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Middle School Education and Teaching

Overview

Middle school education and teaching programs prepare people to teach children in middle or junior high school.

In middle school education and teaching programs students learn to teach various subjects at the fifth through ninth grade levels. They also learn to plan lessons and create projects that will motivate and challenge their students.

Middle school education and teaching programs include topics such as:

In middle school education and teaching programs students typically choose to focus on one or two particular subjects they want to teach. These subjects might include:

Practicum

Most teaching programs require students to complete a practicum, or student teaching experience, before graduation. As student teachers, students work in a classroom under the supervision of a licensed teacher.

Schools

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs in middle school education and teaching. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

Many colleges and universities also offer graduate programs in middle school education and teaching. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

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Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Getting admitted to a college does not always guarantee admission to its undergraduate middle school education program. In such a case, you typically apply to the program after your freshman or sophomore year of college.

Program admissions vary. However, for all programs, you need to have good grades. You also usually need to complete some combination of the following requirements:

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree and good grades. Your bachelor's degree doesn't have to be in any particular major. However, it is helpful to have majored in a subject that you'd like to teach.

Additional requirements at many schools include:

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This undergraduate program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Because you should have a general base of knowledge as a teacher, programs additionally require that you take general education courses in the following subject areas:

You also take courses related to your chosen concentrations.

Graduate Program Courses

Course work in master's degree programs varies. However, the outline of a typical curriculum usually looks like the following:

The core courses are often a more thorough study of issues and topics that are introduced in undergraduate courses.

The portfolio is often seen as a kind of thesis, where you compile the best of your academic work to reflect your growth as a student and as a teacher. It also shows your process of learning. Some undergraduate programs also require a portfolio, though on a smaller scale.

All programs require you to complete pre-practicum fieldwork and a student-teaching practicum.

The pre-practicum fieldwork usually consists of classroom observation under the guidance of an experienced teacher. This fieldwork gives you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with classroom teaching before you start your teaching practicum.

You also benefit from the direct supervision and guidance of an experienced teacher when you begin student teaching. You usually start your practicum by taking charge of certain portions of class time. After about a few weeks, you eventually take full responsibility for teaching in the classroom. You also work with an advisor from your program who observes your teaching and offers advice for improvement.

Things to Know

You can earn a bachelor's degree in your chosen field (such as history) and then earn a Master in Teaching (MAT) degree. This degree usually requires about one additional year of study.

You need to be licensed to teach in public schools. All states require you to have at least a bachelor's degree and a certain amount of supervised practice teaching experience. Some states also require that you have a master's degree.

Part of the licensure requirements of many states includes one or more tests such as the Praxis exam.

Because some states don't have official certification processes, you need to develop a teaching portfolio. This showcases your teaching vision, achievements, and competency to potential employers. As a student, you can start compiling samples of syllabi and student work that you've graded, as well as other materials that reflect your growth and development as a teacher. You can also include a statement of your teaching philosophy and career objectives.

Schools

East Side Area

Central Washington University

Walla Walla Community College

Walla Walla University

Washington State University - Pullman

King-Snohomish Area

Antioch University

Bellevue College

Central Washington University - Des Moines

City University of Seattle

Everett Community College

Green River College

Highline College

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

North Seattle College

Northwest University

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle University

Shoreline Community College

University of Washington - Bothell

University of Washington - Seattle

Kitsap Area

Olympic College

Spokane Area

Eastern Washington University

Gonzaga University

Spokane Community College

Spokane Falls Community College

Washington State University Health Sciences - Spokane

Whitworth University

Statewide and Distance Learning

Washington State University - Global Campus

WGU Washington

Tacoma Area

Clover Park Technical College

Evergreen State College, The (Tacoma Campus)

Pacific Lutheran University

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom

Pierce College Puyallup

University of Puget Sound

University of Washington - Tacoma

Tri-Cities Area

Columbia Basin College

Washington State University - Tri-Cities

Vancouver Area

Clark College

Washington State University - Vancouver

West Side Area

Centralia College

Columbia College - Whidbey Island

Grays Harbor College

Lower Columbia College

Peninsula College

Saint Martin's University

Western Washington University

Yakima Area

Heritage University