UNC Greensboro’s Bachelor’s in Middle Grades Education program prepares future educators to teach students in grades 6–9 with confidence, expertise, and purpose. Students choose a concentration in language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies while building a strong foundation in adolescent development, instructional methods, and classroom practice. Through extensive field experiences in local schools and a culminating student teaching placement, candidates apply what they learn in actual classrooms and develop the skills needed for effective teaching. Graduates are eligible for North Carolina teacher licensure and are prepared to lead engaging, welcoming environments in middle school classrooms.
Bachelor’s in Middle Grades Education Program Distinctions
The Bachelor’s in Middle Grades Education program holds accreditations and affiliations from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).
In UNCG’s program, students focus exclusively on the academic, social, and developmental needs of middle school students, preparing them to teach one of four content areas:
Coursework combines deep content knowledge with evidence-based instructional strategies, classroom management, assessment, literacy, educational psychology, and teaching practices.
About the Language Arts Concentration
Students in the Bachelor’s in Middle Grades Language Arts Eduction concentration build expertise in literature, writing, linguistics, digital rhetoric, and young adult literature. They also learn research-based strategies for teaching language arts to middle grades students. This combination prepares graduates to confidently teach reading, writing, speaking, and language skills.
About the Mathematics Concentration
This program focuses specifically on mathematics instruction for students in grades 6–9. Students are able to build a strong foundation in mathematics while learning research-based strategies for teaching middle school students. The curriculum combines teacher education with rigorous mathematics coursework, including precalculus, calculus, statistics, and specialized mathematics teaching courses. Students graduate with deep mathematical understanding and the skills to make complex concepts accessible to middle school learners.
About the Science Concentration
Students in the science concentration are able to develop a deep understanding of both middle school learners and science pedagogy while completing coursework in biology, chemistry, Earth science, and physics alongside discipline-specific teaching methods.
About the Social Studies Concentration
The Middle Grades Social Studies concentration prepares future teachers to help middle school students develop historical thinking, civic engagement, geographic literacy, and critical analysis skills. Students complete coursework in history, political science, economics, geography, and social studies pedagogy to build both content expertise and effective teaching practices.
The Middle Grades Education Student Experience
From a student’s first education courses, they will work alongside experienced teachers in area middle schools. These early field experiences help participants connect educational theory to classroom practice while building confidence in lesson planning, classroom management, and student engagement.
Throughout the program, students will:
- Complete multiple field experiences before student teaching.
- Learn from experienced mentor teachers.
- Teach in a variety of school settings.
- Apply evidence-based instructional practices.
- Finish with a full-time student teaching internship.
Coursework combines content-area expertise with professional education courses in:
- Adolescent development.
- Classroom management.
- Literacy across the curriculum.
- Assessment and instructional design.
- Educational technology
Undergraduates may collaborate on faculty research related to adolescent learning, educational equity, mathematics and science education, educational psychology, and other topics shaping modern classrooms.
Middle Grades Education students have access to UNCG’s Student Educator Learning Factory (SELF) Design Studio, where they explore emerging technologies such as augmented reality, 3D printing, and makerspace learning. These experiences prepare future math teachers to create engaging, technology-rich classrooms. Also available is the Michel Family Teaching Resources Center (TRC). The TRC is a model school library media center that offers a large collection of picture books, young adult fiction, nonfiction, board books, kits, and manipulatives. The TRC offers professional resources that can be useful in creating lesson plans and study guides for North Carolina teacher exams.
Be sure to meet with your academic advisor each semester for more details pertaining to your program of study.
School of Education Academic Support Hub
Middle Grades Education majors have access to the School of Education’s Academic Support Hub services. The Hub provides no-cost tutoring and licensure exam preparation to our undergraduate students.
Services include:
- Praxis Core Preparation
- Praxis Math CKT Preparation
- Pearson Reading Exam Preparation
- American Sign Language Lab
UNCG School of Education Scholarships
Each year, the School of Education awards over $1 million in scholarships and graduate assistantships to students.
The Spartan Education Scholars program includes scholarships of up to $28,000. Scholarship funds for tuition are distributed incrementally, with $4,500 distributed in the first year, $5,500 distributed in the second year, and $9,000 distributed in each of the last two years, as long as eligibility requirements are maintained. Participation is open to incoming freshmen (first-year students), current UNCG students, and transfer students majoring in Elementary Education, Deaf Education, Middle Grades Education, Special Education, and Dual (Elementary and Special) Education.
The Haggai Academy is a scholarship program that provides scholarships of up to $8,000 per year, as well as a wide range of additional enrichment opportunities, for non-traditional students (24 years of age or older) pursuing an undergraduate degree in teacher preparation.
Upon Graduating with Your Bachelor’s in Middle Grades Education
Graduates are prepared for careers in public, private, and charter schools, as well as educational organizations that serve adolescents. They are prepared to earn North Carolina teacher licensure for grades 6–9 and leave with extensive classroom experience and the skills to create welcoming learning environments, integrate technology, assess student progress, and adapt instruction to meet diverse learning needs.
Common career paths include:
- Middle school language arts teacher
- Middle school mathematics teacher
- Middle school science teacher
- Middle school social studies teacher
- Educational program coordinator
UNCG graduates are sought after by employers because of the close supervision and extensive field experience they received in their major and often assume leadership positions in their schools and state.
The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice. As such, please review UNC Greensboro’s status by state for the initial teaching license. You should note whether the program either “meets”, “does not meet”, or if there “has not been a determination” of the program’s status in the state for which you plan to practice. Licensure Reciprocity Information
Program Details
Degree Type: Bachelor's
College/School: School of Education
Program Type: Majors & Concentrations
Class Type: In Person
Catalog Name: Middle Grades Education, B.S.
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Contact Us
Dr. Nick Kochmanski
Program Coordinator
nmkochmansk@uncg.edu