English, Middle Grades Language Arts (6-9) Emphasis, B.A.

Coordinator: Joseph Sweet

Location: Department of English, Theatre, and World Languages

Program Description

The program of study in English with Middle Grades Language Arts (6-9) emphasis consists of four curricular components: freshman seminar and general education, the content courses, the professional studies core, and content pedagogy (methods and internship). Upon successful completion of the program and related requirements, graduates are eligible for an initial license to teach in the State of North Carolina. The NC Department of Public Instruction issues the teaching license based on University recommendation.

English majors with Middle Grades Language Arts (6-9) emphasis are subject to Educator Preparation Program  requirements, continuation requirements, and graduation requirements.

The English with Middle Grades Language Arts (6-9) emphasis program is accredited by the National Council of Teachers of English, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Program Standards:

The Educator Preparation Program standards for all education majors are described fully in the UNCP Educator Preparation Program Handbook.

Program Goals and Objectives

The goals of the UNCP English licensure program are that students will increase their knowledge of and competence in the language arts and will be prepared to become effective teachers in the English classroom and to function as contributing English professionals. The objectives of the program are that students will

1. understand such areas of the English language as historical and developmental perspectives, grammar systems, and dialects/levels of usage;
2. read and respond in various ways to works of American, British, and world literature, including literature by women, minorities, and non-western writers;
3. become acquainted with traditional and contemporary literature appropriate for adolescents and become aware of ways to encourage a variety of reader response to such literature;
4. experience and study both the writing process and written products for diverse purposes and audiences, completing a variety of writing tasks and studying pedagogical techniques appropriate to working with diverse learners;
5. be exposed to materials and methods for teaching reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing;
6. practice instructional planning, presentation, and assessment in the field of English, understanding the necessity of critical reflection in the entire instructional process;
7. learn how to use diversity of learners, technology, and community resources as strengths in the English classroom; and
8. gain a sense of professionalism through exposure to positive pedagogical models in their course work, through structured, monitored early field experiences, and through an extended supervised student teaching experience.