B.S.Ed. Middle Level Education (4-8)

The Leading Teacher Program (LTP) in Grades 4-8 (Middle Level) Education is designed to prepare leading teachers for upper elementary and middle grade classrooms in Pennsylvania. Teacher candidates who successfully complete the requirements for this degree will earn certification in Middle Level Education. Graduates of this program are considered highly qualified to teach all subject areas in Grades 4, 5, and 6. Duquesne's Middle Level Education program includes four options for concentrations: (1) English/Language Arts/Reading, through which graduates are certified to teach English/Language Arts/Reading in Grades 7 and 8; (2) Mathematics, through which graduates are certified to teach Mathematics in Grades 7 and 8; (3) Science, through which graduates are certified to teach general science in Grades 7 and 8; and (4) a dual concentration with certification in Mathematics (Grades 7-8) and English/Language Arts/Reading (Grades 7-8). Throughout the program, teacher candidates will develop professional and personal competence by participating in experiences that are both theoretical and applied in local, national and international settings. All teacher candidates complete a set of core experiences in pedagogy and participate in guided fieldwork. Dual certification in Special Education with Middle Level Education is an available option.

The program is guided by Pennsylvania state standards and by standards of national professional organizations. Teacher candidates address professional standards in each of the curriculum areas through course projects and implement the standards in their fieldwork. All the field experiences in the Grades 4-8 (Middle Level) Education program reflect the themes of leadership, diversity and technology.

The Grades 4-8 (Middle Level) Education programs range from a minimum of 128 to 134 credits across different concentrations, consisting of courses and experiences organized into three major areas of study: General Education, Foundations of Education, and Professional Preparation. Distributed within these credits are a minimum of 12 credits in Science, Social Studies, English/Language Arts/Reading, and Mathematics. The dual concentration in Mathematics and English/Language Arts/Reading requires 15 credits in each area. Details of courses in Foundations, and Accommodations and Adaptations for Diverse Learners are provided in the section description for each of these areas. Dual certification in Special Education with Middle Level is an option.

Curriculum

This is the curriculum for the general program. Variations dependent on content area specializations. Please contact the School of Education for information on concentrations.

Middle Level (4-8) Education: All subjects (4-6) with English/Language Arts Concentration (7-8)
125 minimum credits

Middle Level (4-8) Education: All subjects (4-6) with Mathematics Concentration (7-8)
137 minimum credits

Middle Level (4-8) Education: All subjects (4-6) with Science Concentration (7-8)
132 minimum credits

Middle Level (4-8) Education: All subjects (4-6) with English/Language Arts and Mathematics Dual Concentration (7-8)
139 minimum credits 

University Requirements

(Gen Eds/Bridges Common Learning Experience/PDE Reqs)

All Middle Level Candidates take the following university requirements:

  • BRDG 100 Research and Info. Skills, 3 cr
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis, 3 cr
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature, 3 cr
  • BRDG 105 Into to Ethical Reasoning, 3 cr
  • EQ Essential Questions, 3 cr
  • Philosophy Elective (Any PHIL 200+ course), 3 cr
  • Theology Elective (Any THEO 200+ course), 3 cr

LTP Courses

All Middle Level Candidates take the following foundational courses in the Leading Teacher Program in the first two years of the program:

  • EDUC 110 Classroom Management, 3 cr
  • EDUC 181 Cohort Experience, 0 cr
  • EDUC 182 Cohort Experience, 0 cr
  • LTEL 201 Manage the Needs of English Language Learners, 3 cr
  • LTFL 102 Ethics, Education, and Teaching Profession, 3 cr
  • LTFL 110 Intro to Critical Education, 3 cr
  • LTFL 203 Social Justice in Community Engaged Educational Setting, 3 cr
  • LTFL 293 Social Justice in Community Engaged Educational Setting Field Experience, 0 cr
  • LTFL 209 Ed Psych; Development, Learning and Motivation, 3 cr
  • LFTL 218 Foundations of Classroom Assessment, 3 cr
  • LTFL 298 Classroom Assessment Field Exp Stg 2, 0 cr
  • LTSP 203 Fnd of Inclsv Educ Prct Sp Ed, 3 cr
  • LTSP 293 Incl Field Experience Stage I, 0 cr
  • LTFL 231 Philosophy of Middle level Education, 3 cr
  • EDUC 282, Sophomore cohort , 0 cr

