The Middle Grades Education major engages students in a combination of courses in the Arts and Sciences and in the Education Department. Students choose one area of speciali-zation from the following content areas: English, math, science, or social science.
The Middle Grades Education Program is a state approved teacher education program and therefore meets the Florida State standards and coursework requirements for graduates to obtain teaching certification. All graduates will also receive their Reading Endorsement, and English specialization majors will receive the ESOL Endorsement. All graduates are also eligible to receive certification in the secondary grades after passing the Subject Area Exam for grades 6-12 of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam.
The Saint Leo Middle Grades Education Program has been designed with the National Middle School Association’s strong recommendation that “teachers in the middle grades should be specifically prepared to teach young adolescents and be recognized distinctively for this accomplishment' (Turning Points 2000, p. x).
Students in the Department of Education are expected to demonstrate dependability, good character, and acceptable academic standing. Students are therefore evaluated on their academic, professional, and ethical performance in their coursework, as well as in their field experiences. If a student demonstrates inadequate performance in any of these areas, the Professional Standards Committee may be called upon to address the issue(s). Issues regarding academic dishonesty are handled by the Saint Leo University Academic Standards Committee.
Entrance into the program requires students to:
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Meet Saint Leo University general education requirements or transfer in with an Associate of Arts degree from another accredited institution.
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Pass the General Knowledge (GK) portion of the Florida Teachers Certification Exam prior to or during the first semester in the junior year.
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Enter with and maintain a GPA of 2.5 throughout the program.