English

Middle Level English Language Arts Extension

Students pursuing the Middle Level Certification Extension in English Language Arts must complete 21 credit hours of approved content-area coursework in addition to the required Middle Level education courses.

Planning Your Coursework

Students should plan to complete the majority of their required content-area coursework during their first and second years at URI, before entering the College of Education’s professional program in their junior year. Planning your content coursework early allows you to complete the disciplinary requirements while progressing through your Elementary or Secondary Education program.

Beginning in the junior year, students complete the three required Middle Level courses as part of the extension:

EDC 400 – Middle School Curriculum, Assessment, and Methods 

EDC 331 – Clinical Experiences for Secondary Education 

EDC 415 – Adolescents and Classroom Management 

Students should follow the recommended course sequence for their program and work with their advisor to plan when these courses should be completed.

Approved Content-Area Courses

The course options below identify approved coursework that can be used toward the 21-credit content-area requirement for the Middle Level Extension in English Language Arts. These course options have been identified in alignment with Rhode Island’s Middle Level certification standards and requirements.

Because course offerings and requirements may change, students should consult with the appropriate faculty or program contact when planning their coursework.

Courses may only be substituted with permission from the appropriate disciplinary faculty contact or Middle Level Extension Coordinator. Students should obtain approval before enrolling in a course they intend to use as a substitute for a listed course.

Writing/Composition – Required

• EDC/WRT 435: Teaching of Composition – 3 credits

American Literature – Choose One

• ENG 241: U.S. Literature I
• ENG 242: U.S. Literature II

British Literature – Choose One

• ENG 251: British Literature I
• ENG 252: British Literature II
• ENG 280: Introduction to Shakespeare
• ENG 472: Shakespeare

Adolescent Literature – Required

• EDC 449: Teaching Adolescent Literature

Representation Matters – Choose One

• ENG 160: Literatures of the World
• ENG 247: Introduction to Literature of the African Diaspora
• ENG 248: African-American Literature from 1900 to the Present
• ENG 260: Women and Literature
• ENG 338: Native American Literature
• ENG 362: African-American Literary Genres
• ENG 363: African-American Fiction
• ENG 364: Contemporary African Literature
• ENG 385: Women Writers
• ENG 388: Queer Literatures, Queer Cultures
• ENG 450G: Performing Race

Who Should I Contact?

Secondary Education Majors:
Please contact the English Education Faculty Contact with questions about your content-area coursework and the Middle Level Extension pathway.

English Education Faculty Contact:
Diane Kern
dkern@uri.edu

Elementary Education Majors:
Please contact the Middle Level Extension Coordinator with questions about the extension, selecting courses, planning your pathway, or determining whether coursework meets the extension requirements.

Middle Level Extension Coordinator
Maizie Dyess
maizie.dyess@uri.edu

Mathematics

Middle Level Mathematics Extension

Students pursuing the Middle Level Certification Extension in Mathematics must complete 21 credit hours of approved content-area coursework in addition to the required Middle Level education courses.

Planning Your Coursework

Students should plan to complete the majority of their required content-area coursework during their first and second years at URI, before entering the College of Education’s professional program in their junior year. Planning your content coursework early allows you to complete the disciplinary requirements while progressing through your Elementary or Secondary Education program.

Beginning in the junior year, students complete the three required Middle Level courses as part of the extension:

EDC 400 – Middle School Curriculum, Assessment, and Methods 

EDC 331 – Clinical Experiences for Secondary Education 

EDC 415 – Adolescents and Classroom Management 

Students should follow the recommended course sequence for their program and work with their advisor to plan when these courses should be completed.

Approved Content-Area Courses

The course options below identify approved coursework that can be used toward the 21-credit content-area requirement for the Middle Level Extension in Mathematics. Elementary Education candidates or teachers who do not have the equivalent of a BA in Mathematics may satisfy the mathematics content requirements by completing an equivalent of a BA in Mathematics or by completing coursework across the following areas: Number Systems, Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry, Statistics and Probability, and Calculus. The course options below have been identified in alignment with Rhode Island’s Middle Level certification standards and requirements.

