The middle school years are transformative. Be a positive influence during the process.
Children in grades 5-9 are unique; they aren't little kids anymore, but they aren't quite young adults either. In these pivotal years that are transformative for youth, you can be a stable role model who brings a little positivity into their day. From helping them strengthen their skills in a school subject, which boosts their confidence and prepares them for high school, to igniting a new level of interest in a subject, to being a listening ear, you can make a lasting impact on a middle schooler's life.
麻豆传媒社区' bachelor's of science middle school education degree program will give you an impressive, well-rounded foundation to education, enabling you to direct your course of study toward your specific career goals. Your degree in middle school education offers the opportunity to choose between specializations in mathematics, science, English/communication, social studies, and special education available, so you can focus on the subject you're most passionate about. Through your bachelor鈥檚 degree in education program, you鈥檒l also have an opportunity for field study during your 12-week student teaching practicum at one of several schools within the district. 麻豆传媒社区 has great junior high partnerships, which can help maximize clinical experiences and provide UC students with relationships for seeking employment.
By the Numbers
100%
Programs & Requirements
* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate鈥檚 degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.
To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog.
Bachelor of Science in Middle School Education
There is something special about those middle school years. At this pivotal time in students鈥 lives, it鈥檚 essential that they are guided by educational role models who can help them succeed in school and in life. Cumberlands' middle school education degree will give you all the education and training you need to become that role model for your future students.
Our on-campus and online middle school education degree programs are designed for students wishing to be certified to teach in grades 5-9. In addition to the General Studies and required Professional Education courses (listed below), students pursuing this option must also complete a specialization in mathematics, science, or English/communications, or social and behavioral studies or from special education learning and behavior disorders.
Course Requirements
MATH 130 & MATH 230 鈥 Candidates may choose to complete General Education Section IIIa by taking both of these courses which are required for the Mathematics specialization.
PSYC 131 (Section IVb)
EDUC 130 (Section VI)
COMM 230 (Section VI)
EDUC 130* Technology in the P-12 Classroom
EDUC 235 Basic Concepts Concerning Education
EDUC 331 Studies in Education: Special Topics in Literacy
EDUC 237 Effective Teaching Practices
EDUC 332 Reading and Language Arts I
ELMS 335 The Middle School
EDUC 338 Reading and Language Arts II
EDUC 430 Classroom Management and Behavior
EDUC 497 Supervised Student Teaching
HSRV 436 Human Diversity and Ethics
PSYC 232 Child and Adolescent Development (prerequisite: PSYC 131*)
PSYC 238 Educational Psychology (prerequisite: PSYC 131*)
SPED 233 Survey of Individuals with Exceptionalities (P-12)
* denotes a General Education course
Students must complete at least one specialization from the following options:
Math
Science
English/Communications
Social Studies
Special Education - Learning & Behavior Disabilities
A Bachelor of Arts degree requires completing the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of completing one foreign language sequence through the intermediate level.
FREN 131 Elementary French I
FREN 132 Elementary French II
FREN 231 Intermediate French I
FREN 232 Intermediate French II
SPAN 131 Elementary Spanish I
SPAN 132 Elementary Spanish II
SPAN 231 Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 232 Intermediate Spanish II
Specializations
All middle school education degree students must complete at least one area of specialization.
Course Requirements
MATH 130* Concepts of Mathematics for the Elementary and Middle School Teacher I
MATH 132 College Algebra
MATH 136 Pre-Calculus
MATH 139 Concepts of Calculus or MATH 140 Calculus I
MATH 230* Concepts of Mathematics for the Elementary and Middle School Teacher II
MATH 330 Geometry for the Elementary and Middle School Teacher OR MATH 331 College Geometry
MATH 333 Middle School Math Methods
MATH 335 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
A second option for the math specialization allows for the substitution of a secondary teaching major or minor in Mathematics that includes MATH 331, 334, and 335 plus a two-course sequence in mathematics for the elementary school teacher (i.e., MATH 130 & 230).
