Overview

POST BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATION
Middle Grades Education

Many people are seeking career changes to enter the field of education. If you have a Bachelor's degree in a related field, you can become certified in a one-year program of studies at Thomas University. Student teaching can be completed during your first year of teaching under contract with a school system, or in the more traditional manner. We hope you will join us in your desire to enter one of the most challenging and rewarding endeavors -- teaching middle grades students.

We grow middle grades teachers with strong content background who are able to utilize a variety of instructional strategies in teaching. We believe that middle grades students require a unique and transitional program designed to meet their diverse needs. As we explore some of the critical aspects of middle schools such as teaming, thematic instruction and exploratory, our graduates enter the work world prepared for success.

Our graduates are able to meet the diverse needs of their students and to successfully manage the students in their classes. Technologically, teachers in our program experience a variety of instructional activities that they use in their own classes to enhance their students' chances for success. Helping you become a successful teacher is the commitment of our faculty.

Our program offers...

• small class size
• faculty advisor throughout program
• three sequential field experiences, including student teaching
• classes taught by professors and certified classroom teachers
• frequent one-on-one interaction between students and faculty
• technology integrated into all classes by InTech trained faculty
• classes taught in model middle grades technology classrooms

For more information, contact Dr. Jack Zito or call 229-226-1621.

Program of Study

Education Courses

• EDU 300 Foundations of Education...3 hours
• EDU 568 Exceptional Learners...3
• EDU 316 Methods and Strategies...3
• EDU 400 Middle School InTech...3
• MGE 526 Field Experience I: Nature and Needs...3 (50 hours in 5th and 6th grade)
• MGE 527 Field Experience II: Middle Grades Curriculum...3 (55 hours in 7th or 8th grade)
• Middle Grades Content Specialization Methods Courses: Language Arts, Math, Science, or Social Studies (two courses)...6
• RDE 550 Reading in the Content Areas...3
• RDE 555 Reading Diagnosis and Remediation...3
• MGE 529 Student Teaching...10
• MGE 530 Student Teaching Seminar...2

Content Specialization Requirements

The education faculty works closely with the faculty in Arts and Sciences to provide content courses that meet the needs of middle grades teachers. Your transcript will be reviewed by our education faculty to see if you have met content requirements. Middle grades teachers complete two 15-semester hour content specializations in language arts, mathematics, science or social studies. 

The following content specialization requirements are established by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC).

Language Arts
The PSC requires that certificates in Language Arts include coverage in spelling, English, grammar, composition, reading (other than the teaching of reading) and 3 semester hours in literature for the middle school student.
    ENG Composition...3
    ENG Literature...3
    English Electives...9

Mathematics
The PSC requires that certificates in Mathematics include 3 semester hours in algebra, 3 semester hours in geometry and the remaining hours in other mathematics content.
     MTH 150 College Algebra...3
     MTH 360 Geometry...3
     Math Electives...9

Science
The PSC requires that certificates in Science include at least three different science areas: earth/space science, physics, biology, chemistry, and physical science.
     BIO 101 Biology 1...4
     Science Electives...12

Social Studies
The PSC requires that certificates in Social Studies include 3 semester hours in geography and 3 semester hours in American history, with the remaining semester hours in history, geography, economics, political science, and behavioral science.
     HIS 200 or HIS 202 U.S. History...3
     GEO 201 Geography...3
     Social Science Electives...9

Certification Requirements

Praxis I and Praxis II are required for certification in Georgia. CLAST and the Florida Teacher Certification Exam are required for certification in Florida.<