Middle Grades Education (BS): English Language Arts and Social Studies Concentration
The Middle Grades English Language Arts and Social Studies (BS) program in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences seeks to prepare teachers who can effectively educate young adolescents while being responsive to their unique needs, interests, and abilities. Graduates earn an undergraduate degree and initial licensure for teaching in grades 6-9 in two subject disciplines: English language arts and social studies. Students learn how to implement high-quality English language arts and social studies instruction with three major focus areas: digital literacies, inquiry-based learning, and citizenship. During the course of this program, students will complete several middle school field experiences, including a year-long senior student teaching internship.
Middle Grades English Language Arts and Social Studies Program (MSL)
The goal of the MSL Program is to prepare teachers to effectively educate young adolescents while being responsive to their unique needs, interests and abilities. Graduates earn licensure for teaching grades six through nine in the English language arts and social studies disciplines.
The MSL Program offers an undergraduate degree and initial licensure in two dynamic content areas that prepares teachers to effectively educate and impact the lives of young adolescents while being responsive to their unique needs, interests, and abilities. Students learn how to implement high-quality English language arts and social studies instruction with three major focus areas:
- Digital Literacies
- Inquiry-based Learning
- Citizenship
Students are provided with the opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree in Middle Grades English Language Arts and Social Studies (p. 1) and initial licensure for sixth through ninth grade.
Please see our website for additional information: Middle Grades English Language Arts and Social Studies Program (MSL)
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math & Natural Science | |||
| MA 103 | Topics in Contemporary Mathematics | 3 | |
| English Language Arts | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| English Electives 2,3,4 | 9 | ||
| ENG 265 | American Literature I 2,4 | 3 | |
| or ENG 266 | American Literature II | ||
| ENG 262 | English Literature II 2,4 | 3 | |
| ENG 328 | Language and Writing 2,4 | 3 | |
| or ENG 422 | Writing Theory and the Writing Process | ||
| Social Studies | |||
| History Elective 2,3 | 3 | ||
| EC 201 | Principles of Microeconomics 2,5 | 3 | |
| or ARE 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| HI 205 | Western Civilization Since 1400 2,5 | 3 | |
| or HI 233 | The World Since 1750 | ||
| HI 364 | History of North Carolina 2,5 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | ||
| African-American History Through the Civil War, 1619-1865 5 | |||
| African-American History Since 1865 5 | |||
| History of the Civil Rights Movement 5 | |||
| Anthropology Elective 2,5 | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | ||
| Introduction to International Relations 5 | |||
| Issues in Global Politics 5 | |||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics 2,5 | |||
| COM 112 | Interpersonal Communication 2,4,5 | 3 | |
| Professional Education | |||
| ED 100 | Intro to Education 2 | 2 | |
| ECI 204 | Intro to Teaching 2,6 | 2 | |
| ECI 305 | Equity and Education 2,4 | 3 | |
| ECI 306 | Middle Years Reading 2 | 3 | |
| ECI 307 | Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum 2 | 3 | |
| ECI 309 | Teaching in the Middle Years 2 | 3 | |
| ECI 445 | New Literacies, Emerging Technologies, and Electronic Portfolios | 2 | |
| ECI 405 | Teaching Literature for Adolescents 2,6 | 3 | |
| ECI 416 | Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms 2 | 3 | |
| ED 204 | Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 2 | 2 | |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices 2 | 2 | |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 2 | 1 | |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology 2 | 3 | |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 2 | 3 | |
| HESM 280 | Responding to Emergencies | 2 | |
| ECI 430 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Language Arts in the Middle Grades 2,6 | 4 | |
| ECI 435 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Social Studies in the Middle Grades 2,6 | 4 | |
| ECI 454 | Student Teaching in English/Language Arts 2,6 | 5 | |
| ECI 464 | Student Teaching in Social Studies 2,6 | 5 | |
| ECI 449 | MSL Senior Student Teaching Seminar | 2 | |
| GEP Courses | |||
| GEP Mathematical Sciences | 3 | ||
| GEP Natural Sciences | 7 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 123 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 3
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine how to complete this requirement.