Professional Preparation

All Middle Level Candidates take the following courses in the professional preparation phase of the Leading Teacher Program in the third and fourth years of the program:

  • EDLT 301 Instructional Technology III: Text-Based Instruction, 3 cr
  • EDLT 401 Instructional Technology IV, 3 cr
  • LTML 311W Teaching Language Arts in Grades 4-8, 3 cr
  • LTML 312W Teaching Reading in Grades 4-8, 3 cr
  • LTML 313 Young Adolescent Literature, 3 cr
  • LTML 324 Teaching Science Grades 4-8, 3 cr
  • LTML 325 Teaching Social Studies in Grades 4-8, 3 cr
  • LTML 326 Middle Level Capstone Experience, 3 cr
  • LTML 392 English Language Arts/Reading Level 3 Fieldwork, 3 cr
  • LTML 394 Teaching Science Grades 4-8, Field Experience, 1 cr
  • LTML 395 Teaching Social Studies in Grades 4-8, Field Experience, 1 cr
  • LTML 410W Reading in Content Area 4-8, 3 cr
  • EDLS 396 Content Area Reading Field Experience, 0 cr
  • LTML 411 Teaching Math in Grades 4-8, 3 cr
  • MAT 103  Math for Elementary and Middle School Teachers, 3 cr
  • LTML 491 Field Experience Level 3 – Math 1, 3 cr
  • LTML 492 Student Teaching Grades 4-8, 12 cr
  • LTSP 401 Implementing Inclusive Education, 3 cr
  • LTML 421 Middle Level Capstone, 3 cr

Curriculum - Middle Level - Mathematics and English Language Arts 

In addition to the course requirements listed in the previous section, candidates specializing in Math and English/Language Arts take the following courses:

University Requirements
  • Choose 1 English elective (BRCC)
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of
    • ENGL 317
    • ENGL 318
    • ENGL 319
    • ENGL 320
    • ENGL 322
  • Choose 1
    • HIST 213 Western Civilization I, 3 cr
    • HIST 203 US to 1877, 3 cr
  • Choose 1
    • HIST 204 US since 1877, 3 cr
    • HIST 214 Western Civilization II, 3 c
  • SPRG 109 Physical Science, 3 cr
  • BIOL 120 Core Science-Biology, 3 cr
  • ENVI 191 Intro to Earth Systems Science, 3 cr
  • MATH 115 Calculus I, 4 cr
  • MATH 116 Calculus II, 4 cr
  • MATH 125 Fundamentals of Statistics, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3cr) of:
    • MATH 102 Problem Solving, cr
    • MATH 135 Discrete Mathematics, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3/4cr) of:
    • MATH 215 Calculus III, 4 cr
    • MATH 250 Foundations of Higher Mathematics, 3 cr 

Curriculum - Middle Level - Science

In addition to the university and School of Education course requirements listed in the earlier section, candidates specializing in Science take the following courses:

University Requirements

(Gen Eds/Bridges Common Learning Experience/PDE Reqs)

