventures in Physics. (3 credits)
and
PHY 1053
Adventures in Physics Laboratory. (1 credits)
(See footnote 1)
or
PHY 1151
Principles of Physics I. (3 credits)
and
PHY 1152
Principles of Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)
(See footnote 1)
or
PHY 3050
Excursions in Physics. (3 credits)
AND
听
GEO 1120
The Natural Environment. (4 credits)
GEO 1300
Introduction to Earth Sciences. (4 credits)
(See footnote 1)
or
GEO 1400
Weather and Climate. (4 credits)
(See footnote 1)
or
GEO 2450
Oceanography. (3 credits)
or
GEO 3200
Human Impacts on the Environment. (3 credits)
or
PHY 1055
Principles of Astronomy. (3 credits)
and
PHY 1056
Principles of Astronomy Laboratory. (1 credits)
(See footnote 1)
or
PHY 3045
Wonders of Astronomy. (3 credits)
AND
听
MAT 1420
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I. (3 credits)
MAT 2420
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II. (3 credits)
AND
听
ENG 1001
College Composition I: Critical Reading & Source-Based Writing. (3 credits)
ENG 1002
College Composition II: Argument & Critical Inquiry. (3 credits)
CMN 1310
Introduction to Speech Communication. (3 credits)
ENG 2901
Structure of English. (3 credits)
ENG 3001
Advanced Composition. (3 credits)
AND
听
ENG 3405
Children's Literature. (3 credits)
or
ENG 3406
Literature for Pre-Adolescents. (3 credits)
or
ENG 4903
Young Adult Literature. (3 credits)
or
ENG 4905
Studies in Youth Literature. (3 credits)
AND
Elective from General Education Humanities courses. Credits: 3
AND
Art, Music, or Theatre听from General Education Fine Arts courses. Credits: 3
AND
听
GEO 1100
Cultural Geography. (3 credits)
or
GEO 1200
World Regional Geography. (3 credits)
AND
听
HIS 3810
History of Illinois. (3 credits)
AND
听
ANT 2200
Introduction to Anthropology. (3 credits)
or
PLS 2253
Introduction to International Relations. (3 credits)
or
PSY 1879
Introductory Psychology. (3 credits)
or
SOC 2750
Social Problems in Contemporary Society. (3 credits)
Footnotes:
1听A complete program must include a lab in chemistry, physics, or earth science.
Selection to Teacher Education programs should occur following the freshman year but no later than the end of the sophomore year (for transfer students this should occur no later than the end of their first semester.听
University Approval to Take Teacher Education Courses should occur at the end of the first semester junior year with Formal University Admission to Teacher Education occurring at the end of the junior year. See the Teacher Licensure Program section of this catalog for more information.
Departmental Approval to Student Teach must be granted prior to Student Teaching. Students must pass the Illinois Licensure Content Area tests for Middle Level Education prior to student teaching.
Students must pass the edTPA (teacher performance assessment)听before they can receive their teaching license from Illinois or any other state. Students will make their edTPA submission during student teaching.
Major GPA based on all coursework taken at EIU.
听
Information sourced from the 2026-2027 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.