Young adolescents are a unique age group, in the midst of developing their adult identities. Appalachian State University's Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Grades Education prepares students to teach in sixth through ninth grades and be an advocate for this developmental age group. Middle school teachers often teach in interdisciplinary teams, so Appalachian's program prepares students to work alongside others when planning instruction, developing curriculum, and working with students and their families.
At Appalachian, we require our teacher candidates to pursue two concentrations among language arts, math, science, and social studies. This degree, Middle Grades Education (BS) – Language Arts and Social Studies, is one of six pairing options available to students. Candidates tell us they prefer this approach over having to learn all content areas, a requirement for elementary majors, or having to focus on only one subject, as with secondary education majors.