  • ENVI 191 Introduction to Earth Systems Science, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3/4 crs) of:
    • BIOL 101 Intro to Life Processes, 3 cr
    • BIOL 111 Biology I: Cells, Genetics, Development (W/Lab), 4 cr
    • BIOL 120 Core Science Biology (w/Lab), 4 cr
  • Choose 1 (3/5 cr) of:
    • CHEM 120 Intro to Chemistry and Chemistry Problem Solving, 3 cr
    • CHEM 121 General Chemistry (w/Lab), 5 cr
  • Choose 1 (3/4crs) of:
    • PHYS 123 Core Physics, 3 cr
    • PHYS 200 Essential Physics (w/Lab), 4 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • ENVI 116 Foundations of Energy and Environment, 3 cr
    • ENVI 126 Foundations of energy and the Environment, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3cr) of:
    • PHYS 125 Astronomy, 3 cr
    • SPRG 109 Physical Science, 3 cr
  • ENGL 101 Multi-Genre Creative Writing, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3cr) of:
    • HIST 203 U.S. to 1877, 3 cr
    • HIST 213 Western Civilization I, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3cr) of:
    • HIST 204 U.S. since 1877, 3 cr
    • HIST 214 Western Civilization II, 3 cr
  • MATH 125 Fundamentals of Statistics, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3cr) of:
    • MATH 101/MATH 101R, 3 cr
    • MATH 111 Calculus for Non-Science Students, 3 cr 

Curriculum - Middle Level - Mathematics

In addition to the university and School of Education course requirements listed in the earlier section, candidates specializing in Mathematics take the following courses: 

University Requirements

(Gen Eds/Bridges Common Learning Experience/PDE Reqs)

  • Choose 1
    • HIST 213 Western Civilization I, 3 cr
    • HIST 203 US to 1877, 3 cr
  • Choose 1
    • HIST 214 Western Civilization II, 3 cr
    • HIST 204 US since 1877, 3 cr
  • MATH 115 Calculus I, 4 cr
  • MATH 116 Calculus II, 4 cr
  • MATH 125 Fundamentals of Statistics, 3 cr
  • MATH 135 Discrete Mathematics, 3 cr
  • MATH 250 Foundations of Higher Mathematics 3MATH 215 Calculus III, 4 cr
  • SPRG 109 Physical Science, 3 cr
  • BIOL 120 Biology, 3 cr
  • ENVI 191 Intro to Earth Systems Science, 3 cr

Curriculum - Middle Level - English Language Arts

In addition to the university and School of Education course requirements listed in the earlier section, candidates specializing in English Language Arts take the following courses:  

University Requirements

(Gen Eds/Bridges Common Learning Experience/PDE Reqs) 

  • ENGL 101 Multi-Genre Creative Writing, 3 cr
  • English elective, 3 cr.
  • Choose 1 (3 cr each) of:
    • ENGL 317
    • ENGL 318
    • ENGL 319
    • ENGL 320
    • ENGL 322
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • HIST 203 U.S. to 1877, 3 cr
    • HIST 213 Western Civilization I, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • HIST 204 U.S. since 1877, 3 cr
    • HIST 214 Western Civilization II, 3 cr
  • MATH 125 Fundamentals of Statistics, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr) of:
    • MATH 101/MATH 101R, 3 cr
    • MATH 111 Calculus for Non-Science Students, 3 cr
  • Choose 1
    • SPRG 109 Physical Science, 3 cr
    • BIOL 120 Biology, 3 cr
    • ENVI 191 Intro to Earth Systems Science, 3 cr 

Learning Outcomes

  • Exhibits exemplary content knowledge in the subject area of certification.
  • Plans content-area instruction aligned to state and national standards and discipline expectations.
  • Utilizes resources from professional organizations specific to the content area and for education in general.
  • Demonstrates the ability to apply, analyze and evaluate a variety of research-based instructional techniques at the middle and secondary level.
  • Implements instruction that: a) supports the development of students' critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills; b) fosters conceptual understanding of the content; c) incorporates worthwhile tasks in the content area; d) utilizes questioning techniques, and e) engages students in discourse appropriate to the discipline.
  • Plans and implements equitable instruction that attends to students' developmental level, diverse backgrounds, and academic needs.
  • Designs and uses assessment of student learning to guide improvement.
  • Locates and uses resources, including technological resources, to plan and implement instruction.
  • Demonstrates characteristics of professional ethics, respect, relational trust, and cultural competence in interactions with students, colleagues, families, and communities.