B.S.Ed. in Middle Grades Preparation Grades 4-8

College of Education and Social Work
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Foundations
First Year Experience requirement4
English Composition requirement6-7
Mathematics requirement3-4
MAT 101
Mathematics for Teachers of Children I
Interdisciplinary requirement3
ESS 102
Humans and the Environment
or SCB 102
 Humans and the Environment
or SCB 210
 The Origin of Life and the Universe
Diverse Communities requirement3
ENG 382
Teaching English Language Learners PK-12
or LAN 382
 Teaching English Language Learners PK-12
Ethics requirement3
Distributed Disciplinary Foundations
Science requirement6-8
Fulfilled by required science content
Behavioral & Social Science requirement6
GEO 101
World Geography
PSC 100
United States Government and Politics
Humanities requirement6
LIT 220
Children's Literature
Arts requirement3
ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS
University Requirements
Writing Emphasis requirement9
Speaking Emphasis requirement9
Degree Requirements
Capstone requirement1-15
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Required Courses
EDA 103Foundations of Special Education3
EDP 201Early Adolescent Development and Cognition3
MGP 220Field Experience: Middle Level Environment3
EDF 300Democracy and Education3
SCE 330Science Methods for Middle Level (4-8)3
MGP 335Teaching Social Studies in Middle Grades3
EDA 303Special Ed: Processes/Procedures for General Educators2
EDT 349Technology Tools to Transform Teaching and Learning1
ERM 354Ethical and Effective Assessment for Learning: Middle Grades3
MGP 400Classroom Management and Engagement for Grades 4-82
Capstone Requirement
MGP 410Student Teaching 46
MGP 411Student Teaching 46
Related/Cognate Requirements
Students wishing to obtain certification to teach in grades 4–8 must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of related coursework in each of four academic content areas: mathematics, reading/language arts, science, and social studies. Students must complete a total of 30 credits of concentrated coursework in one of the four areas or 21 credits of concentrated coursework in two of the four areas. Students choosing two 21-credit concentrations must include math or science as one of the two areas. Related credits are applied toward the concentrations. See the department’s degree guidance sheet for courses in the 21- and 30-credit options. Students are encouraged to choose their concentration(s) based on their area(s) of interest for teaching grades 7 and 8.
Reading/Language Arts Content Area
All students must complete the 12-credit Generalist Area.
Generalist Area
EDR 306
Teaching Language Arts 4-8
EDR 308
Foundations in Reading 4-8
EDR 318
Reading Instruction and Practicum 4-8
21-Credit Concentration Requirements
12-Credit Generalist Area plus the following courses:
EDR 420
Reading in the Content Areas
SED 391
Teaching Writing in the Middle School
LIT 398
Young Adult Literature
30-Credit Concentration Requirements
21-Credit Concentration plus the following courses:
ENG 201
Introduction to English Studies
Select one of the following:
EDR 422
Seminar in Reading
EDR 200
Literacy, Diversity, & Equity in K-12 Classrooms
LIT 360
Special Topics Children's/Young Adult Literature
Select one of the following:
EDR 321
Assessment and Instructional Interventions in Reading and Language Arts
LIN/ENG 230
Introduction to Linguistics
Science Content Area
Students must complete a minimum of 12 Generalist Area credits. Students choosing this content area must plan generalist credits that serve as prerequisites to upper level science courses.
Generalist Area
ESS 102
Humans and the Environment
or SCB 102
 Humans and the Environment
or SCB 210
 The Origin of Life and the Universe
Select three courses from three of the five areas below:
ESS 101
Introduction to Geology
BIO 110
General Biology I
or BIO 100
 Basic Biological Science
CHE 107
& CRL 107
General Chemistry for Allied Health Sciences
and General Chemistry Lab for Allied Health Sciences
or CHE 103
& CRL 103
 General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
PHY 130
General Physics I
SCI 101
The Carbon Cycle
or SCI 102
 Electricity with Physical and Biological Applications
21-Credit Concentration
12-credit Generalist Area plus 9 advanced credits chosen from the courses below:
ESS 201
Field Geology
ESS 204
Historical Geology
ESS 301
Environmental Geochemistry
ESS 307
Geology of the Solar System
ESS 330
Introduction to Oceanography
ESS 331
Introduction to Paleontology
ESS 370
Introduction to Meteorology
BIO 204
Introductory Microbiology
BIO 214
General Microbiology
BIO 215
General Botany
BIO 217
General Zoology
CHE 230
Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry
or CHE 104
& CRL 104
 General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
PHY 140
General Physics II
30-Credit Concentration
21-Credit Concentration plus 6 additional credits from the advanced courses listed under the 21-Credit Concentration plus one of the following:
ESS 111
Other Worlds, Other Stars
or PHY 105
 Structure of the Universe
Social Studies Content Area
Students must complete a minimum of 12 Generalist Area credits.
Generalist Area
HIS 150
The American Experience
or HIS 151
 History of the United States I
GEO 101
World Geography
PSC 100
United States Government and Politics
HIS 344
History of Pennsylvania
21-Credit Concentration
Generalist Area plus the following courses:
HIS 152
History of the United States II
HIS 101
History of Civilization I
ECO 111
Principles of Economics (Macro)
30-Credit Concentration
21-Credit Concentration plus the following courses:
HIS 102
History of Civilization: Power, Identity, and Culture in the Modern World
ANT 102
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
PSC 255
State and Local Government
Mathematics Content Area
Students must complete a minimum of 12 Generalist Area credits.
Generalist Area
MAT 101
Mathematics for Teachers of Children I
MAT 102
Mathematics for Teachers of Children II
MAT 351
Methods for Teaching Children Math
MAT 352
Methods for Teaching Children Mathematics II
or MAT 353
 Methods for Teaching Middle School Mathematics
21-Credit Concentration
12-Credit Generalist Area plus the following courses:
MAT 121
Introduction to Statistics I
MAT 312
Algebra for Teachers in Grades 4-8
MAT 313
Geometry for Teachers in Grades 4-8
30-Credit Concentration
21-Credit Concentration plus the following courses:
MAT 115
& MAT 145
Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry
and Calculus for the Life Sciences
or MAT 131
& MAT 161
 Precalculus
and Calculus I
MAT 390
Seminar in Mathematics Education
Total Minimum Credits Required123
1

