Middle Grades Education

Become a Teacher

If you want to teach children who are about age 10 to 13 years old, you’ll have to decide the content areas (subjects) you’ll want to teach before you can know which major(s) to declare. First, check out our program in Middle Grades Education. This program prepares middle school teachers in English/communication and social studies.  The degree you will earn is the BS in Middle Grades Education, and your certification will be for Grades 5-8 in both English/Communication and Social Studies.

If you would like to teach mathematics or science to middle school students, check out the SKyTeach program, which provides special preparation in these areas. You will have two majors, one in Science and Mathematics Education (SMED) and one in either Middle Grades Mathematics (MGM) or Middle School Science Education (MSSE), and the degree you will earn will be the BS with double majors in SMED and either MGM or MSSE. Your certification will be for Grades 5-8.

You might also want to check out our programs in several content areas where the certification is for teaching either Grades 5-12 or Primary grades through Grade 12 (P-12). In the following areas the certification is for Grades 5-12: Agriculture, Business and Marketing, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Technology. In the following areas the certification is for Grades P-12: Art, French, German, Music, Physical Education, and Spanish. To become certified in the 5-12 and P-12 content areas, you will need to major in the chosen content area. Click here for more information about secondary certification to teach a subject with certification for Grades 5-12 or a subject with certification for Grades P-12.

For more information about completing a program leading to certification in Middle School Education, English/communication and social studies, Grades 5-8, click here.

For more information about the SKyTeach program for those who wish to teach mathematics or science (either Grades 5-8 or 8-12), click here.

To talk with an advisor for Middle Grades Education, contact one of the following:

• Ms. Denise Garner, denise.garner@wku.edu, 270-745-3928.
• Ms. Deborah Sloss, deborah.sloss@wku.edu, 270-745-6572.

To talk with an advisor for Science and Mathematics Education (SMED), contact Ms. Karen Long, karen.long@wku.edu, 270-745-3900.

To talk with an advisor for Middle Grades Mathematics (MGM), contact Dr. Wanda Weidemann, wanda.weidemann@wku.edu, 270-745-6211.

To talk with an advisor for Middle School Science Education (MSSE), contact Dr. Scott Bonham, scott.bonham@wku.edu, 270-745-6196.