Middle Childhood Education, BSEd

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Program Description

The Middle Childhood Education (MCE) undergraduate licensure degree program at Wright State University is committed to the quality and success of every teacher candidate.  In accordance with the Association for Middle Level Educators (AMLE) national standards, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the Ohio Learning standards, the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) standards, and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards, the MCE program faculty are committed to ensuring high teacher candidate quality from recruitment and admission, through the progression of courses and field experiences, to program completion and graduation of candidates in two content areas (math, science, social studies, language arts) and in reading.  Faculty and staff work closely with every candidate to ensure a positive experience and to support the learning outcomes of our specific courses and program.

The Middle Childhood Education program leads to the Bachelor of Science in Education degree with licensure in 2 content areas (math, science, social studies, language arts) and reading for grades 4-9. Choose from the following content area options:

• Language Arts & Social Studies

• Language Arts & Mathematics

• Language Arts & Science

• Social Studies & Mathematics

• Social Studies & Science

• Mathematics and Science

The MCE undergraduate licensure degree program is designed so that candidates complete general education and content courses during their first four semesters (two years) and are admitted into the MCE program at the beginning of their third year experiences. They will proceed through their third and fourth years as members of a cohort group. The cohort portion of the program consists of four semesters of integrated coursework and field experiences.

Specific courses will be taken to ensure that candidates develop theoretical and practical knowledge in the humanities, mathematics and technology, social sciences, biological and physical sciences, and the arts. Courses that incorporate multi-cultural and global perspectives are also included in the general education requirements. The content area methods courses taken during the fourth year in the program focus on pedagogy and developmentally responsive best practices for middle-level learners.

Additionally, candidates will complete a year-long field placement during their fourth year with two days per week spent in a field placement classroom in the fall, followed by student teaching, consisting of five days per week in the same classroom during the spring semester. Due to the year-long field placement in school settings, parts of this program operate on a different calendar than the university calendar, and candidates may be required to start prior to the beginning of the university’s academic term. Candidates pursuing a teacher licensure program are also required to successfully pass the Ohio Department of Education prescribed exams for their intended areas of licensure. An FBI/BCI background check is required for the year-long field placement, and the state of Ohio also requires an FBI/BCI background check as a part of the licensure application.

NOTE: Licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state. The WSU Middle Childhood Education undergraduate program meets the educational requirements determined by the state of Ohio.  This program may NOT meet educational requirements outside of Ohio.  If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding that state’s licensure or certification requirements.

Admission Requirements

1. A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.6 or better.
2. Grade of C or better required for ALL pre-requisite content courses and education courses 
3. A minimum of 60 credit hours (including IP-In Progress)
4. Grade of C or better required for the following:

• All Pre-Professional Core courses: ED 1100, ED 2800, and MTH 2415
• All WSU Core courses related to the applicant’s two respective concentration areas (Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies)
• All Teacher Education courses under the WSU Core requirements: ED 2100, ED 2600, ED 2700, and EDS 2900

1. Professional Dispositions (CDI) “Meets Requirements” rating for ED 2650
2. No unresolved Concern Conferences.
3. Demonstration of competency on a nationally normed test in Reading, Writing and Math via the subtests on the ACT, SAT, and/or Praxis Core Academics for Educators exams. See program website for specific score requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes: Middle Childhood Education

Middle Childhood Education graduates will be able to demonstrate a high level of understanding and skill in relation to:

Association of Middle Level Educators (AMLE, 2012)

• Middle level philosophy, curriculum, instruction, and assessment, the implications of diversity, school organization, developmentally responsive best practices, and their professional roles and dispositions.

Ohio Department of Higher Education 12 Semester-Hour Ohio Reading Requirement (ODHE-RR/OBR-OAC/2010); International Literacy Association Standards (ILA, 2017)

• The foundational content of literacy learning, reading, writing, phonics, the creation of a literacy-rich learning environment, value of the forms of diversity among individual learners, the cognitive and sociological context of comprehension and vocabulary instruction, supporting students’ literacy learning through meaningful instruction and assessment, the importance of writing in students’ lives, and the need to stay current with literacy trends, research, and professional development.