* denotes a General Education course
BIOL 133/113* Introduction to Population Biology/Laboratory
BIOL 134/114* Introduction to Cellular Biology/Laboratory
BIOL 246* Biodiversity
PHYS 241* Physics I
CHEM 132/CHEM 111* General College Chemistry I/Laboratory
6 Hours of Electives:
Two additional courses (minimum 6 semester hours) in Biological, Physical, Earth Sciences, or Astronomy
* denotes a General Education course
Required courses
ENGL 131* English Composition I
ENGL 132* English Composition II
ENGL 337 Literature of Adolescence
COMM 230* Introduction to Public Speaking
ENGL 438 Advanced Writing or ENGL 439 DescriptiveLinguistics
ENGL 334* American Literature through 1865 or ENGL 335* American Literature since 1865
The remaining 6 hours may be chosen from the following:
COMM 332 Small Group Communication in Organizations
COMM 432 Theories of Persuasion
ENGL 230 Literary Criticism
ENGL 431 Romantic Literature
ENGL 433 Women in Literature
ENGL 432 Studies in Modern Literature
ENGL 437 Studies in British and American Authors
Any of the options from choices above: ENGL 334*, ENGL 335*, ENGL 438, or ENGL 439
* denotes a General Education course
HIST 137 World Civilization to 1648
HIST 138* World Civilization since 1648
HIST 231* American History to 1877
HIST 232 American History since 1877
POLS 233 American National Government
POLS 235 Introduction to International Relations
BADM137* Macroeconomics OR BADM136* Microeconomics
SOCI 131* Introduction to Sociology
SPED 234 Special Education Instructional Programs (P-12)
SPED 236 Special Education Programs for Adolescents with Mild Disabilities (5-12)
SPED 238 Special Education Early Childhood
SPED 336 Educational Assessment and Prescriptive Programming for Individuals with Disabilities (P-12) Part I
SPED 337 Educational Assessment and Prescriptive Programming for Individuals with Disabilities (P-12) Part II
SPED 435 Special Education Methods and Materials (Mild Disabilities) P -12
SPED 436 Special Education Methods and Materials Emotional/Emotional Disabilities (P-12)
Option 9 Education Certification Pathways
The influence of a teacher on a child鈥檚 life leaves an immeasurable impact. Now is your time.
麻豆传媒社区 offers an EPSB-approved Option 9 program. This alternative route is available to both in-seat and online Cumberlands students. Cumberlands offers middle school education degree programs in early interdisciplinary education, elementary education, and middle school education.
While middle school education degree program at Cumberlands is completing coursework, they will have the opportunity to immediately put their learning into practice as an instructional assistant in a classroom, receive mentorship from experienced teachers in the district, and complete their bachelor鈥檚 degree in education and teaching certificate, in as little as three years.
We offer Option 9 pathways for candidates pursuing certification in early childhood education, elementary education, and middle school education.
To learn more information or to find out if your school district has an Option 9 partnership in place with Cumberlands, visit our Option 9 page.
Take the Next Step
Program Mission
The purpose of the School of Education is to develop entry level education students into highly qualified, knowledgeable and caring teachers. We provide training and experiences using best practices for teacher education candidates.
Middle School Education Careers & Outcomes
All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Middle School Teacher: $61,320
Middle School Teacher: $61,320
Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades.
High School Teacher: $61,820
High School Teacher: $61,820
High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.
Elementary School Teacher: $61,350
Elementary School Teacher: $61,350
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects in order to prepare them for future schooling.
Special Education Teacher: $61,820
Special Education Teacher: $61,820
Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
Recreation Worker: $29,680
Recreation Worker: $29,680
Recreation workers design and lead activities to help people stay active, improve fitness, and have fun.
Guidance Counselor: $61,140
Guidance Counselor: $61,140
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Common Questions
A program in middle school education prepares educators for teaching success during one of the most chaotic periods of transition in the lives of young learners: middle school. The right program will offer insight into the minds and learning needs of middle school-aged students, preparing these aspiring teachers for careers in public and private school settings. Coursework for this teaching degree will cover foundational coursework for every discipline available to middle school students with opportunities to amplify skills in professional education, such as in technology, literacy topics, child and adolescent development, diversity, classroom management, and more.
Use your degree in middle school education to pursue jobs and career opportunities as a middle school teacher, where the average 2030 annual salary came in at . Specific career and job opportunities can include:
- Teaching in middle or junior high schools
- Tutoring at-risk students
- Serving in children鈥檚 or youth ministry
- Becoming a textbook representative
- Training employees in large companies
- Teaching on military bases or in international schools
You will likely need to pass a state test for whichever state in which you hope to teach. Upon passing the exam, you should apply for a teaching license. Once you鈥檝e obtained that, you can apply to open teaching positions!
Yes! 麻豆传媒社区' School of Education is accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB) and has national accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level. UC鈥檚 School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
Per the set by Kentucky EPSB, 鈥淐andidates [for student teaching] in Kentucky are required to complete a minimum of 200 field experience hours prior to student teaching.鈥 Each education course contains a prescribed number of field experience hours. Some courses will have more than others, and courses with more hours are distributed toward the end of the program. Before student teaching, the hours completed in courses will be 200 or more. It's hard to measure an average per semester, since it will depend on the courses you take, but rest assured that you will be able to complete all your necessary hours by the time you graduate.
Faculty Experts in Education
Learn more about your future education professors.
![Melissa Evans](/sites/default/files/styles/faculty_card/public/2024-08/melissa_evans_web.jpg?h=3a1d98b8&itok=irAXcQPw)
Melissa Evans
![Elisha Sester Web](/sites/default/files/styles/faculty_card/public/2024-05/elisha_sester_web.jpg?h=06ac0d8c&itok=Zuuo0RKN)
Elisha Sester
![Dr. Lance Boston](/sites/default/files/styles/faculty_card/public/2024-01/lance_boston.png?h=7c6f2eca&itok=wL17uij5)
Dr. Lance M. Boston
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