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Middle School Education
Passionate about guiding young learners through their pivotal middle school years? ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½â€™s Middle School Education program equips you with the skills and credentials to make a real impact. You’ll graduate with an Illinois Professional Educator’s License in Elementary Education, allowing you to teach grades 5-8, plus an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement, preparing you to support English Language Learners in diverse classrooms.
The Department of Education is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education. It also is a member of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The middle school education program (English language arts) is recognized by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
Experiential Learning
You’ll have early, consistent classroom field experiences, starting your first year and continuing through sophomore and junior placements, all leading up to a comprehensive senior-year student teaching experience.
By the time you graduate, your experiences include:
- Professional development and licensure in middle school education
- More than 100 hours in classroom settings for the ESL endorsement
- More than 600 hours of field experience and student teaching in local classrooms
- Instruction and mentorship from faculty who taught on six continents, published 30 books on education and served in educational leadership at state and national levels
- Research opportunities with faculty
- Use of technology such as Smart Boards, virtual reality, 3-D printing and wearable devices
Program Details
The middle school education program prepares you for the State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License (PEL) in Middle School Education, which qualifies you to teach children from fifth grade through eighth grade. It also includes an English as a Second Language endorsement that licenses you to teach English language learners.
The middle school education program prepares you for the State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License (PEL) in Middle School Education, which qualifies you to teach children from fifth grade through eighth grade. It also includes an English as a Second Language endorsement that licenses you to teach English language learners.
The middle school education program prepares you for the State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License (PEL) in Middle School Education, which qualifies you to teach children from fifth grade through eighth grade. It also includes an English as a Second Language endorsement that licenses you to teach English language learners.
The middle school education program prepares you for the State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License (PEL) in Middle School Education, which qualifies you to teach children from fifth grade through eighth grade. It also includes an English as a Second Language endorsement that licenses you to teach English language learners.
Career Opportunities
Every middle school education student who completes our program achieves a 100% pass rate on Illinois licensure tests, including the national edTPA portfolio evaluation. This success ensures you are well-prepared to begin your teaching career or pursue graduate studies in areas such as curriculum and instruction. Whether you choose to enter the classroom immediately or continue your education, you will graduate with the skills and credentials needed to excel.