As a middle school teacher, you have so many ways to make a difference in the lives of others. You can instill a love of learning, help a child discover a new academic interest, and sensitively guide students as they make the transition from young child to young adult.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Middle Childhood Education
Middle Childhood Education at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥
Guiding the Way
Our Middle Childhood program will empower you to teach students in grades 4th toÌý9th and ages 9 through 14.
This is a time filled with incredible growth, insecurity, and emotional and physical change. Through JCU’s program, you’ll be better prepared to teach, support, and guide your students with wisdom. Our whole-student philosophy promotes greater understanding, our liberal arts education hones critical thinking, and our Jesuit values strengthen your sense of justice and advocacy.
As you deepen your teaching, theoretical and practical knowledge, you’ll also gain real-world, professional experience in a Cleveland area middle school.
On commencement, you’ll be a licensed Middle Childhood Educator and completely ready to step into your classroom and make a difference in the lives of your students.
Middle Childhood Education
Middle School education requires greater subject matter expertise. In addition to your core education curriculum, you’ll focus on two of four content areas with the Middle Childhood Education program: language arts/reading, math, science, and social studies. Most students seek admission to the middle childhood program during their sophomore year.
Top Employers
88,182
Middle schools in the United States
590.8
Students per middle school in Ohio
48,400
Projected openings for middle school teachers, annually
BA in Middle Childhood Education Program Highlights
Association for Middle Level Education
Diversity-Oriented Experiences
U.S. public schools are teaching an increasingly diverse population of students, and JCU wants to makes sure our graduates are culturally responsive, sensitive, and aware. During student teaching and in-school experiences, we make sure our students are placed in settings where 30% of the class are students of color.
Capstone For A New Beginning
Our capstone is the edTPA (Teacher Performance Assessment). During your Student Teaching, you’ll develop and videotape a series of lessons to capture the teaching and learning experience in your classroom. Separately, you’ll include information on the planning, assessment, and instruction involved. Your work will be scored by outside evaluators. The state of Ohio will accept a passing score on the edTPA to replace the Assessment of Professional Knowledge for each licensure area, Primary, Middle Childhood and AYA.
In 2023-2024 academic year, JCU students had a 97% edTPA pass rate!
JCU in Rome
Explore ancient histories and current marvels with a semester-long study abroad program at the Pontificia UniverstÃ¥ Urbaniana in Vatican City while earning ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ credits. Through this program, you’ll live in Rome while immersing yourself in the city’s ancient culture and history, and dynamic worldview. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage in a global Service Program to learn more about and support the city’s impoverished.
Featured Courses
ED 3012 MIDDLE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY AND INSTRUCTION
You’ll explore the historical development, goals, and philosophy, and mission of middle-level education. Through in-classroom experience, you’ll gain expertise in developmentally and culturally responsive instruction, planning and managing middle school lessons, and the use of interdisciplinary teams, flexible scheduling, and grouping.
ED 4962 MIDDLE CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM AND CONTENT-SPECIFIC METHODS PRACTICUM
As part of your pre-student teaching (PST) experience, you’ll observe, practice, and reflect on the ways to effectively approach curriculum and teaching methods. The PST requires one full day (or equivalent) per week in a middle childhood classroom with time spent divided between your two areas of concentration.
Notable Alum
Lannie Davis-Frecker, ‘12
President/CEO, Julie Billiart Schools
“Our students in Akron and Lyndhurst inspire us every single day and remind us of the thousands of other children across Northeast Ohio that deserve love, acceptance, and belonging in a school. We are committed to going beyond expectations to serve our past, current, and future students."
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Middle Childhood Education Alumni Across the Region
¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ alumni live, work, teach and support communities throughout the region from Northeast Ohio to Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Rochester, Pittsburgh, New York City, Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia.