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Middle Level Education: Grades 4 to 8, Associate in Arts

Overview

Narrative

The need for dedicated, caring, and highly skilled teachers in our nation's schools is greater than ever before. Northampton is committed to providing an excellent foundation for students preparing to major in middle level education when they transfer to a four-year college or university.

The College offers the first two years of the baccalaureate degree program. Completion of the Associate in Arts Degree with a major in Middle Level Education: Grades 4 to 8 allows for a smooth transition to a four-year institution. At the transfer institution students will take advanced courses leading to a degree and certification for grades 4 through 8.

Features

The Middle Level Education major provides students with a strong foundation in mathematics, science, language arts, and social sciences. Students start their professional courses with EDUC115 Education for All Students, EDUC260G Adolescent Development and Cognition, and SPED160 Introduction to Special Education. All teachers need to be able to work with special education students, and with students who have limited English proficiency. Northampton's program integrates content related to special education and English language learners (ELL). Students will then select education transfer electives based upon the institution to which they will transfer to complete the junior and senior years of the bachelor's degree. We encourage middle level majors to start thinking about their transfer institution as soon as possible so courses can be selected that provide a smooth transition from one college to the next.

Students interested in becoming an art teacher should refer to the Individualized Transfer Studies major which is the pathway from NCC to Kutztown University for art education.

The Middle Level Education major is offered on both the Bethlehem and Monroe campuses. All of the courses for this degree are available in the day time, and many of them are offered through evening courses.

Outcomes

Graduates of the program will:

  • Explain the distinctive philosophy and characteristic components of developmentally responsive middle level programs and schools.
  • Identify the range of developmental differences of all young adolescents and the implications of these differences for teaching and learning.
  • Explain the historical, legal, and philosophical frameworks of special education to describe current trends, evidence-based practices, and resources relevant to the education of children with exceptionalities.
  • Summarize the process of acquiring multiple languages and literacy skills, and the sociocultural characteristics of English Language Learners.
  • Plan positive, productive teaching and learning opportunities that take into consideration the developmental differences of adolescents.
  • Practice being a positive role model and tutor to middle level students by upholding high professional standards in the school setting during 40 hours of early field experience.

Courses

First Semester

EDUC115Education for All Students

3 credits

CMTH102Speech Communication

3 credits

ENGL101English I

3 credits

MATH118Foundations of Mathematics I

3 credits

HIST113American History I

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Second Semester

EDUC260GAdolescent Development & Cognitn

3 credits

BIOS105Contemporary Biology

4 credits

ENGL151LEnglish II

3 credits

MATH119Foundations of Mathematics II

3 credits

Social Science Transfer Elective (SSHB) +

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Third Semester

SPED160Intro to Special Education

3 credits

CHEM135Chemistry of Life

4 credits

MATH150Introductory Statistics

3 credits

Social Science Transfer Elective (SIT or SSHB) +

3 credits

Transfer Elective +

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Fourth Semester

ENGL215GMulticultural Adolescent Lit

3 credits

MATH140College Algebra

3 credits

Social Science Transfer Elective (SIT or SSHB) +

3 credits

Transfer Elective +

3 credits

Transfer Elective +

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Total Credit Hours: 62

+ Transfer Electives must be selected with the advice of an academic advisor so that courses will transfer to the student's intended teacher certification program and correspond to the area of subject content the student will teach at the middle school level.