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Middle Level Education

Middle Level Education

Help Middle School Students to Excel: Learn How to Help Them Thrive with Our Middle Level Education Degree

Prepare to meet the unique needs of adolescent students.

At South Carolina State University, our middle level education major focuses on the concepts, principles, research, and theories related to student development—helping you to better serve this unique age group. You’ll learn how to create meaningful learning experiences—for students at all education levels—and help them thrive in various subject matters and skills.

When you graduate with a degree in education from SC State, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to maximize the learning of all young adolescents here in the Palmetto State and beyond.

Pursue an accredited degree with four distinctive tracks

At SC State, all our degrees of education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Our on-campus middle level education major offers four specializations:

  • English/language arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social studies

Method of Instruction

  • Face-to-face

By the Numbers

groups
15:1
Student-to-faculty ratio in degrees of education
communities
50+
Clubs and organizations for middle level education majors to join
schedule
4
Years to complete a degree in education

 

Middle Level Education Degree Program Highlights

Teaching at the middle school education levels requires a specialized set of skills and background. At SC State, we provide a tailored learning environment to better help you gain an understanding of where these young minds are at in their developmental journey—and how best to help them learn and thrive.

Throughout our degrees of education—including our middle level education major—you’ll gain core knowledge in your specialization while learning more about some of the most effective ways to build lesson plans, communicate with pupils, and develop proven teaching methods.

At SC State, you’ll also benefit from:

Faculty with middle level teaching expertise

Our middle level education major faculty members are equipped with ample experience, including first-hand knowledge of working with grades 5–8. For instance, Assistant Professor Delphine Gillard brings 20 years of teaching expertise—producing middle level curriculum and fostering student creativity—to your learning. No matter your interests, a degree in education from SC State will help you succeed because of our teacher leaders.

A highly collaborative and hands-on environment

Middle level education majors are assigned a faculty member who is there to answer your questions, support you through your classwork, and help you explore career options. Our faculty frequently say some of the most rewarding work they do is guiding and mentoring future educators—helping them to pursue and gain any of our 14 degrees of education.

Hands-on learning throughout your studies

Starting with your very first semester, SC State middle level education degree students have the chance to gain valuable expertise in the classroom. Throughout our program, you’ll complete teacher training, pursue practicum courses, and direct real lessons at various education levels in schools. And, during your final year, you’ll spend an entire semester in the classroom and put your learning to work.

Apply Today to SC State!

What Can I Do With a Middle Level Education Degree?

Within the Palmetto State, the demand for middle school teachers has never been higher. Did you know that jobs for middle school educators are projected to grow 10% over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics?
That’s why a degree in education—specifically, middle level education—can pay dividends for your career outlook.

Middle level education careers

While a job teaching grades 5–8 is what the majority of SC State graduates pursue, it’s not your only option. A degree in education can lead to careers in:

  • Community and youth programs
  • Education and learning facilities
  • Government and federal agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Public and private schools

What Will I Study in Middle Level Education?

At SC State, our middle level education degree starts with a solid foundation in educational theory and practice—all the while pursuing broad-based liberal arts coursework. You can expect to take specific courses that are beneficial for all middle school educational levels, including in areas such as:

  • Curriculum in Middle School
  • Specialized Methods
  • Teaching of Reading in Middle School

From there, you have four concentrations to specialize your middle level education degree. Students pursue at least one specialization—English/language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies—within our middle level degrees of education.

English/language arts (18 semester hours)

  • Literature for Adolescents
  • Advanced College Grammar or Modern Grammar
  • World Literature
  • Three additional electives

Mathematics (21 semester hours)

  • Calculus II
  • Foundations of Geometry or Introduction to Modern Geometry
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • Discrete Mathematics
  • Linear Algebra
  • Two additional electives

Science (21–22 semester hours)

  • Introductory Botany
  • Genetics
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • The Earth and Its Environment
  • Elementary Geology
  • Two additional physical science courses

Social studies (21 semester hours)

  • Introduction to Geography or Socioeconomic Geography
  • United States History to 1877
  • United States History Since 1877
  • History and Government of South Carolina
  • History of World Civilizations
  • American Government or State and Local Government
  • Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology