Middle Level Teaching and Learning Northern Illinois University

Overview

The Middle Level Teaching and Learning programme at Northern Illinois University provides a comprehensive foundation for students aiming to educate young adolescents. This interdisciplinary degree ensures that graduates possess the specific pedagogical skills and subject knowledge required to support students during critical developmental years.

Students focus on a major endorsement in areas such as Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, or English Language Arts. To broaden employment prospects, the curriculum also requires a minor endorsement in a second subject area. This dual-specialisation approach makes graduates highly competitive in the education sector.

Why Middle Level Teaching and Learning at Northern Illinois University?

The College of Education at this institution is renowned for its commitment to real-world learning and diverse clinical experiences. Students benefit from three distinct field placements prior to their final student teaching semester, allowing them to interact with various student populations. Distinctive initiatives like the Educate and Engage programme offer unique opportunities for local, national, and even global teaching experiences.

Facilities such as the T.E.A.C.H. House provide a supportive residential community where future educators can live and collaborate with peers and faculty. Furthermore, the university hosts an annual Educators' Job Fair, connecting students directly with school districts from across the country. These institutional strengths ensure that candidates are well-prepared for the transition from university to a professional classroom environment.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 10742 per semester
• National fee: USD 5371 per semester
• Local fee: USD 5371 per semester

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum integrates educational psychology with practical clinical experiences to develop effective teaching strategies. Modules may include:

• Educational Psychology
• Educational Participation in Clinical Experience: Middle Level Education
• Middle School Child
• Classroom Management for Adolescent Students
• Technology and Assessment for Middle Level Education and Secondary Education
• Methods and Materials for Teaching English Language Learners in the Content Areas
• Content Area Literacy Instruction
• Clinical Experience in Middle Level Curriculum and Instruction
• Middle Level Curriculum and Instruction: Field Experience
• Seminar in Middle Level Student Teaching
• Middle Level Student Teaching
• Methods for Including Middle and Secondary Students with Exceptionalities in the General Education Classroom
• Middle School Organisation and Instruction

Careers with Middle Level Teaching and Learning

Graduates are prepared for roles as middle school teachers within public, private, and charter school systems. Because the programme qualifies students for licensure in two content areas, they have a significant advantage in the job market. Employment in this sector is projected to grow as student enrolments increase, particularly for those specialised in high-demand subjects like Mathematics and Science. Many alumni secure positions as subject-specific educators in sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade classrooms shortly after graduation.