Middle Grades Education, Language Arts and Science Concentrations, B.A.

Curriculum Requirements

Candidates in the Middle Grades Education (MGE) Program are involved in a rigorous program of study, which integrates content knowledge,skills, and pedagogy. Candidates are prepared to work in diverse cultural contexts through extensive field experiences and technological foci, The MGE degree with concentrations in language arts and science concentrations prepares candidates for teaching in pubic school at the middle level (grades 6-9) and leads to an initial North Carolina teaching license.

1. 125 Credit Hours:

Complete a minimum of 125 semester hours with a continuous cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or better. The last 30 hours should be completed at NCCU. Grades of ‘C’ or better are required in all major and concentration courses. Candidates must repeat courses with grades of ‘D’ and ‘F’ in the major. Candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7 throughout the program.

2. General Education Requirements (39 Credit Hours)

Freshman and Sophomore years: complete the General Education Curriculum  required by the university as detailed on the four-year course of study. Candidates must have a ‘C’ or better in ENG 1110 , ENG 1210 , MSCM 1250  or MSCM 2200 . Candidates in the MGE program majoring in language arts/science concentrations are required to take the following courses to meet both GEC and MGE academic content requirement:

Recommended Concentrations for GEC to fulfill language arts/science concentrations:

To fulfill 3 hours of Arts and Humanities:

ENG 1300 World Literature I   

ENG 1400 World Literature II  

ENG 1500 Writing about Literature  

To fulfill 6 hours of Science GEC:

BIOL 1300- Molecules and Cell Function (4)*

GEOG 2350 - Earth Science (3)*

PHYS 1210- The Language of Science (3)*

3. Major Requirements (89 Credit Hours):

4. Concentration Requirements (must have a grade of ‘C’ or better) : 39 Credit Hours

Language Arts (21 Credit Hours)

ENG 1300 or 1400 - World Literature I or II (3)*

ENG 1500 - Writing about Literature (3)

ENG 2105 or 4105 - Intro to Tech Writing or Adv Prof Writing (3)

ENG 2310 OR 2320 - British Literature I OR II (3)

ENG 3110 - Advanced English Grammar (3)

ENG 3120 - Advance Composition (3)

ENG 3310 or 3320 - American Literature I or II (3)

ENG 3410 or 3420 - African American Literature I or II (3)

Science (18 Credit Hours)

BIOL 1300 - Molecules and Cell Function (4)*

BIOL 2400 -  General Botany (4) or BIOL 1610 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4)

BIOL 2600 or 2700 - Environmental Biology or Environmental Problems (3)

GEOG 2350 Earth Science (3)* or 2100 Physical Geography (3)

PHYS 1210 - The Language of Science (3)*

EDU 3820- Math/ Science Methods or EDU 3540 - Integrated Math/Science Methods Technology (3)

Science Electives - 1 Approved (4)

* Course mayby used to fulfill a GEC Requirement

+ Course must be completed in addtion to a GEC Requirement

5. Additional Requirements:

Admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP)

The undergraduate division of education follows the University’s Policies for admission. During the first two years, the potential candidate completes the University’s General Education Curriculum  (GEC). The potential candidate is eligible for formal admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP), a state requirement, if the applicant completes:

1. All course work in the GEC (or if the applicant is on track to complete all GEC during the semester he/she applies);
2. Course work with a minimum cumulative grade point average 2.7;
3. Three English requirement in the General Education Curriculum with a minimum grade of ‘C’ or better in ENGL 1100, ENGL 1200, MSCM 1250 OR MSCM 2200;
4. The Praxis Core at a level required by the N.C Department
5. TEP application (submitted using the Foliotek system)

Foliotek

Foliotek is a candidate assessment system used by all programs leading to licensure. Candidates should discuss Foliotek with their program coordinator and/ or program advisor. The program coordinator will provide a code and the candidate must register promptly for the account in order to apply to the TEP and submit forms and program evidences in a timely manner. The candidate must maintain the account for the duration of program.

Field Experience

All EDU courses require field experience hours in public schools and other educational settings. Requirement range from 10-25 hours in a Professional studies and Methods courses to 600+ hours, which comprise the student teaching internship. These hours can be submitted to the Academic Community Service Learning Program Office to fulfill the NCCU community service requirement.

Criminal Background Checks

All candidates in the TEP will be required to successfully clear a Criminal Background Check (CRC). Criminal background checks may be done upon entering the program, at the midpoint assessment, and in applying for licensure. It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide both legal information and a letter of explanation regarding any charges (other than minor traffic violations) on the candidates’s record that may present a potential problem for field experience, student teaching, or licensure. The program coordinator and the coordinaor of clinical experiences and licensure will request a meeting with the candidate to discuss the information provided. At least one representative from a local, partnership school district may be contacted to determine wherer or not the districk(s) will allow the candidate to complete school-bases experiences required for licensure. Acceptance, or continuance,in the Teacher Education Program will be based on the nature, recency,and resolution of the charges, as well as whether or not candidates will be able to complete required experiences in public schools.

edTPA

edTPA is performance-based,subject-specific assessment and support system used by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to emphazise, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need from Day 1 in the classroom. The edTPA assessment included versions for 27 subject-specific teaching fields. The assessment features a common architecture focuesed on three tasks:Planning,Instruction, and Assessment.

Candiates must prepare a portfolio of matericals during their student teaching clinical experience. edTPA requires candidates to demonstrate readiness to teach through lesson plans designed to support their students; strengths and needs’engage real students in ambitious learning;analyze whether their students are learning, and adjust their instruction to become more effective. Teacher candidates submit unedited video recordings of themselves at work in a real classroom as part of a portfolio that is scored by highly tranined educators.

Student Teaching

Candidates must participate in Level I Student Teaching during the semester prior to EDU 4107 and 4207. If they successfully complete all Level I requirements,they will proceed to Level II student teaching. The Level II student teaching internship spans the course of 15 weeks and provides an opportunity for the student teacher to gradually assume the responsibilities of a classroom teacher,while working closely with a cooperating teacher. All EDU candidates must successfully complete all cours requirements before participating in EDU 4107 and EDU 4207. Candidates must also read the Student Teaching Manual.

Licensure Examinations

Candidates must take either the language arts or science Praxis II examination for licensure in NC before participating in EDU 4107 AND 4207 (Level II student teaching). Candidates must pass the language arts or science Praxis II examination in order to be eligible for licensure in NC.

Program Notes:

Program Notes:

Majors Meetings and Professional Development Activities

Candidates are encouraged to attend Majors Meetings and professional development sessions during each academic semester.

Prepare for Praxis Core

Potential candidates should determine their Praxis Core status early (i.e., freshman year), and begin preparing for any parts of the test they must take at that time. Potential candidates are encouraged to complete all Praxis requirements no later than the second semester of the sophomore year.

Restricted Courses

Courses at EDU 3150 and higher are restricted and require admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP).