Middle Grades Education, BS

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education

The Middle Grades Education, BS prepares teachers for grades five through eight. A minimum of 120 semester hours is necessary for graduation.

Students pursuing teacher licensure programs in the College of Education must meet requirements in a series of sequential gateways. Included in the gateway requirements are successful completion of specified coursework, achievement of appropriate grade point averages, requirements for clinical experiences, and appropriate tests for the licensure area. Meeting all Gateway requirements leads to degree and licensure completion. 

Students are admitted to Middle Grades Education as freshmen. In order to be recommended for licensure, candidates are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (A=4.0). Candidates in teaching licensure programs must maintain a C- or better in ALL content and professional education coursework. For teacher education licensure applicable to all curricula, see the Council on Teacher Education.  Licensure requirements are subject to change without notice as a result of new mandates from the Illinois State Board of Education or the Illinois General Assembly.

Students in the Middle Grades Education licensure program must complete the Campus General Education Requirements, the courses for one or more concentrations (literacy, social sciences, science or math) and the professional education coursework. In the final two years of the major, students will take a set of core courses, as well as coursework in one or more of the following concentrations: 

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education

Degree Requirements

Orientation Seminar
EDUC 101Education Orientation Seminar1
Total1

 The following degree requirements also meet general education course requirements and must be selected from the campus general education course list. Some professional education courses and concentration courses can count towards the general education requirements.

Composition I
Composition I4
Total4
Advanced Composition
Advanced Composition3-4
Total3-4
Natural Sciences & Technology
If seeking the Science concentration, exclusions apply including, but not limited to: Horticulture, Dance and Urban Planning. Must be a science rubric. Consult with adviser for further information.
Life science3-4
Physical science3-4
Total6-8
Cultural Studies
Western/Comparative3-4
U.S. Minority3-4
Non-Western3-4
Total9-12
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Social & Behavioral Sciences6-8
Total6-8
Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning I3-4
Quantitative Reasoning I or II3-4
Total6-8
Humanities & the Arts
Humanities & the Arts6
Total6
Total Hours of General Education Courses37-46
Language Other Than English
Three years of one language other than English in high school or completion of the third semester of college level language.0-12
Electives
Elective Hours (as needed to complete the 120 graduation requirement)0-10
Six hours of ROTC upper level courses (300 level or above) can count toward the degree as free electives.
Concentrations
Students must complete 24-27 credit hours within one of the following concentrations: 1) Social Science, 2) Science, 3) Mathematics, or 4) Literacy. Subsequent tables outline the required courses to complete requirements in specific concentrations.24-27
Professional Education
CI 404Teaching and Assessing Secondary School Students3
CI 410Middle School Instruction, Philosophy and Structures3
CI 415Language Varieties, Cultures and Learning3
CI 467Principles in Teaching Literature to Children and Youth3
CI 471Principles and Practices to Foster Independence in Reading3
CI 476Teaching Elementary and Middle Grade Language Arts3
EDPR 250School & Community Experiences (Section MG)4
EDPR 442Educational Practice in Secondary Education (Section MG)12
EDUC 201
& EDUC 202		Identity and Difference in Education
and Social Justice, School and Society (or program approved equivalent courses)		6
EPSY 201Educational Psychology3
EPSY 430Early Adolescent Development3
SPED 405General Educator's Role in Special Education3
Total Hours49
Total minimum hours for degree120

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
EDUC 1011
EDUC 2013
Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
Composition I or General Education course4
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
First Year
Second SemesterHours
General Education course or Composition I3
General Education course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Second Year
First SemesterHours
EPSY 2013
Concentration course3
Concentration course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
EDUC 2023
Concentration course3
Concentration course3
General Education course3
Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
First SemesterHours
CI 4103
CI 4673
CI 4713
EPSY 4303
Elective course2
 14
Total Hours 14
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
CI 4153
Concentration course3
Concentration course3
Concentration course3
Concentration course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
CI 4023
CI 4763
EDPR 2504
SPED 4053
Elective course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
CI 4043
EDPR 44212
 15
Total Hours 15

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education

  1. Students will acquire deep knowledge of content in the field of Education. 
  2. Students will demonstrate awareness and application of the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) standards in their teacher preparation course work and field experiences. 
  3. Students will display the expectations of professionalism related to success in the field of education and beyond (fairness, commitment to collaboration, community, reflective practice, and attention to 21st century skills and practices).

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education

College of Education

Education Building, 1310 S. Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
College of Education website

Department of Curriculum & Instruction

306 Education Building
ci@education.illinois.edu
(217) 244-8286
Department of Curriculum & Instruction website
Department of Curriculum & Instruction faculty

Office of Undergraduate Programs

110 Education Building
Education Academic Affairs email: saao@education.illinois.edu
(217) 333-2800
Admissions & Academics website
Student Academic Affairs website