Because course offerings and requirements may change, students should consult with the appropriate faculty or program contact when planning their coursework.

Courses may only be substituted with permission from the appropriate disciplinary faculty contact or Middle Level Extension Coordinator. Students should obtain approval before enrolling in a course they intend to use as a substitute for a listed course.

Number Systems – Required

• MTH 208: Numeracy for Teachers – 4 credits
• MTH 209: Numeracy for Teachers II – 4 credits

Algebra

• MTH 101: Intermediate Algebra – 3 credits
• MTH 215: Linear Algebra – 3 credits

Precalculus

• MTH 103: Applied Pre-Calculus – 3 credits
• MTH 111: Pre-Calculus – 3 credits

Calculus

• MTH 131: Applied Calculus I – 3 credits
• MTH 141: Calculus I –  4 credits

Statistics

• STA 308: Introductory Statistics – 4 credits
• STA 220: Statistics in Modern Society – 3 credits

Electives

• MTH/CSC 104: Puzzles + Games = Analytical Thinking – 4 credits
• MTH 105: Elementary Mathematical Codebreaking – 3 credits
• MTH 106: Mathematics of Social Choice and Finance – 3 credits
• MTH 107: Introduction to Finite Mathematics – 3 credits
• MTH 108: Topics in Mathematics – 3 credits (honors section offered)
• MTH 109: Politics and Mathematics – 3 credits
• CSC 106: The Joy of Programming – 4 credits*
• CSC 222: Teaching Computer Science – 3 credits*

* These courses may lead to the Rhode Island Computer Science Educators Endorsement.

Who Should I Contact?

Secondary Education Majors:
Please contact the Mathematics Education Faculty Contact with questions about your content-area coursework and the Middle Level Extension pathway.

Mathematics Education Faculty Contact
Nicole Hersey-Bertram
ndhtennis@uri.edu

Elementary Education Majors:
Please contact the Middle Level Extension Coordinator with questions about the extension, selecting courses, planning your pathway, or determining whether coursework meets the extension requirements.

Middle Level Extension Coordinator
Maizie Dyess
maizie.dyess@uri.edu

Science

Middle Level Science Extension

Students pursuing the Middle Level Certification Extension in Science must complete 21 credit hours of approved content-area coursework in three different science areas in addition to the required Middle Level education courses.

Planning Your Coursework

Students should plan to complete the majority of their required content-area coursework during their first and second years at URI, before entering the College of Education’s professional program in their junior year. Planning your content coursework early allows you to complete the disciplinary requirements while progressing through your Elementary or Secondary Education program.

Beginning in the junior year, students complete the three required Middle Level courses as part of the extension:

EDC 400 – Middle School Curriculum, Assessment, and Methods 

EDC 331 – Clinical Experiences for Secondary Education 

EDC 415 – Adolescents and Classroom Management 

Students should follow the recommended course sequence for their program and work with their advisor to plan when these courses should be completed.

Approved Content-Area Courses

The course options below identify approved coursework that can be used toward the 21-credit content-area requirement for the Middle Level Extension in Science. Students must complete coursework across at least three different science areas and include at least one laboratory course. These course options have been identified in alignment with Rhode Island’s Middle Level certification standards and requirements.

Because course offerings and requirements may change, students should consult with the appropriate faculty or program contact when planning their coursework.

Courses may only be substituted with permission from the appropriate disciplinary faculty contact or Middle Level Extension Coordinator. Students should obtain approval before enrolling in a course they intend to use as a substitute for a listed course.

