EdS in Education (Middle Grades Education Grades 4-8)
The EdS in Middle Grades Education is for educators and others with a master’s degree in a related field. Our highly ranked program combines a focus on young adolescents and middle-grade education with studies in the content area of your choice—language arts, math, science, or social studies.
Deepen your understanding of the unique challenges of middle grades education and the intellectual, social, and physical needs of young adolescents.
Our program is a leader in middle school reform and one of the oldest middle school-specific EdS programs in the nation. You will delve into theory and research with our renowned faculty and apply your learning through partnerships with local schools.
Highlights
- Ranked No. 5 by US News & World Report
- Online format option is now available through UGA Online
- Internationally recognized faculty
- For both certified teachers or those not seeking certification
Curriculum
This degree program requires 30 semester hours of coursework (10 courses) covering four areas:
- Educational foundations (one or two courses):
Topics include the history of philosophy of education, race, class and gender in education, human development, and ethics and democracy in education. - Characteristics, programs, and problems of the middle school (two or three courses):
These courses cover topics such as: the philosophy behind middle schools, service-learning, young adolescent learners, planning and instruction in middle schools, evaluation and assessment in middle schools, and the role of family-school-community interactions. - Subject matter content in the middle school (three courses):
These courses provide the opportunity for EdS students to study deeply in the subject area content they teach, taking graduate coursework in mathematics, science, social studies, and/or language arts depending on content areas of certification. - Research in middle grades education (three courses):
These provide background in the research on improving middle grades education, how to evaluate the quality of research, and how to both conduct and apply research in the classroom.
Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in this field can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal .
Admissions
Part 1: Apply to the University of Georgia
The Graduate School handles admission for all graduate programs at the University of Georgia, including those in the College of Education. The Graduate School website contains important details about the application process, orientation, and many other useful links to guide you through the process of attending UGA at the graduate level.
Start A Graduate School Application
Part 2: Apply to the EdS in Education (Middle Grades Education Grades 4-8)
Eligibility
- Must hold a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Cumulative grade point for all undergraduate courses should be 2.8 or above on a four-point scale
- Must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test
- GRE: minimum scores of 146 verbal and 140 quantitative
- Miller Analogies Test: minimum score of 402
Application Materials
When all of the Graduate School’s application materials have been received, they are reviewed by the Middle Grades Education program faculty. The faculty may request additional materials from applicants before making a recommendation on the application. The faculty make a recommendation to the Department of Educational Theory and Practice’s graduate coordinator, who in turn makes a recommendation to the Graduate School. The final decision on admissions is made by the Graduate School. Applicants and the department will receive notification directly from the Graduate School concerning a decision on acceptance.
Program Planning and Advisement
Upon acceptance into the EdS degree program, students will be assigned a faculty advisor. Students must communicate with their advisor every semester to plan coursework and to be cleared for registration. Students are responsible for conforming to published policies and for carrying out procedural requirements such as filing appropriate forms in a timely manner.
Deadline to Apply
Please refer to the UGA Graduate School deadlines . Applications received after the target dates may be considered.
Additional Resources
Please use our online form if you have any questions for the department. Please be as specific as possible so that we may quickly assist you.
The College’s programs are taught by dedicated faculty who are experts in a range of areas and are passionate about helping students succeed both in their programs and professionally.
Most graduate students at UGA are not assigned to a faculty advisor until after admittance. A close working relationship with your advisor is paramount to progressing through your program of study.
Almost all in-state students begin their studies at UGA paying limited tuition or fees. Please note that these amounts are subject to change and are meant to give prospective students an idea of the costs associated with a degree at the University of Georgia College of Education.
Students may qualify for a variety of assistantships, scholarships, and other financial awards to help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses.
Our students have a range of opportunities available outside the classroom as well, from professional organizations, experiential learning, clubs and other non-academic experiences.
See for yourself how much UGA College of Education has to offer! Schedule a tour of campus to learn more about the UGA student experience.