Faculty:

• Daniel Casebeer, Ph.D.
• Kathleen Harris, Ph.D

The Master of Arts in Elementary/Middle Level Education program is designed to enable teachers to enhance their skills to meet the demands of an ever-changing profession. The program of study is planned to help teachers read and evaluate educational theory, critique and conduct research, and enhance pedagogical skills for teaching students in the elementary and middle levels. Today’s classrooms embrace students representing a variety of socio-cultural backgrounds, learning styles, and gifts. Seton Hill University’s graduate education programs provide teachers with the skills and strategies they need to meet the needs of every student.

Educational Objectives

The objectives of the graduate program in elementary/middle level education are to ensure that graduates are:

• able to redefine their personal philosophies of education 
• well grounded in the theoretical and substantive issues in elementary/middle level education
• knowledgeable in their subject matter 
• able to supplement and enrich their knowledge about such crucial instructional issues as inclusion, reading, and writing across the curriculum, integrating the curriculum, and varied methods of authentic assessment 
• aware of the constantly changing, diverse, social context of the schools 
• reflective practitioners 
• scholarly agents for change

Option to Add The 4-8 Certificate With Master of Arts Degree In Elementary/Middle Level Education

The 4-8 Elementary/Middle Level Certificate Program is a post baccalaureate program that can be completed through the Master of Arts Degree in Elementary/Middle Level Education. The program is designed to enable certified teachers to add the Middle Level Grades 4-8 certificate.

Requirements in the M.A. in Elementary/Middle Level Program with Grades 4-8 Certification

• 30 graduate level credits are focused on middle school theory, practice, and pedagogy.
• 3 graduate level credits are earned in ED941 Middle Level Field Teaching Experiences.
• Content-area undergraduate credits as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in content areas of English/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. (Credits previously earned in the students’ undergraduate programs can be applied to this requirement.)
• Test scores as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the 4-8 Middle Level Certificate.
• Additional courses and student teaching will be required for initial certification applicants.