Certificate Program Information

Childhood teachers may pursue certification in a particular subject area (i.e. English, history, math, science and social studies) in grades 7-9, while adolescent teachers will extend their certification to grades 5 and 6. Candidates will develop critical understanding of the middle school child within the context of communities and popular youth culture. This inquiry-based program also includes methods for differentiated instruction, integrating technology and media, literacy strategies linked to the Common Core Standards, as well as strategies for middle school classroom management

Program of Study

Intended for childhood and adolescent teachers with initial certification, this 6-credit program enables teachers to extend their certification with coursework that focuses specifically on the developmental needs of middle school students.

Admission Requirements

Adolescent Education majors who are willing to take two additional education courses and who take and pass the Content Specialty Test (CST) in their subject area, are eligible for the Middle School Extension to also teach that subject in grades 5-6. Doing so means that an Adolescent Education candidate who completes the Combined Degree Program will be eligible for a minimum of three teaching certificates: the Initial Certificate, the Graduate Specialty Area Certificate, and the Middle School Extension Certificate.

Childhood Education majors must also have 30-credits in a subject area to be taught (i.e. Biology, English, etc.) to be eligible for the Middle School Extension.  Students who take two additional courses and take and pass the Content Specialty Test (CST) in the subject area, are eligible for a certificate extension to teach that subject area in Grades 7-9.  Doing so means that a Childhood Education candidate who completes the Combined Degree Program will be eligible for a minimum of 3 teaching certificates: the Initial Certificate, the Graduate Specialty Area Certificate, and the Middle School Extension Certificate.

Certificate Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ED 523	Middle Childhood / Early Adolescence: Community, Culture, and Identity	3
ED 524	Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction: Middle Childhood Education	3
TCH 455	Middle Childhood / Early Adolescence: Community, Culture, Identity	3
TCH 456	Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction in Middle Childhood Education	3
Total Credits		12

Must also take and pass the Content Specialty Test (CST) in subject area.