Elementary/Middle Level Education: Grades 4-8, Math and Language Arts Concentration, BSEd

The Elementary/Middle Level Education: Grades 4-8, Math and Language Arts Concentration, BSEd program prepares you to obtain the certification required to teach grades 4-8 in Pennsylvania’s public school system. This program meets high national standards of excellence because it is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers, Association of Middle Level Education and Council for Exceptional Children. Additionally, Shippensburg University has the only public elementary lab school in the state.

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What Will I Learn?

You will learn how to support middle level students’ academic growth in math and language arts.

Learning experiences related to math will focus on the topics of:

Numbers and operations
Algebra
Geometry
Measurement
Data
Probability

Learning experiences in language arts will focus on:

Literary texts intended for grades 4-8 (i.e., novels, short stories, traditional stories, and poems; and exploring the meanings conveyed by these texts)
Core writing genres (i.e., narrative writing, informative writing, and argument writing)
Best practices in reading and writing instruction

Much of your learning will come through active participation, collaboration and hands-on experiences in various middle school classrooms. You are required to complete core concentration courses in math and language arts as well as professional core courses focusing on adolescent development and learning, instructional methods, assessment and intervention, adaptation and accommodations for diverse learners, and literacy. There is also a required capstone seminar and practicum in middle level student teaching.

What are the requirements for this degree?

You are required to complete a total of 120 credit hours. That includes 46-47 credit hours of general education courses, nine credit hours of concentration area courses in math and language arts respectively, and 39 credit hours of core professional courses.

What Degrees Are Similar or Might Pair Well With This Program?

You may pursue a Reading Minor or the Disability Studies Minor. Both are great complements to this major.

What Types of Careers Could I Get With This Degree?

Completing this program at Shippensburg University prepares you to obtain the certification required to teach in Pennsylvania's public school system. Many graduates also go on to find work in private academies or as personal tutors. Others use their degree as a springboard to employment in social work, child and youth care or other related fields.