Teacher candidates who successfully complete the Middle Grades Education program will be certified to teach in two content areas, grades 4-8.
Why study Middle Grades Education at Coastal Georgia?
The Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education prepares candidates for a career teaching in grades 4-8 in two areas of concentration: language arts, mathematics, social studies, and/or science.
Working in a dynamic cohort model, teacher candidates learn to teach through practice-based coursework, extensive field-based learning in 4th-8thgrade classrooms, community-based experiences, and the development of research-based and responsive teaching practices. Dedicated faculty engage teacher candidates in service-learning, undergraduate research, grant work, and professional presentations.
Our teacher education programs at the College of Coastal Georgia are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
What will I learn?
The Middle Grades Education program integrates a focus on young adolescent development, cross-content literacy, facilitating positive learning environments, responsive pedagogy, and subject-specific instruction. Throughout the program and under the mentorship of faculty and 4-8 grade educators, teacher candidates participate in variety of diverse field experiences. During the final year of study, teacher candidates engage in a year-long clinical teaching experience.
What can I do when I graduate?
Our graduates are in high demand and are poised to begin teaching careers in schools and/or pursue a higher degree in the profession.
Admission
Prior to enrolling in the semester that begins the teacher candidate’s professional education sequence course of work, students are required to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Applications for admission are due on or before March 1 prior to the Junior year, fall semester. Admission is competitive in nature, and successful candidates must meet the following minimum criteria:
a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on all coursework
completion of the GACE Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment
a grade of C or better in all Area F courses
completion of Areas A-F in the core curriculum
successful submission of three Teacher Candidate Disposition Evaluations (at least one from an EDUC professor)
proof of insurance for tort liability purposes
completion of GaPSC issued Pre-Service Certificate
a successful criminal background check (conducted by the GaPSC)
completion of a Lawful Presence Affidavit
Graduation Requirements
Complete all courses in the major with a grade of C or higher.
Satisfactory performance in all field experiences, including the on-going demonstration of professional dispositions required of teachers as professionals.
Attempt the GACE content assessments associated with the degree field. *An “attempt” requires that assessment scores are received by the Department of Education and Teacher Preparation prior to program completion/graduation.
Overall grade point average of 2.5
The following academic programs are offered 100% online through our Coastal Online program.
Dr. Sneed earned her Doctor of Philosophy, Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Virginia. She earned her Master of Science, Science Curriculum and Instruction & Space Science from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. She obtained her Bachelor of Science, Physical Sciences (Minor in Mathematics), Secondary Teaching Certification from Colorado State University. Dr. Sneed is a member of the Golden Key International Honors Society and is a National Science Foundation Teaching Scholar. Her professional affiliations include the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and the Association for Middle Level Educators (AMLE). Prior to joining the Coastal Georgia faculty, Dr. Sneed served as the Academic Coordinator of the University of Virginia Curry School of Education’s K-12 Gifted Enrichment Programs. She has and continues to partner with school systems and organizations nationally and internationally around initiatives related to curriculum design, classroom assessment, and differentiated instruction in STEM fields. Prior to her experience in teacher education and professional development, Dr. Sneed taught middle and high school science and math in Colorado. Currently, she teaches courses in middle/secondary instructional design, assessment, and differentiated instruction, and mentors teacher candidates in field experiences.