- 4
Courses that count as Social Studies content toward 24 hour requirement for North Carolina Teaching licensure.
- 5
Course that includes a field placement or experiences in middle schools
Anthropology Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANT 251 | Physical Anthropology | 3 | |
| ANT 252 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 | |
| ANT 253 | Unearthing the Past: Introduction to World Archaeology | 3 | |
| ANT 254 | Language and Culture | 3 | |
| ANT 261 | Technology in Society and Culture | 3 | |
| ANT 310 | Native Peoples and Cultures of North America | 3 | |
| ANT 315 | The Aztecs, Maya, and Their Predecessors: Archaeology of Mesoamerica | 3 | |
| ANT 325 | Andean South America | 3 | |
| ANT 330 | People and Cultures of Africa | 3 | |
| ANT 346 | Peoples and Cultures of Southeast Asia | 3 | |
| ANT 370 | Introduction to Forensic Anthropology | 3 | |
| ANT 371 | Human Variation | 3 | |
| ANT 389 | Fundamentals of Archaeological Research | 3 | |
| SOC 261 | Technology in Society and Culture | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ED 100 | Intro to Education 5 | 2 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| HI 205 or HI 233 | Western Civilization Since 1400 3,5 or The World Since 1750 | 3 |
| MA 103 | Topics in Contemporary Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| GEP Natural Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COM 112 | Interpersonal Communication 2,3,5 | 3 |
| ARE 201 or EC 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics 3,5 or Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| GEP Natural Sciences | 1 | |
| GEP Mathematical Sciences | 3 | |
| ENG 265 or ENG 266 | American Literature I 2,5 or American Literature II | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENG 262 | English Literature II 2,5 | 3 |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2-3 | |
| HI Elective 3,7,5 | 3 | |
| ECI 204 | Intro to Teaching 5 | 2 |
| ED 204 | Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 4,5 | 2 |
| ENG Elective 2,7,5 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| ECI 309 | Teaching in the Middle Years 5 | 3 |
| ENG Elective 2,7,5 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 3,5 | 3 | |
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Issues in Global Politics | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| Select one of the following: 3,5 | 3 | |
| African-American History Through the Civil War, 1619-1865 | ||
| African-American History Since 1865 | ||
| History of the Civil Rights Movement | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECI 305 | Equity and Education 5 | 3 |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 5 | 3 |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology 5 | 3 |
| HESM 280 or HESM 285 | Responding to Emergencies or Personal Health | 2 |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices 5 | 2 |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 5 | 1 |
| ANT Elective 3,6,5 | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECI 306 | Middle Years Reading 5 | 3 |
| ECI 307 | Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum 5 | 3 |
| ENG Elective 2,7,5 | 3 | |
| ECI 416 | Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms 5 | 3 |
| HI 364 | History of North Carolina 3,5 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECI/ENG 405 | Teaching Literature for Adolescents 2,4,5 | 3 |
| ECI 430 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Language Arts in the Middle Grades 4,5 | 4 |
| ECI 435 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Social Studies in the Middle Grades 4,5 | 4 |
| ENG 328 or ENG 422 | Language and Writing 2,5 or Writing Theory and the Writing Process | 3 |
| ECI 445 | New Literacies, Emerging Technologies, and Electronic Portfolios 5 | 2 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECI 454 | Student Teaching in English/Language Arts 4,5 | 5 |
| ECI 464 | Student Teaching in Social Studies 4,5 | 5 |
| ECI 449 | MSL Senior Student Teaching Seminar | 2 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 123-124 | |
- 1
May select another course from GEP Mathematical Sciences area
- 2
Courses that count as English/Language Arts content toward 24 hour requirement for North Carolina Teaching licensure
- 3
Courses that count as Social Studies content toward 24 hour requirement for North Carolina Teaching licensure
- 4
Courses that includes a field placement or experiences in middle schools
- 5
C Wall (2.0) course (C or better, not C-)
- 6
Choose any ANT course from the GEP Social Sciences course list
- 7
See advisor for list of courses that satisfy this elective
Career Opportunities
Career Titles
- Middle School Teacher
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