 Choose MAT 353 if concentrating in mathematics.

2

 Choose SCI 101 if concentrating in science.

3

 Choose HIS 151 if concentrating in social studies.

4

This course fulfills the Capstone requirement.

To track their individual degree progress, students are advised to access their Degree Progress Report (DPR) via myWCU regularly. For more information, visit wcupa.edu/DegreeProgressReport.

The following is a sample suggested course sequence for this program; course offerings and availability are not guaranteed. Students should consult their academic advisor with any questions.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
EDP 200 Middle Grades Cognition 3
MAT 101 Mathematics for Teachers of Children I 3
ESS 102 Humans and the Environment 3
FYE 100XFirst Year Experience 4
 Credits16
Semester Two
WRT 200 Critical Writing and Research 3
EDP 201 Early Adolescent Development and Cognition 3
MAT 102 Mathematics for Teachers of Children II 3
LIT 220 Children's Literature 3
SCI 101 The Carbon Cycle 3
GEO 101 World Geography 3
 Credits18
Year Two
Semester Three
MGP 220 Field Experience: Middle Level Environment 3
HIS 150 The American Experience 3
ESS 101 Introduction to Geology 3
EDR 306 Teaching Language Arts 4-8 3
EDR 308 Foundations in Reading 4-8 3
Concentration Class 3
 Credits18
Semester Four
BIO 100 Basic Biological Science 3
LAN 382 Teaching English Language Learners PK-12 3
EDA 103 Foundations of Special Education 3
PSC 100 United States Government and Politics 3
Concentration Class 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Semester Five
EDR 347 Literacy Development and Secondary Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms 3
HIS 344 History of Pennsylvania 3
Arts Gen Ed 3
Concentration Class 3
Concentration Class 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
EDA 303 Special Ed: Processes/Procedures for General Educators 2
EDT 349 Technology Tools to Transform Teaching and Learning 1
MAT 351 Methods for Teaching Children Math 3
SCE 330 Science Methods for Middle Level (4-8) 3
Concentration Class 3
Concentration Class 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Semester Seven
MGP 335 Teaching Social Studies in Middle Grades 3
EDR 318 Reading Instruction and Practicum 4-8 6
ERM 354 Ethical and Effective Assessment for Learning: Middle Grades 3
MAT 352
or MAT 353
 Methods for Teaching Children Mathematics II
or Methods for Teaching Middle School Mathematics
 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
MGP 410 Student Teaching 6
MGP 411 Student Teaching 6
 Credits12
 Total Credits124