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

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 the nation’s schools. 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. With the focus of Duquesne's program on English/Language Arts/Reading, graduates are also considered "highly qualified" to teach English/Language Arts/Reading in Grades 7 and 8. Throughout the program, teacher candidates have the opportunity to 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 teaching methodology and participate in guided fieldwork. The program is guided by Pennsylvania state standards and by standards of national professional organizations. In 2006, the LTP in Elementary Education program earned national accreditation from the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), which intersects with the Middle Level program in Grades 4-6. Teacher candidates address professional standards in each of the curriculum areas through course projects and implement the standards in their fieldwork. All of the experiences in the Grades 4-8 (Middle Level) Education program reflect the themes of leadership, diversity and technology and are based on the five domains of the Leading Teacher Program. The Grades 4-8 (Middle Level) Education program is a 134 credit program that consists of courses and experiences organized into three major areas of study: General Education (48 credits), Foundations of Education (30 credits), and Professional Preparation (56 credits). Distributed within these 135 credits are 30 credits of English/Language Arts/Reading, 12 credits in Science; 12 credits in Mathematics; and 12 credits in Social Studies. The Grades 4-8 (Middle Level) program qualifies candidates to teach all subjects in Grades 4, 5, and 6; and renders the candidate highly qualified for teaching English/Language Arts/Reading in Grades 7 and 8.