MEd in Middle Grades Education
Offered through the University of Georgia’s Mary Frances Early College of Education’s Department of Educational Theory and Practice, the Master of Education in Middle Grades Education centers on the education of young adolescents in middle grades (4-8) and is grounded in equity and justice frameworks. This program is designed for current middle grades teachers, or for those with an interest in young adolescent education. Coursework is offered face-to-face and online in spring, summer, and fall to accommodate the working professional, and is taught by the internationally recognized faculty of UGA’s award-winning College of Education.
Faculty in the Masters of Education program will address theoretical perspectives and research-based approaches to working with young adolescents today, as well as the latest philosophy on middle grades teaching and learning. Topics of emphasis include critical constructions of young adolescents, safer and equitable spaces for young adolescents, justice-oriented curriculum and assessment, pedagogical content knowledge, teaching with an equity-oriented inquiry stance, and family-school-community partnerships.
Middle Grades Education Program Commitments:
- To cultivate and sustain a more equitable world, the Middle Grades Education program commits to embodying and modeling justice-oriented curriculum design and related experiences that position youth and educators
- To build positive, supportive, humanizing relationships with and among youth, families, and communities;
- To advocate with and for youth to embody their power and possibility to create a more equitable world; and
- To inquire individually and collectively around practices, structures, and systems using critical reflection and analysis to inspire critical action.
Note: Individuals seeking initial certification are directed to the department’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Middle Grades Certification program .
University of Georgia online graduate education programs are ranked #4 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2021.
Highlights
- Ranked #5 by U.S. News & World Report
- Internationally recognized faculty
- For both certified teachers or those not seeking certification
- Online format is available through UGA Online
Curriculum
Program Structure
The M.Ed. in Middle Grades Education has rolling admissions with new students admitted throughout the year. Students will choose one content area of emphasis from English/language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies. The degree requires the successful completion of 36 semester hours of coursework, plus the department’s Multicultural Education Survey, and its Exit Survey. The program of study is created in consultation with a faculty advisor and includes:
5 courses related to middle grades education/young adolescents (15 hours)
Possibilities include:
- EDMG 7030/7030E: The Middle Grades 4-8: Creating Safer & Equitable Spaces for Young Adolescents
- EDMG 7050/7050E: Critical Constructions of Young Adolescents 9-15
- EDMG 7060S: Theory and Practice of Service-Learning in P-12 Settings
- EDMG 7080/7080E: Equity-Oriented Curriculum Planning in the Middle Grades
- EDMG 7090/7090E: Equity-focused Instructional Strategies for Young Adolescents
- EDMG 7200/7200E: Trends and Issues in Middle Grades Education
- ETAP 7610/7610E: Culturally Responsive Classroom Management
3 courses in chosen content area (9 hours)
English/Language Arts Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, or Social Studies Education
3 graduate electives related to education (9 hours)
Possibilities include, but are not limited to, endorsements in: reading education
, ESOL
, or gifted education
; certificates; additional EDMG or ETAP courses; courses in educational technology, education psychology, literacy, ESOL pedagogy, educational law, etc.
1 course in educational research (3 hours)
EDMG 7300E: Teaching Young Adolescents with an Equity-oriented Inquiry Stance or ETAP 7500: Action Research
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 MEd in Middle Grades Education
Eligibility
- Must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Cumulative GPA for all undergraduate courses should be 2.8 or above on a four-point scale
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
Students who have completed an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.2 or above are exempt from the entrance exam requirement.
Program Planning and Advisement
Upon acceptance into the MEd 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.
A close working relationship with your advisor is key as you progress through your program of study. Please note that most graduate students at UGA are not assigned to a faculty advisor until after admittance.
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.
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