Chemistry

• CHM 101: General Chemistry Lecture I
• CHM 102: Laboratory for Chemistry 101

Physics

• PHY 109: Introduction to Physics
• PHY 110: Laboratory for Introduction to Physics
• PHY 111: General Physics I
• PHY 185: Laboratory for General Physics I

Biology

• BIO 101: Principles of Biology I
• BIO 103: Principles of Biology Laboratory I
• BIO 220: Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 221: Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
• BIO 262: Introductory Ecology (Prerequisite: BIO 101)
• BIO 311: Plant Structure and Development
• BIO 321: Plant Diversity (Prerequisite: BIO 262)

Geoscience

• GEO 100G: Environmental Geology
• GEO 103: Understanding the Earth
• GEO 110: The Ocean Planet (Cross-listed with OCG)
• GEO 113: Natural Disasters
• GEO 200: Field Based Geoscience Data Analysis
• GEO 204: Problem Solving in Earth History (Prerequisite: GEO 103)

Oceanography

• OCG 110: The Ocean Planet (Cross-listed with GEO)
• OCG 111: Ocean Exploration

Sustainability

• SUS 102: Introduction to Sustainability (Cross-listed with EVS, GEO, NRS)

Natural Resource Sciences

• NRS 100: Natural Resource Conservation

Astronomy

• AST 118: Introductory Astronomy: The Solar System

Anthropology

• APG 201: Human Origins and Evolution
• APG 282G: Sapiens: The Changing Nature of Human Evolution

Who Should I Contact?

Secondary Education Majors:
Please contact the Science Education Faculty Contact with questions about your content-area coursework and the Middle Level Extension pathway.

Science Education Faculty Contact
Jay Fogleman
fogleman@uri.edu

Elementary Education Majors:
Please contact the Middle Level Extension Coordinator with questions about the extension, selecting courses, planning your pathway, or determining whether coursework meets the extension requirements.

Middle Level Extension Coordinator
Maizie Dyess
maizie.dyess@uri.edu

Social Studies

Middle Level Social Studies Extension

Students pursuing the Middle Level Certification Extension in Social Studies must complete 21 credit hours of approved content-area coursework in addition to the required Middle Level education courses.

Planning Your Coursework

Students should plan to complete the majority of their required content-area coursework during their first and second years at URI, before entering the College of Education’s professional program in their junior year. Planning your content coursework early allows you to complete the disciplinary requirements while progressing through your Elementary or Secondary Education program.

Beginning in the junior year, students complete the three required Middle Level courses as part of the extension:

EDC 400 – Middle School Curriculum, Assessment, and Methods 

EDC 331 – Clinical Experiences for Secondary Education 

EDC 415 – Adolescents and Classroom Management 

Students should follow the recommended course sequence for their program and work with their advisor to plan when these courses should be completed.

Approved Content-Area Courses

The course options below identify approved coursework that can be used toward the 21-credit content-area requirement for the Middle Level Extension in Social Studies. These course options have been identified in alignment with Rhode Island’s Middle Level certification standards and requirements.

Because course offerings and requirements may change, students should consult with the appropriate faculty or program contact when planning their coursework.

Courses may only be substituted with permission from the appropriate disciplinary faculty contact or Middle Level Extension Coordinator. Students should obtain approval before enrolling in a course they intend to use as a substitute for a listed course.

American History – Choose One

• HIS 141: History of the United States to 1877
• HIS 145: Women in the North American Colonies and the United States, 1500-1890
• HIS 336: The American Revolution and Confederation: 1763-1789

Western History – Choose One

• HIS 110: Ancient Greece: History and Archaeology
• HIS 311: History of Europe Since 1914
• HIS 327: German History Since 1914

Non-Western History – Choose One

• HIS 374: History of Modern China
• HIS 375: History of Modern Japan
• HIS 388: History of Sub-Saharan Africa

Political Science

• PSC 113: Introduction to American Politics
• PSC 334: Government Powers and the Law
• PSC 371: The Constitution and the Supreme Court

Geography

• GEG 101: World Geography

Anthropology

• APG 202: Introduction to Archaeology
• APG 319: Cultural Behavior and Environment

Who Should I Contact?

Secondary Education Majors:
Please contact the Social Studies Education Faculty Contact with questions about your content-area coursework and the Middle Level Extension pathway.

Social Studies Education Faculty Contact
Rob Martinelle
robert.martinelle@uri.edu

Elementary Education Majors:
Please contact the Middle Level Extension Coordinator with questions about the extension, selecting courses, planning your pathway, or determining whether coursework meets the extension requirements.

