Certification Extension

Middle Grades

The middle level certification extension is valid for teaching grades 5-8 in any Rhode Island middle, elementary, or junior high school in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, sciences, or social studies.

The program is well-grounded both in current research on middle level education and in best practice in the professional preparation of pre-service and in-service teachers. The program is based upon the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) standards.

Program Requirements

This certification extension is available to (1) accepted elementary or secondary education students in the School of Education, or (2) students who have already completed either of these programs (second option by permission only).

Required Courses

  • EDC 400: Middle School Curriculum Assessment and Methods
  • EDC 331: Clinical Experiences for Secondary Education
  • EDC 415: Adolescents and Classroom Management(Please consult your elementary or secondary program curriculum worksheet for specific course sequence)

You need to have a college major, minor, or a concentration of 21 semester hours (credits) in one of the following areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies or Mathematics. Secondary education students: please consult with your education advisor, as requirements below are typically met through your content major.

ENGLISH
21 credits total

Writing/Composition

  • EDC/WRT 435: Teaching of Composition

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

Note: Courses may be substituted with Secondary Education English Professor’s permission.

MATHEMATICS
minimum: 21 credits total

Education majors pursuing a double major with a B.A. in mathematics as specified by the secondary requirements have met the math content requirements for the extension through their mathematics BA; no additional mathematics courses are required.

Elementary education candidates or teachers who do not have the equivalent of a BA in mathematics can satisfy the mathematics content requirements for a middle school extension in mathematics by obtaining an equivalent of a BA in mathematics or by taking the following or equivalent courses: Number Systems, Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry, Statistics and Probability, & Calculus (all required for middle level extension)

  • MTH 101: Intermediate Algebra
  • MTH 103: Applied Pre-Calculus
  • MTH 131: Applied Calculus I
  • MTH 208: Numeracy for Teachers
  • MTH 209: Numeracy for Teachers II
  • STA 308: Introductory Statistics
  • One elective mathematics course by advisement (1-3 credits)

Note: students admitted to URI Fall 2010-Fall 2017 can complete either the program described above or Specialization Requirements in Secondary Education – MATHEMATICS.

Note: Courses may be substituted with Secondary Education Mathematics Coordinator’s permission.

SCIENCE
21 credits total

Biology

  • BIO 101: Principles of Biology I
  • BIO 102: Principles of Biology II

Chemistry

  • CHM 101, 102: General Chemistry

Physics

  • PHY 111, 185: General Physics and Lab

Earth/Space Science (choose one)

  • AST 108: Introduction to Astronomy
  • GEO 103: Understanding the Earth
  • OCG 401: General Oceanography

Environmental Science

  • GEO 100: Environmental Geology

SOCIAL STUDIES
21 credits total

U.S. History (choose one)

  • HIS 141: History of the United States to 1877
    HIS 142: History of the United States since 1877
    HIS 341: United States History since 1945

Western History (choose one)

  • HIS 111: History of Ancient Greece and Rome
    HIS 112: History of Medieval Europe
    HIS 328: The Holocaust

Non-Western History (choose one)

  • HIS 171: East Asian Culture and History
    HIS 374: History of Modern China
    HIS 375: History of Modern Japan
    HIS 176: Islamic History: From the Origins of Islam to 1492
    HIS 178: History of the Modern Middle East
    HIS 378: Arab-Israeli Conflict

Coursework in at least three of the following areas:

  • Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science and Sociology

Testing Requirements

Candidates for middle grades extended certification who do not possess a major or its equivalent (30 semester hours) in an academic/content area (URI majors: English, Mathematics, Science – i.e Biology, Chemistry, or Physics – or History, for Social Studies) must take and achieve a passing score on the appropriate middle school content test. This applies to ALL elementary education majors, even with full major in content area. See Licensure Testing Requirements for current testing information.