Ohio Department of Higher Education International Dyslexia Association Standards (ODHE-IDA, 2010)

• Dyslexia and other learning disorders regarding their connection to foundational concepts of oral and written learning, the structure of language, the interpretation and administration of assessments for planning instruction, structured language teaching, and the need to follow ethical standards for the profession.

Ohio Learning Standards (OLS, 2017) for English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 2012); National Science Education Standards/Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS, 2013)

• The appropriate middle level content knowledge and pedagogical best practices related to English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science content.

Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession (OSTP, 2009):

• Student learning development and diversity, their instructional responsibility regarding their content area(s), the use of varied assessments to inform instruction and evaluate/ensure learning, the importance of planning and delivering effective instruction that advances the learning of all students, the creation of learning environments that promote the achievement of all students, the importance of collaborating and communicating with students, parents, colleagues, administration, and the community, and the importance of their own professional growth.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC, 2015) standards

For More Information

• Middle Childhood Education, B.S.Ed.
• School of Education and Leadership
• College of Health, Education, and Human Services

WSU Core: 39 - 39.5 Hours

WSU Core Total: 39-40 credits (depending on science course)

Element 1: Communication

Subtotal: 6 credit hours

• ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
• ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element 2: Mathematics

Subtotal: 4 credit hours

• MTH 2435 - Elementary Mathematics Concepts for Educators 2 Credit Hour(s): 4

Element 3: Global Awareness

Subtotal: 6 credit hours

In addition to ED 2600, choose ONE course (HST 1100 or HST 1200)

• ED 2600 - Introduction to Education Credit Hour(s): 3

GLOBAL AWARENESS CHOICE

Choose ONE course

• HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3

• OR

• HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3

Element 4: Arts and Humanities

Subtotal: 3 credit hours

Choose ONE: Select any 3 credit hour course

Element 5: Social Science

Subtotal: 6 credit hours

• ED 2700 - Introduction to Educational Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
• EDS 2900 - Individuals with Exceptionalities Credit Hour(s): 3

Element 6: Natural Science

Subtotal: 8 credit hours

Choose a minimum of 8 credit hours

• BIO 3450 - Concepts in Life Science I for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 3450 - Concepts in Earth Science I for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4

Additional Core

Subtotal: 6-6.5 credit hours (depending on science course)

Must take ED 2100 AND choose one course based on concentrations

• ED 2100 - Education in a Democracy Credit Hour(s): 3

ADDITIONAL CONCENTRATION CORE CHOICE

Choose ONE course based on concentrations

• Language Arts: Choose COM 1010 if concentration combination is LA/Math

• COM 1010 - Essentials of Public Address Credit Hour(s): 3

• Social Studies: Choose PLS 2120 if concentration combination is SS/LA or SS/Math

• PLS 2120 - American National Government Credit Hour(s): 3

• Science: Choose one if concentration is Sci/SS, Sci/Math, Sci/LA.

• CHM 2450 - Concepts in Chemistry I for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 2460 - Concepts in Physics for Educators I Credit Hour(s): 4

Pre-Professional Core: 10 Hours

Subtotal: 10 credit hours

• ED 1100 - Introduction to Middle Childhood Education Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 2800 - Cultural Humility for Working with Youth Credit Hour(s): 3
• MTH 2415 - Elementary Mathematics Concepts for Educators 1 Credit Hour(s): 4

Professional Core: 30 Hours

Subtotal: 30 credit hours

Required for all content area concentrations

• ED 4060 - Reading and Literacy I: Background and Foundations Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4070 - Reading and Literacy Instruction II: Content Literacy Tools Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4080 - Phonics and Word Study Instruction Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4090 - Literacy Assessment and Intervention Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4180 - Assessment for Middle Childhood Education Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4220 - Middle Level Teaching: Principles, Practices, and Learning Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4420 - Professional Seminar: Middle Childhood Education Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4590 - Classroom Management and Organization Credit Hour(s): 3
• EDS 4670 - Collaboration for Inclusion Credit Hour(s): 3
• ENG 4770 - ESL in the Pre-K-12 Classroom Credit Hour(s): 3