Middle Level Extension Coordinator
Maizie Dyess
maizie.dyess@uri.edu

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Middle Level Extension?
The Middle Level Certification Extension allows URI teacher candidates to add preparation and certification to teach students in grades 5-8 to their existing Elementary or Secondary Education certification pathway. The extension combines middle-level professional coursework with 21 credit hours of disciplinary coursework in one of four areas: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies.

Who can pursue the extension?
The Middle Level Extension is available to students pursuing Elementary Education or Secondary Education who want to expand their certification to include teaching in grades 5-8.

When should I declare the extension?
It is recommended that you declare your interest in the Middle Level Extension as early as possible, ideally during your freshman or sophomore year. The majority of the required 21 content-area credits should be completed before you enter the College of Education’s professional program in your junior year. Declaring early allows you to work with an advisor to identify your content area and ensure that your courses meet the extension requirements.

Can courses I have already taken count?
Previously completed coursework may count toward the 21-credit requirement if it appears on the approved course list and meets the applicable requirements. If you are unsure whether a course counts, do not assume that it will fulfill the requirement. Contact the appropriate advisor or faculty contact before relying on the course as part of your Middle Level Extension.

Can AP or transfer credits count toward the content requirement?
AP and transfer credits may count toward the 21-credit content-area requirement if URI awards the credit as coursework that fulfills the applicable content-area requirements. Because not all AP or transfer credit will necessarily meet a Middle Level Extension content requirement, students should check with their advisor to confirm that a particular AP or transfer course satisfies the requirement. Course substitutions require advisor approval.

Do I need to take a certification test?
Secondary Education Majors: Your Secondary Education certification program includes  the required content-area certification requirements and testing. If you are adding the Middle Level Extension in the same disciplinary area as your primary certification, you should consult with your disciplinary faculty contact to determine whether any additional Middle Level certification testing is required.
Elementary Education Majors: You are required to take the appropriate middle-level content certification test. 

RIDE currently lists the applicable assessments for the Elementary Extension pathways as:
English Language Arts: Middle School ELA (5047) or ELA Content and Analysis (5039)
Mathematics: Middle School Mathematics (5164) or Mathematics (5165)
Science: Middle Grades Science (5442) or General Science (5436)
Social Studies: Middle Grades Social Studies (5589) or Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5581)

https://ride.ri.gov/teachers-administrators/educator-certification/certificate-areas-and-requirements 

What if I am already a junior or senior?
Students who are already juniors or seniors should meet with the appropriate program contact as soon as possible to determine which requirements they have completed and what coursework remains. Because many of the content-area courses are ideally completed during the first two years, students who begin the extension later may need additional planning to complete the requirements. 

What are the practicum requirements and expectations?
Students are expected to complete a minimum of 45 hours at their middle school placement over the course of the semester, averaging about three hours per week. During the practicum, students engage in focused observations, participate in teaching and learning experiences, develop and implement assessments, analyze student work, and reflect on their growth as middle school educators. Consistent weekly attendance is expected so that students can become familiar with the school community and experience teaching and learning over the course of the semester.

Can the middle level extension be used to teach outside of Rhode Island?
The Middle Level Extension is designed to meet Rhode Island’s requirements for teaching grades 5-8, and the coursework aligns with many middle-level licensure requirements in surrounding states. However, teacher licensure requirements vary by state. If you plan to teach outside of Rhode Island, check with the state’s department of education to confirm that the Middle Level Extension and your coursework meet its specific certification requirements.

What happens if I don’t finish all of the coursework or decide not to do it?
The Middle Level Extension is optional. If you decide not to complete the full sequence of coursework and practicum requirements, you can continue in the Elementary Education program and earn your Elementary Education certification as planned.

Can I become certified in multiple middle level areas?
Yes, it is possible to pursue more than one Middle Level Extension if you complete the required coursework and certification requirements for each content area. However, completing multiple extensions requires a significant amount of additional coursework, so students should carefully consider their goals and discuss their options with an advisor.