Master of Arts in Middle Grades Education
(Grades 6-9)

Course Requirements • Program Delivery • Admissions

The Master of Arts in Middle Grades Education leads to the graduate-level "M" Grades 6-9 licensure and has been approved by the appropriate bodies at the state level to meet the advanced competencies as mandated in the NC Excellent Schools Act for Master-level teacher education programs. This nationally recognized program is open to qualified students who hold a valid "A" teaching license (though the "A" license does not have to be in middle grades).

Through the Office of Extension and Distance Education, the Reich College of Education provides this degree program at selected off-campus settings throughout western NC. (For a listing of locations of upcoming programs, see Proposed New Programs.)

Courses taught by Appalachian in the Off-Campus Middle Grades Education Program

CI/SPE 5045	Advanced Topics in Diversity
CI 5055	Connecting Learners & Subject Matter
CI 5525	Product of Learning
CI/LHE 5585	Teacher Leadership & School Improvements
CI 5600	Middle School Philosophy & Organization
CI 5750	Teaching Young Adolescents
CI 5850	Middle School Curriculum
CI/FDN	Selected research course
CI/FDN	Selected technology course
Academic Concentration Courses: Degree candidates select a concentration from the following areas: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, or Mathematics. These courses (11-12 semester hours) are typically not offered as a part of the off-campus program.
Total semester hours required: 39 Students entering without previous teaching experience in middle grades must successfully complete CI 5900/Internship (3SH), which may result in the total number of hours exceeding 39.

Off-Campus Program Delivery:

The courses required for the MA degree in Middle Grades Education will be delivered to the designated off-campus site (with the exception of the concentration courses which are typically not provided as a part of the off-campus program). Appalachian State University faculty will teach each course; and, a combination of instructional strategies and course delivery systems may be employed. The modes of delivery may include: the instructor's being present at the site; web-based instruction; and/or live interactive two-way, audio-video sessions via the North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH) network. Generally, two courses will be provided each term. Face-to-face courses will be conducted either during the evenings (e.g., 5:00-7:45 pm one evening a week for 15 weeks) or on weekends (e.g, Friday evenings and Saturday mornings). The program will be cohort-based, meaning the group of identified students who enter this program will begin together and continue together through the specified sequence of required courses leading to the degree. The courses in each cohort will be offered only once, so a student must be prepared to take the courses as they are made available.

Requirements for Admission:

In order to be considered for admission to this program, an individual must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and hold a NC "A" teaching license or the equivalent from another state. (It is not required that the "A" license be in middle grades.) In addition to the application form applicants must present Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores as well as three letters of recommendation. A candidate will be selected based upon the strength of her/his undergraduate career, GRE or MAT test scores, and endorsements expressed in the letters of recommendation.

To make a request of the Office of Extension and Distance Education Click Here