Practicum Experiences: 12 hours

Subtotal: 12 credit hours

• ED 2650 - Early Field Experience I: Introduction to the Education Profession Credit Hour(s): 1
• ED 2750 - Early Field Experience II: Introduction to Educational Psychology Credit Hour(s): 1
• ED 4310 - MCE Internship Part I: Methods Credit Hour(s): 1
• ED 4410 - MCE Internship Part II: Student Teaching Credit Hour(s): 9

Concentration Core: 36 - 39 Hours - Choose two areas

Choose two areas as concentrations

Subtotal: 18-20 credit hours depending on concentration combination

Language Arts concentration

Subtotal: 18 credit hours

In addition to the required courses (ED 2510, ED 3700, ED 4340), choose any THREE ENG 3000-4000 level courses

• ED 2510 - Textual Analysis of Literature for Middle Childhood Education Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 3700 - Communication Arts for Educators Credit Hour(s): 3
• ED 4340 - Language Arts Methods for Middle Childhood Education Credit Hour(s): 3

• Choose any THREE ENG 3000-4000 level courses

  *Recommendation list: ENG 3520, ENG 3530, ENG 3540, ENG 3560, ENG 3570

Mathematics concentration

Subtotal: 20 credit hours

• ED 4370 - Mathematics Methods for Middle Childhood Education Credit Hour(s): 3
• MTH 3430 - Algebra and Functions for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• MTH 3450 - Geometry for Educators Credit Hour(s): 3
• MTH 3480 - Concepts in Calculus for Educators Credit Hour(s): 3
• MTH 4460 - Problem Solving and Mathematical Modeling for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• STT 3420 - Probability and Statistics for Educators Credit Hour(s): 3

Science concentration

Subtotal: 18.5 credit hours

In addition to the required ED 4360 and the course NOT selected under “Additional Core”, choose THREE additional courses

• ED 4360 - Science Methods for Middle Childhood Education Credit Hour(s): 3

• Choose the course that was NOT selected under “Additional Core”

  CHM 2450 Concepts in Chemistry (3.5)

  PHY 2460 Concepts in Physics (3.5)

SCIENCE: CHOOSE THREE

Choose THREE courses from the list: BIO 3460, CHM 3460, EES 3460, PHY 3460

• BIO 3460 - Concepts in Life Science II for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• CHM 3460 - Concepts in Chemistry II for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 3460 - Concepts in Earth Science II for Educators Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 3460 - Concepts in Physics for Educators II Credit Hour(s): 4

Social Studies concentration

Subtotal: 18 credit hours

In addition to the required courses (ED 4330, HST 2110, HST 2120, HST 3650), choose TWO additional courses

• ED 4330 - Social Studies Methods for Middle Childhood Education Credit Hour(s): 3
• HST 2110 - American History to 1877 Credit Hour(s): 3
• HST 2120 - American History Since 1877 Credit Hour(s): 3
• HST 3650 - Ohio History Credit Hour(s): 3

SOCIAL STUDIES: CHOOSE TWO

Choose TWO courses from the list: EC 2000, EC 2100, EC 2900, GEO 2100, GEO 2200, GEO 3300, PLS 2120, PLS 3020, PLS 3220, PLS 3310, PLS 3370, PLS 3420, PLS 4210, PLS 4940

**NOTE: Must choose PLS 2120 if not taken as Additional Core - applies ONLY for SS & Science combination

• EC 2000 - Economic Life Credit Hour(s): 3
• EC 2100 - The Economics of State and Society Credit Hour(s): 3
• EC 2900 - Global Economic, Business and Social Issues Credit Hour(s): 3
• GEO 2100 - Physical Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
• GEO 2200 - Human Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
• GEO 3300 - World Regional Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 2120 - American National Government Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3020 - Introduction to Comparative Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3220 - State Government Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3310 - Political Parties Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3370 - The Legislative Process Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3420 - Civil Liberties I: First Amendment Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4210 - American Constitutional Politics Credit Hour(s): 3

TOTAL: 127 - 130 Hours