B.S.Ed. in Middle Grades Education

Admission Information:

• All students interested in a single certification middle grades program must declare the Middle Grades Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non Certification Track) as their intended major. 
• When accepted to the university, all undergraduate education majors are admitted into the Middle Grades Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non Certification Track) program.
• At the completion of all courses, through area F in the program of study, students seeking initial teacher certification would then apply to the Teacher Education Program. If accepted into the Teacher Education Program, the student would move into the Middle Grades Education B.S.Ed. Certification Track program. 
• Those students who are NOT seeking initial teacher certification, would complete the remainder of the program requirements for the  Middle Grades Education B.S.Ed. Professional Studies (Non-Certification Track) program.

Follow these steps to complete the Georgia Southern application: 

• Create an application account.
• Complete our online application using the PIN you received after creating your application account.
• Once complete, pay the $30 application fee or upload a valid fee waiver. Previous Georgia Southern applicants and dual-enrollment students do not need to pay the fee.

You can check your application status at My.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/admissions three days after completing your application. This page contains live information about your admission status, including a checklist of missing documents we need to make a decision.

Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associates, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialists and doctorate degrees.

The Student Learning Outcomes for our program are informed by and align with the Standards for Middle Level Teacher Preparation from the Association for Middle Level Education and Georgia Standards for teacher preparation.

1. Student Learning Outcome 1 (Content):

By the end of the student teaching semester, students will apply an in-depth knowledge of the content they need to teach in the middle grades.

Candidates will:

• Demonstrate mastery of concepts in the content areas.
• Apply understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge.
• Understanding of concepts related to the development of young adolescents.
• Explain and synthesize characteristics of effective teaching and learning for young adolescents.
  

2. Student Learning Outcome 2 (Planning):

By the end of the student teaching semester, students will plan effective teaching and learning experiences for diverse learners based on the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions required for the teaching context.

Candidates will:

• Develop guiding essential questions as well as daily questions and objectives aligned to state and national standards to show what students should know and be able to do.
• Develop logical and sequential plans for units and lessons.
• Design a variety of developmentally responsive, challenging, empowering and equitable student learning experiences.
• Include relevant, integrative, challenging and exploratory teaching and learning experiences that are differentiated and responsive to student diversity.
• Create, select and integrate a variety of materials, resources and tools to support and challenge all learners.

3. Student Learning Outcome 3 (Instruction):

By the end of the student teaching semester, students will demonstrate effective instructional practices based on the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions required for the teaching context.

Candidates will:

• Select and adapt appropriate content-area and interdisciplinary instructional strategies.
• Engage students in active learning and support their higher-order thinking.
• Foster a safe and welcoming learning environment.
• Model inquiry, enthusiasm for learning and respect for all students.
• Use a variety of communication techniques to explain concepts and engage students in learning.
  

4. Student Learning Outcome 4 (Assessment):

By the end of the student teaching semester, students will assess and analyze student learning in an effective manner.

Candidates will:

• Design and select assessments that are aligned to instructional objectives and that will show evidence of student learning.
• Design and select a range of formative and summative assessments.
• Develop and share assessment criteria, guidelines and rubrics aligned with standards and instructional objectives.
• Provide students feedback for learning to indicate strengths and growth areas relative to instructional objectives.
• Analyze and use assessment data to adapt and plan future instruction.

5. Student Learning Outcome 5 (Dispositions):

By the end of the student teaching semester, students will demonstrate professional dispositions.

Candidates will:

• Demonstrate appropriate interactions and collaborations with all stakeholders.
• Model behaviors appropriate to educators.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills related to verbal (written and spoken) and non-verbal forms of communication.
• Demonstrate a positive regard for all learners.

Georgia Southern offers resources on assistive technology (AT)—equipment or product systems used to help children with disabilities.

The ISRC provides resources and professional development on instructional pedagogy while leveraging the use of innovative and emerging technologies in order to support teaching, learning, and student engagement.

Get to know the Statesboro Campus with our interactive map.

Clinical Practice is widely recognized as the most influential component in teacher preparation and the capstone experience.

The Pre-Service certificate is intended for educator candidates completing field experiences or student teaching in Georgia schools.

The Pre-Professional Block (PPB) program collaborates with many P-12 schools to offer quality classroom experiences teacher candidates need to become reflective educators, able to meet the diverse challenges of students in Georgia and across the nation.

The College of Education anticipates that graduates will seek initial certification in the following programs: B.S.Ed. in Middle Grades Education.
All programs meet the educational requirements for a teaching certificate in Georgia. The BSEd-MGEd program meets the requirements for certification in CT, FL, HI, ID, KY, LA, NM, NC, PA, VT, VA, and WA only. Unless listed above, Georgia Southern’s program does NOT meet educational requirements for certification in that state. Online students wishing to enroll in a program that does not meet requirements in their state of residence will be required to sign an attestation that indicates that they will seek GA licensure. Out-of-state students living in GA do not have to complete an attestation but may need to meet additional requirements in their home state after graduation.

Georgia Southern makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure or certification is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, residence requirements, jurisprudence exams, training, etc. For more information, as well as for a list of applicable state boards, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure Webpage.