Middle Level Education Science

Middle Level Education Science Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) with Certification

Middle Level Education Science

Introduce children in grades 4-8 to exciting concepts in biology, geology, astronomy and more!

Gain the specialized science education knowledge, skills and disposition needed to be an effective middle school science teacher. At PennWest California you can earn a hands-on bachelor's degree in middle level education with Pennsylvania grades 4-8 teaching certification in science.

This four-year undergraduate degree program is rooted in the standards of the Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE) and is specifically designed to prepare you for a top career teaching middle school students.

Core to PennWest California's middle level education bachelor's degree are:

  • Fieldwork experiences in local Pennsylvania
  • A full semester of student teaching.
  • In-depth courses centered on evidence-based teaching practices.
  • Full preparation for Pennsylvania grades 4-8 teaching

Program Highlights: Middle Level Education

Professional Development Schools: PennWest California collaborates with a group of Professional Development Schools (PDS) in western Pennsylvania. This gives you the opportunity to travel to nearby middle schools to practice instructional delivery in real-world classrooms.

Personal Attention: Work closely with top education professors who have experience as middle school teachers and can relate theory to real-life experiences. Our faculty members are available and approachable. They are here to answer your questions, provide personal assistance, and give you the resources you need for career success.

Top Accreditation: This  degree program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In addition, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredits PennWest California. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement. See CAEP reporting measures of program impact and outcomes.

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15 
Weeks of student teaching in a grades 4-8 classroom with increasing levels of responsibility for planning, instructional delivery and assessment.
56 
Is the average annual salary for middle school teachers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Degree Benefits

Benefits of earning your PennWest California middle level education bachelor's degree with a concentration in science include:

  • The development of proven teaching techniques in science methods, assessments and interventions.
  • Extensive fieldwork and student teaching in local Pennsylvania middle schools.
  • Special on-campus seminars that keep you up to date on current education topics and trends.
  • Job placement support from faculty, alumni and PennWest California's Career and Professional Development Center.
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Graduate Outcomes

PennWest California's middle level education bachelor's degree with a concentration in science will prepare you to be an effective classroom leader. Due to high rates of retirement, teacher shortages are being reported across the United States, including shortages in the areas of science and math. Your PennWest California teaching degree will give you the hands-on experience and key teaching credentials that school districts look for. PennWest California program alumni have gone on to careers as:

  • Public or private school
  • Para-educators and remediation teachers.
  • Children and youth services members.
  • Substitute teachers and recreation services instructors.
  • Curriculum authors, and more.
A PennWest California professor assists a student in a science lab.

Inspire Scientific Inquiry

As a PennWest California science education student, you'll delve into the nature of scientific inquiry and strategies for teaching science processes and skills. Through courses and fieldwork you'll gain hands-on practice in science teaching skills such as: creating a classroom environment conducive to scientific inquiry, designing science lesson plans, assessing student attainment of academic standards, and using the local community as a location and topic of classroom science instruction.

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Top Accreditation

This undergraduate degree program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. PennWest California's education programs have also been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954, and we are continuing with the successor organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This program is nationally recognized by the Association for Middle Level Education.

PennWest California students learning in a classroom.

Praise for PennWest California's Program

"Principals and administrators compliment the PennWest California program when they see my lesson development and dedication to the profession firsthand." - Ashley Szala '15

Curriculum and Related Courses

This bachelor's degree and teaching certification program will give you in-depth training in grades 4-8 education and specialization in the teaching of science. Upon successful completion of this program, you will earn a bachelor's degree and will be eligible for Pennsylvania teaching certification.

Curriculum

 

Course Credits
General Education Courses 40 or 41
Building a Sense of Community
UNI 100  First-Year Seminar
1
Composition
ENG 101  English Composition I
3
Public Speaking
EDU 350  Supporting English Language Learners
3
Mathematics and Quantitative Literacy
MAT 181  College Algebra
3
Health and Wellness
CHD 250  Teaching Health and Physical Education
3
Technological Literacy
EDU 333  Technology for Teaching and Learning
3
Humanities
ESP 210  Special Education Foundations and Collaboration
3
Fine Arts
Any Fine Arts Course
3
Natural Sciences
PHS 120  Basic Physical Science with Lab
3 or 4
Social Sciences
GEO 102  Geographic Systems for Elementary Education (1 credit)  AND  POS 102  American Government for Elementary Education (1 credit)  AND  ECO 102  Economics for Elementary Education (1 credit)
3
Ethics and Multicultural Emphasis 
CHD 350  Family and Community Collaborations
3
General Education Options
  • MAT 130  Elementary Topics II
  • British/American Lit Course (from approved list)
  • HIS 101  U.S. History to 1877  OR  HIS 102  U.S. History since 1877
9
   
Required Major Courses 45
ELM 200  Intro to Middle Level Ed 3
ELM 220  Instruction and Assessment in Grades 4-8 3
ELM 301  Reading Methods, Assessments and Interventions (Grades 4-8)* 3
ELM 302  Language Arts Methods, Assessments and Interventions* 3
ELM 311  Math Methods, Assessments and Interventions* 3
ELM 321  Science Methods, Assessments and Interventions* 3
ELM 331  Social Studies Methods, Assessments and Interventions* 3
ELM 360  Environ., Eco. and Nature Study Ed 3
ELM 415  Middle Level Education Field Experience* 3
CHD 413  Content Area Literacy Field Experience*
3
CHD 450  Assessment and Data Literacy* 3
ELM 461  Student Teaching and School Law* 12
   
Concentration Courses 18
Select one Earth Science course from approved list, in consultation with adviser 4
Select one Physical Science course from approved list, in consultation with adviser 4
BIO 120  General Zoology  OR  BIO 125  General Botany 4
Select 6 credits of Concentration courses from approved list 6
   
Required Related Courses 15
ESP 311  Assessment and Positive Behavior Interventions 3
ESP 412  Evidence Based Practices* 3
PSY 206  Adolescent Psychology 3
PSY 208  Educational Psychology (PSY 100 waived) 3
MAT 215  Statistics 3
   
Free Electives 1 to 3
   
Total 121

Additional requirements, not counted toward the General Education requirements, include:

  • Special Experience Course (1 course required): ELM 461 Student Teaching and School Law
  • Writing-Intensive Component Courses (2 courses required): ELM 415 Middle Level Education Field Experience AND CHD 413 Content Area Literacy Field Experience 
  • Laboratory Course (1 course required): PHS 120 Basic Physical Science with Lab

* Courses marked with an asterisk are restricted to candidates admitted to Teacher Education.

Program Notes:

  • All courses required for certification with C- or lower must be repeated.
  • All ELM, CHD and ESP courses require current clearances and minimum 2.5 GPA to register for courses, except ELM 200 and 220, which require 2.0 GPA to register.
  • Candidates must follow policies for Admission to Teacher Education as stated in the Teacher Education Handbook.
  • Pre-requisite for ELM 220 and all 300-level ELM and CHD courses is ELM 200.
  • State licensure exams must be passed before student teaching.
  • Current clearances are required prior to enrolling in program courses. 
  • Approved American/British Literature Courses are: ENG 107, 125, 127, 148, 150, 155, 160, 203, 301, 302, 337, 338 and HON 250. (HON 250 has a pre-requisite of HON 150; the 300-level ENG courses have pre-requisites of ENG 101 and 102.)
  • Please consult with your science education adviser before selecting from the following concentration courses: EAS 104, 105, 142, 163; ENS 101; GLG 150, 210; PHS 121, 122, 137, 145; CHE 101, 103; EDU 375. 
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