Middle Grades Education
Middle Grades Education Programs at Reinhardt University
Welcome to the heart of educational innovation and the cornerstone of shaping young minds! Reinhardt University proudly presents its Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education program, where teaching becomes an art form and every classroom is a canvas for creativity.
In this program, we don’t just instruct – we inspire. Our curriculum is carefully crafted to empower future educators with the knowledge, skills, and passion to make a lasting impact on the lives of middle school students. We believe that these formative years are a time of immense growth and discovery, and our program is designed to meet the unique needs of this pivotal stage in education.
With a focus on experiential learning, collaborative inquiry, and student-centered instruction, our students learn to create dynamic classroom environments where curiosity flourishes and learning becomes an adventure. Through immersive field experiences, cutting-edge teaching strategies, and personalized mentorship, they develop the tools to engage diverse learners, foster critical thinking, and cultivate a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.
Join us at Reinhardt University as we embark on a journey to shape the future of education, one student at a time. Together, let’s inspire the next generation of thinkers, dreamers, and leaders, and empower them to reach their full potential in the captivating realm of Middle Grades Education.
What You’ll Learn at RU
The PSOE Middle Grades Education (MGE) program leads to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and prepares teachers for certification in grades four through eight. Graduates of the Middle Grades Education degree program will complete a broad range of courses in the liberal arts through the general education curriculum, develop depth of knowledge in two subject concentration areas, acquire an understanding of the growth and development of young adolescents and their diverse academic needs, and develop expertise in the craft of differentiated instruction and assessment through extensive study and over 800 hours of field experience in professional education courses.
In order to deepen candidate understanding and application of developmentally responsive practices to foster adolescent development and learning, the MGE preparation program will begin early to provide focused and well-structured field experience activities. Stage I courses will provide opportunities for candidates to observe, assist and interview middle grades classroom teachers who are planning and implementing differentiated instruction and assessment. During the Stage II Clinical Practice semester, each MGE candidate will be assigned to a middle level team of teachers while participating in an 16-week practicum. For Stage III Clinical Residency, candidates will spend 16 weeks in a local middle grade classroom. These experiences will foster the development of candidates who can work effectively over time with young adolescents of diverse ages, with students with diverse abilities, and with students reflecting culturally and linguistically diverse family systems.
Middle Grades Education Classes You’ll Take
Major Field Courses:
- EDU 225 Lifespan Development from a Multicultural Perspective
- EDU 230 Common Elements of Differentiated Instruction
- EDU 318 Motivation and Learning for Diverse Students
- EDU 325 Differentiated Curriculum and Instruction
Teaching Field Courses:
Note: Middle Grades majors choose two concentration areas from among Language Arts, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Social Studies.
Language Arts Concentration:
- ENG 240 Introduction to Critical Analysis or ENG 341 Literary Genres and Critical Approaches
- ENG 335 Multicultural American Literature or ENG 336 African-American Literature
- ENG 340 Teaching Grammar in the Context of Writing or ENG 342 Advanced Grammar
- ENG 343 Introduction to Language and Linguistics or ENG 345 History of the English Language
Select one course from the following:
- ENG 310 Jane Austen
- ENG 312 British Novel
- ENG 323 Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism in American Literature
- ENG 324 Modern American Novel
- ENG 325 William Faulkner
- ENG 326 Southern Literature
- ENG 378 The Rise of the Woman Writer
- ENG 387 Creative Non-Fiction
- ENG 389 Fiction Writing
Mathematics Concentration:
- MAT 103 Introduction to Statistics
- MAT 121 Pre-Calculus (4)
- MAT 211 Mathematics Concepts and Connections II
- MAT 220 College Geometry
- MAT 221 Calculus I
Reading and Dyslexia Endorsement:
- EDU 344 Introduction to Reading
- EDU 355 Reading Diagnosis
- EDU 366 Literacy Instruction and ESOL
- EDU 377 Reading through Adolescent Literature
- EDU 388 Practicum in Reading Instruction
Science Concentration:
- BIO 120 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology (with lab)
- BIO 122 Introduction to Organismal Biology (with lab)
- GEO 125 Physical Geology
- PCS 220 Physics for Life (with lab)
Social Studies Concentration:
- BUS 206 Principles of Economics (Macro)
- HIS 210 World Geography
- HIS 251 US History I or HIS 252 US History II
- HIS 374 Georgia History
- POL 101 American Government
Careers in Middle Grades Education
$61,000+
Average salary for a middle school teacher as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
