Why major in Middle Grades Education?

Teaching is more than a job; it is a rewarding career. UPIKE’s Patton College of Education teacher education program will prepare you to make a difference in the lives of students and positively impact the future. If you have the dedication and passion to pursue a career in education, we can help you reach your goal. At UPIKE, we work closely with surrounding schools and districts to design and implement a quality educator training program that will prepare you to be a successful teacher at the middle grades level. Do you have a favorite academic area or one in which you excel? You can choose the content area that you wish to teach at the middle school level. By successfully completing the education program in your chosen area and becoming a certified middle school teacher, you’ll be able to teach the content you love and motivate your students to love it too.

Two students talking on a bench.

Program Distinctives

UPIKE has a rich history of training educators. UPIKE’s Patton College of Education faculty members have many years of combined experience within P-12 classrooms and are committed to students’ success. Our undergraduate teacher education program will help you in several unique ways:

Education coursework will provide you with practical, authentic teaching experiences throughout the program.

Education faculty and staff will provide a supportive environment from the time you enter the program until you receive your teacher certification.

Education faculty advisors will guide you throughout the program to keep you on target to graduate on time.

You will engage in student teaching at many colleges and universities during one semester; however, in UPIKE’s teacher education program you will be actively engaged with local schools for an entire academic year. By the time you begin student teaching, you will be well-prepared to begin assuming classroom responsibilities.

You can seamlessly transition into UPIKE’s Teacher Leader Master’s program, which offers individual attention and practical experiences to help you further your career.

College of Education professor and student in classroom

Interesting Courses

EDU 413 Clinical Practice I in the Middle School
In this course, middle school candidates will spend 20 hours a week in an appropriate content (English, mathematics, science or social studies) classroom observing and assisting a master teacher who has the knowledge, skills and professional disposition to enable all students to learn.

EDU 442 Clinical Practice II in the Middle School
Clinical Practice II is viewed as the capstone to the middle grades education program. All areas of knowledge are integrated and theory is put into practice as the pre-service teacher assumes full responsibility for the student’s learning in a middle grades school classroom.

Four students studying at a table.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, you’ll be able to demonstrate an understanding of how students learn, the instructional process, assessment, professional development, leadership and community. The undergraduate teacher preparation program at the middle-grades level will prepare you for eligibility for Kentucky certification in Middle Grades Education (grades 5-9). With UPIKE’s focus on hands-on experience, including a full year in a school classroom, you’ll finish the program ready to teach the topic of your choice to middle grades students. Most UPIKE students obtain jobs within the year first following graduation and remain in education throughout their careers.

Career paths in Middle Grades Education

UPIKE-Patton College of Education’s middle grades education program prepares graduates to teach in grades five through nine in Kentucky. Program areas include science, social studies, English and mathematics.

Where Recent Graduates have gone to work or study

Graduates work in private and public middle schools throughout Kentucky and beyond. Many recent graduates have enrolled graduate programs including UPIKE’s Teacher Leader Master’s program, a fully online program designed for practicing educators that offers personalized professional development and integrated learning opportunities.

 

*The Patton College of Education is state accredited with all approved programs. In addition, we are working toward national accreditation with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

“Pikeville College, now UPIKE, has a special place in my heart. As a native of Pike County, it was an honor to graduate from my hometown college. The education program provided me the foundation to help inspire each student to achieve a high-quality education. Once I completed the program, I felt that I was prepared to make a positive impact with my students, my school and my community. As a graduate, I have the mindset to strive to be better each day. I can’t thank UPIKE enough for giving me the opportunity to pursue my dreams.”

RICKY THACKER/ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, PRESTONSBURG HIGH SCHOOL/CLASS OF 2007

Contact

Lisa Asbury

Data, Records, and Clinical Experience Manager
(606) 218-5317
LisaAsbury@upike.edu