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Middle Grades English Language Arts and Social Studies Education

Bachelor of Science
Teacher Education and Learning Sciences (TELS)

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The goal of MSL Program is to prepare teachers to effectively educate young adolescents while being responsive to their unique needs, interests and abilities. Graduates earn licensure for teaching grades six through nine in the English language arts and social studies disciplines.

Lauren Slenker ’17 on why she chose the MSL Program

Program Description

The MSL Program offers an undergraduate degree and initial licensure in two dynamic content areas that prepares teachers to effectively educate and impact the lives of young adolescents while being responsive to their unique needs, interests, and abilities. Students learn how to implement high-quality English language arts and social studies instruction with three major focus areas:

  • digital literacies,
  • inquiry-based learning,
  • and citizenship.

Students are provided with the opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree in Middle Grades English Language Arts and Social Studies and initial licensure for sixth through ninth grade.

Field Placements 

During the course of this program, students will complete a year-long senior student teaching internship experience. During the fall semester of their senior year, students spend a minimum of two hours per week and 30 hours in a field placement. Attendance is required from the beginning of the fall semester through the first week of December. During the senior year spring semester, students will spend a minimum of 15 weeks in their field placement.

Course of Study

Admissions Requirements

External Transfers

Students from other universities who wish to transfer to the MSL program at NC State should first formally apply for admission to North Carolina State University. The Office of Admissions will forward the student’s transcript to the Dean of the College of Education. The student’s transcript is evaluated by the Dean’s office and an Advanced Standing Certificate (ASC) is completed and forwarded to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction for approval or denial. Students must have 2.7 GPA overall, plus 30 hours of transferable credit including 6 to 9 semester hours in humanities and social science courses.

To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree, transfer students must earn at least 25 of their last 30 hours of credit at NC State while enrolled as a degree candidate.

For more information, see the following:

Faculty

Additional Information

In order to earn licensure, students will need to attain the College of Education’s required number of Professional Growth Units (PGUs) prior to program completion. Additionally, they must achieve passing scores on the Praxis II Tests for Middle Grades English Language Arts and Middle Grades Social Studies prior to completion of the program. The MSL Senior Year Experience requires full-time commitment to education courses and field experiences.

Innovations in Teaching Literacy and English Language Arts

Faculty in the NC State College of Education are engaged in research, teaching and outreach activities that help translate scientific evidence into high-quality teacher preparation and reading, writing, and English language arts instruction for children in grades K-12.

The Literacy Space

Contact Us

Carl Young

Associate Professor, English Language Arts Education