Middle Grades Preparation (MGP) Academic Content Area Concentrations

Reading/Language Arts

All students complete 12 generalist credits:
EDR 306 Teaching Language Arts 4-8
EDR 308 Foundations in Reading 4-8
EDR 318 Reading Instruction and Practicum 4-8

Students choosing a 21-credit concentration complete:
12 generalist credits, plus
EDR 420 Content Area Reading
SED 391 Teaching Writing in the Middle School
LIT 398 Young Adult Literature

Students choosing a 30-credit concentration complete (adds 9 extra credits to program144):
21 credit concentration, plus
ENG 201 Introduction to English Studies
EDR 422 Seminar in Reading or LIT 360 Special Topics in Children’s/Young Adult Literature or
EDR 200 Literacy, Diversity, and Equity in K-12 Classrooms (J)
EDR 321 Assessment and Instructional Interventions in Reading and Language Arts or
LIN/ENG 230 Introduction to Linguistics

Sciences

Students who choose to concentrate in science must carefully check pre-requisites before choosing science courses
All students complete 12 generalist credits (unless student completes social studies concentration – reduces science to 9 credit generalist);
ESS 102 Humans and the Environment plus three courses in three of the five areas below:

  1. ESS 101 Introduction to Geology
  2. BIO 110 General Biology or BIO 100 Basic Biological Science
  3. CHE 107 and CRL 107 General Chemistry (and lab) for Allied Health Sciences or CHE 103 and CRL 103 General Chemistry I (and lab)
  4. PHY 130 General Physics I
  5. SCI 101 Earth and its Systems or SCI 102 Life, Matter and Energy

If concentrating in science, select from areas 1-4 (BIO, CHE, ESS, PHY)
Students who choose to concentrate in science must carefully check pre-requisites before choosing science courses. BIO and ESS are recommended for science concentrators.
 
Students choosing a 21-credit concentration complete:
12 generalist credits, plus three additional courses from the following:
ESS 201 Fundamentals of Techniques in Geology, ESS 204 Historical Geology, ESS 301 Environmental Geochemistry, ESS 307 Geology of the Solar System, ESS 330 Introduction to Oceanography, ESS 331 Introduction to Paleontology, ESS 370 Introduction to Meteorology
BIO 204 Introductory Microbiology, BIO 214 General Microbiology, BIO 215 General Botany, BIO 217 General Zoology
CHE 104 and CRL 104 General Chemistry (and lab) II or CHE 230 Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry
PHY 140 General Physics II


Students choosing a 30-credit concentration complete (adds 9 extra credits to program 144):
21 credit concentration, plus
ESS 111 General Astronomy or PHY 105 Structure of the Universe and 6 additional credits listed as options in 21 credit concentration

Social Studies

All students complete 9 generalist credits:
GEO 101 World Geography
PSC 100 American Government and Politics
HIS 344 History of Pennsylvania
HIS 150 The American Experience (for students who intend to complete only the 12-credit generalist area) OR
HIS 151: History of United States I (for students concentrating in social studies)

Students choosing a 21-credit concentration complete (and reduce science concentration to9 credits):
12 generalist credits, plus
HIS 152 History of United States II
HIS 101 History of Civilization I
ECO111 Principles of Economics I
HIS 344 History of Pennsylvania
 
Students choosing a 30-credit concentration complete:
21 credit concentration, plus
HIS 102 History of Civilization II
ANT 102 Introduction to Anthropology: Cultural
PSC 255 State and Local Government or PSC 370 Pennsylvania Politics

Mathematics

All students complete 12 generalist credits:
MAT 101 Mathematics for Teachers of Children I
MAT 102 Mathematics for Teachers of Children II
MAT 351 Methods for Teaching Children Mathematics I
MAT 352 Methods for Teaching Children Mathematics II or MAT 353 if selecting Mathematics Concentration

Students choosing a 21-credit concentration complete:
12 generalist credits, plus
MAT 121 Statistics I
MAT 312 Algebra for Teachers in Grades 4-8 (offered once a year)
MAT313 Geometry for Teachers in Grades 4-8 (offered once a year)

Students choosing a 30-credit concentration complete:
21 credit concentration, plus
MAT 115 College Algebra and Trigonometry and MAT 145 Calculus for Life Sciences
MAT 131 Precalculus and MAT 161 Calculus
MAT 390 Seminar in Mathematics Education (offered once a year)