Middle School Education Major

2311 Benjamin Building
Phone: 301-405-3324
http://education.umd.edu/academics/departments/tlpl/

Program Director: Daniel M. Levin, Ph.D.

Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership offers undergraduate curricula in Middle School Education that lead to the Bachelor of Science degree and prepare teachers for teaching in middle schools, grades 4-9.

Graduates of the Middle School Math and Science (grades 4-9) program meet the requirements for certification in Maryland and additional states that are affiliated with the Interstate Reciprocity Agreement through the Maryland State Department of Education.

Admission to the Major

Admission to the Teacher Education Professional Program is competitive. Admission procedures and criteria are explained in the College of Education Overview.

Placement in Courses

The Middle School program includes both pre-professional and professional education course work. Before undergraduates may enroll in courses identified as part of the professional sequence, they must complete the selective admissions requirements and be fully admitted to the College of Education's Teacher Education program. Admission procedures and criteria are explained in the College of Education entry. Teacher candidates will not be permitted to enroll in professional sequence courses – including the yearlong internship – prior to completion of the selective admissions requirements and full admission to the College of Education.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Middle School teacher candidates have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter that they teach as described in professional (Association for Middle Level Education – AMLE); state (MSDE); and, institutional standards.
  2. Middle School teacher candidates can effectively plan classroom-based instruction or activities for their roles as teachers. Candidates' knowledge, skills, and dispositions are applied effectively in practice.
  3. Middle School teacher candidates practice evidence-based decision-making through the use of assessment as well as the critical interpretation of research and inquiry in order to improve educational practice. They accurately assess and analyze student learning, make appropriate adjustments to instruction, monitor student learning, and have a positive effect on learning for all students.
  4. Middle School teacher candidates demonstrate understanding of learners and their social and cultural contexts with a global perspective and intentional sensitivity to other cultures. They are able to work with students, families, and communities in ways that reflect the dispositions expected of professional educators as delineated in professional (AMLE); state (MSDE); and, institutional standards.
  5. Middle School teacher candidates competently integrate technology in instruction to support student learning and develop data-driven solutions for instructional and school improvement. They demonstrate proficiency in each of the seven Maryland Teacher Technology Standards.

All Teacher Education Programs have designated pre-professional courses and a specified sequence of professional courses. Before undergraduates may enroll in professional education course requirements they must be fully admitted to the College of Education's Teacher Education Program. An overall grade point average of 2.75 must be maintained after admission to Teacher Education. All teacher candidates are required to obtain satisfactory evaluations on the College of Education Foundational Competencies/Technical Standards and to attain qualifying scores for the State of Maryland on the Praxis I and Praxis II assessments. Praxis I is required for admission, and Praxis II is required for the teaching internship and graduation. The culminating experience of the program is the yearlong internship, which takes place in a Collaborating School (i.e., partner school, PDS - Professional Development School).

Course Title Credits
College Requirements
Pre-Professional/Subject Area Courses
GEOL100
GEOL110
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Laboratory
4
PHYS115Inquiry into Physics4
or PHYS121 Fundamentals of Physics I
Select one of the following:4
The World of Biology
Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology
and Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology Laboratory
CHEM131
CHEM132
Chemistry I - Fundamentals of General Chemistry
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
AOSC200
AOSC201
Weather and Climate
and Weather and Climate Laboratory
4
MATH212Elements of Numbers and Operations3
MATH213Elements of Geometry and Measurement3
MATH214Elements of Probability and Statistics3
MATH312Mathematical Reasoning and Proof for Pre-Service Middle School Teachers3
MATH314Introduction to Probability, Data, Analysis and Statistics for Preservice Middle School Teachers3
MATH315Algebra for Preservice Middle School Teachers3
Select one of the following:3-4
Introduction to Astronomy
General Astronomy
Introductory Astrophysics II - Stars and Beyond
Principles of Ecology and Evolution
and Principles of Ecology and Evolution Lab
and Insects
Plant Biology for Non-Science Students
and Plant Biology Laboratory
Fundamentals of Soil Science
Geography of Environmental Systems
and Geography of Environmental Systems Laboratory
Physics of Music
and Physics of Music Laboratory
Light, Perception, Photography, and Visual Phenomena
and Light, Perception, Photography and Visual Phenomena Laboratory
Pre-Professional Education Courses
Select one of the following:3
Inquiry Approach to Teaching STEM (Step 1)
and Inquiry Teaching of STEM in Middle School
or
Community, Learners, and Classroom Climate
TLPL250Historical and Philosophical Perspectives on Education3
or TLPL360 Foundations of Education
TLPL252Students, Schooling, and Communities3
EDHD413Adolescent Development3
EDHD436Cognition and Motivation in Content Area Literacy for Middle-School Students3
TLPL462Reading in the Secondary School3
Professional Education Courses
TLPL413Teaching and Learning Middle School Mathematics3
TLPL420Knowledge, Reasoning, and Learning in Science3
TLPL423Interdisciplinary Teaching in the Middle Grades I2
TLPL424Interdisciplinary Teaching in the Middle Grades II2
TLPL475Equitable Classrooms2
TLPL476Equity and Pedagogy2
TLPL477Teaching Academically, Culturally, and Linguistically Diverse Students in Middle School and Secondary Education2
TLPL479Field Experiences in Education (TLPL479E Field Experience in Middle School Education)1
TLPL489Internship in Education (TLPL489E Student Teaching: Middle School)12
Total Credits88-89

Other Requirements for the Major

An overall grade point average of 2.75 must be maintained after admission to Teacher Education.  All teacher candidates are required to obtain satisfactory evaluations on the College of Education Foundational Competencies/Model Code of Ethics for Educators standards and to attain qualifying scores for the State of Maryland on a test of basic skills (http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/testing_info/praxis1.aspx) and Praxis II assessments.  The test of basic skills is required for admission, and Praxis II is required for the teaching internship and graduation.  The culminating experience of the program is the yearlong internship, which takes place in a public school PDS setting.

Click here for roadmaps for graduation plans in the College of Education.

Additional information on developing a graduation plan can be found on the following pages:

Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Middle School (TLPL)

Internships

The yearlong internship, which is the culminating experience in the teacher preparation program, takes place in a public school setting.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers all types of federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, visit: http://financialaid.umd.edu.

The College of Education also offers a number of scholarships. For more information, see: http://education.umd.edu/admissions/financial-aid-scholarships/.