Middle Grades Educators walk alongside adolescents during some of the most formative years of their life. They are eager to connect with their students and help them develop socially and emotionally in grades 6 through 8, collaborating with fellow teachers to create meaningful and integrated learning experiences for their students.

Because the middle grades education field is so student-focused, our educational courses give our students a firm foundation from which to understand their students and to develop relational skills and learning strategies that will positively impact their students for years to come.

*Our programs specifically prepare students for a Virginia Teaching License. Contact the Education Support Center for more information on how to be eligible for an out-of-state license after completion of our program.

Which program is right for you?

*Only open to students graduating in the spring of 2023 or later.

• Major in Middle Grades Education with at least one content area concentration: Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies. (Two concentrations strongly recommended.)
• Minor in one of four approved content area minors: English, Mathematics for Middle Grades Teachers, Middle School Science, or Social Studies.
• Ideal for highly motivated future educators wanting to get in the field quickly
• Learn how to be an educator through hands-on and practical learning experiences
• Learn cutting-edge best practices for classroom instruction 
• Extensive fieldwork hours in diverse school settings in addition to student teaching
• Nationally recognized faculty consistently deliver real, formative support
• Enter the workforce with professionalism and strong content knowledge
• Be part of a program whose alumni are in high demand in the field
• Help alleviate the Virginia teacher shortage

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• Ideal for highly motivated future educators wanting to get in the field quickly with adequate classroom preparation
• Designed for candidates with degrees in subjects other than Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, or Political Science

This Master of Arts in Teaching pathway is designed specifically for and only available to college graduates, undergraduate "late-deciders", and some eligible transfer students who have decided to pursue a teaching license. Candidates planning to teach at the middle grades level (grades 6-8) should contact the Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Department for more information and to meet with an education advisor prior to applying to the program to discuss program options.

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Have questions? Email Middle and Secondary Education to learn more about what our programs can offer you.

Don't miss out on an opportunity to fund your education! Explore offered awards, scholarships, and assistantships.

Explore COE advising and resources to help you become the teacher you want to be.

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