KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
UNDERGRADUATE PROPOSAL
Change in Degree Requirements/Major Program
Requirements
Major or Degree Affected B.S. in Middle Grades Education
Responsible Department EDSM
Proposed Effective Date Spring 2010
Please provide a brief summary of the changes proposed:
This program change involves a change in the required reading courses for the middle grades education
major. Currently, all middle grades education majors are required to take EDRD 3320 and either EDRD
3330 or EDRD 4409. Changes would require ALL middle grades major to take EDRD 3300 only. A
second proposed change involves the addition of a new required course for all majors (EDMG 3350) to
meet standards and expressed needs of students and area schools.
I. Current Information
Current Degree/Major Program Requirements (please copy exactly from catalog):
Page 119 2008-2009 catalog
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (4-8) REQUIREMENTS 36
(Must be admitted to Teacher Education Program before taking these courses)
INED 3304 Education of Exceptional Students
3
EDMG 3300 Success in the Middle: Teaching, Learning, Advocacy
3
EDRD 3320 Understanding the Reader and the Reading Process
3
*EDRD 3330 Methods and Materials for Middle Grades Reading and Writing
3
(Required for MGE majors with concentrations in both math and science) or
*EDRD 4409 Instructional Strategies in Reading, Writing, and Young Adult Literature
(Required for MGE majors with concentrations in both Language Arts and social studies)
EDMG 4406 Methods and Management in the Middle Grades: Field Experience 3
EDMG 4407 Methods and Management in the Middle Grades: Seminar
3*
(MGE majors with one concentration in math or science, and the other concentration in language arts or
social studies may choose either EDRD 3330 or EDRD 4409)
II. Proposed Information
Include an outline of the entire program and make all changes in RED:
Page 119 2008-2009 catalog
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (4-8) REQUIREMENTS 36
(Must be admitted to Teacher Education Program before taking these courses)
INED 3304 Education of Exceptional Students
EDMG 3300 Success in the Middle: Teaching, Learning, Advocacy
EDMG 3350 Middle Level Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
EDRD 3320 Understanding the Reader and the Reading Process
EDRD 3330 Methods & Materials for Middle Grades Content Area Rdng & Writing
(Required for MGE majors with concentrations in both math and science) or
3
3
3
3
3
1
*EDRD 4409 Instructional Strategies in Reading, Writing, and Young Adult Literature
(Required for MGE majors with concentrations in both Language Arts and social studies)
EDMG 4406 Methods and Management in the Middle Grades: Field Experience 3
EDMG 4407 Methods and Management in the Middle Grades: Seminar
3*
(MGE majors with one concentration in math or science, and the other concentration in language arts or
social studies may choose either EDRD 3330 or EDRD 4409)
III. Justification for Change:
There are two components to this program change.
The first component is with respect to the required reading education courses for middle grades
education majors. The proposed changes include 1) the removal EDRD 3320 as a required course for all
middle grades majors and 2) the removal of the option of taking EDRD 3330 or EDRD 4409 (instead, all
middle grades majors will take EDRD 3330). There will be a small change to the title of EDRD 3330 for
better clarification (paperwork included).
The proposed changes stem from a national and state change in philosophy and standards for reading
education. In 2006, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) revised their rules to include
reading as a content area (along with mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts). The
newly revised International Reading Association has made the same changes in the standards for
professionals. Previous philosophies attempted to prepare all teachers to be teachers of reading. This
has been problematic as not enough course work or field experiences could be devoted to this type of
preparation. Now, preparing reading teachers will focus on two approaches. First, develop reading as
another content area in teacher preparation programs. Second, provide content area teachers with
strategies for effective reading and writing instruction that enhances their ability to educate an
increasingly diverse student population. The Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education is
revising the program to include both approaches.
To that end:
We are developing reading as a content area concentration (program change forthcoming).
As a result, we will no long require all middle grades education majors to take EDRD 3320 which is a
course focusing on reading education theory and language development. This course will be included as
a requirement in the new reading concentration.
To fulfill the PSC standards to prepare content area teachers with strategies for effective reading and
writing instruction within their classroom, all middle grades education majors will be required to take
EDRD 3330, a methods and materials course. They will no longer have the option of taking EDRD 3330
or EDRD 4409. While EDRD 4409 includes instructional strategies in reading and writing, the emphasis is
on using young adult literature in the classroom. Content area teachers need more of an emphasis on
using technical and expository text in order to facilitate effective reading instruction in their content area
classrooms. EDRD 4409 will now become a required part of the reading concentration.
The second change to the program is the addition of the new course, EDMG 3350 Middle Level
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, required of all middle grades majors. This course was designed
to meet needs identified by the Middle Grades Education Advisory Board, by the National Middle School
Association, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Georgia Professional
Standards Commission. In addition, candidates have noted that they need more time and practice with
the knowledge and skills relative to curriculum, lesson planning, instruction, differentiation, and
assessment than is currently allotted in their methods block of courses.
2
The methods block of courses, called “TOSS” (Teaching of Specific Subjects) meets on campus for nine
weeks before candidates go out into their field placements full time for five weeks. During the on campus
class meetings, a variety of topics must be covered and all candidates get at least three opportunities to
practice teaching lessons in both of their content area concentrations, which is time intensive. Having
some of the topics currently covered in the TOSS block introduced in the new course, EDMG 3350, and
by having EDMG 3350 as a pre-requisite to TOSS classes, candidates will come into TOSS with an
advanced level of knowledge that they may build upon during TOSS, allowing for a deeper and more
meaningful examination of these and other necessary topics in the TOSS semester.
3
Supporting Analyses of the Program –
When degree or major program requirements or both are being revised, it is an opportunity to reconsider
the relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency of the entire structure of the program. Following are some
questions designed to provoke thoughtful evaluation of a program.
If a program is being substantially revised, written responses to each of these items should be
included as part of the proposal for the UPCC.
If a minor change is being made to a program, writing out responses to all items is not necessary.
However, UPCC members may ask about these issues during their evaluation of any proposal.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What are the primary learning outcomes of the program?
What assessment findings have led to the proposed change(s)?
Evaluate the prerequisites.
Why are the specified courses needed as prerequisites?
Why are there no prerequisites for some courses?
What is the desired sequence of prerequisites?
How often are the prerequisites offered?
Where within the program is an introductory overview of the major?
What are the capstone experiences of the program?
Where within the program are there application activities and what are the activities? (E.g., field
experiences, practicums, applied projects, undergraduate research, service learning, co-ops,
internships, studio work, practical problem solving.)
Where and how do the following occur in the program?
Writing, reading, critical thinking, presenting
Participative and collaborative learning
Use of information technology
Global and multicultural perspectives
What are the required courses that contribute to the interdisciplinary nature of the program?
4
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
UNDERGRADUATE PROPOSAL
Change in Degree Requirements/Major Program Requirements
Major or Degree Affected B.S. in Middle Grades Education
Responsible Department EDSM
Proposed Effective Date Spring 2010
Signature Page
Submitted by:
Kimberly S. Loomis, Ed.D.
Name
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
Date
________________________________
Department Curriculum Committee, Date
________________________________
General Education Council*, Date
________________________________
Professional Teacher Education Unit Program Area*,
Date
________________________________
Department Chair, Date
________________________________
College/School Curriculum Committee AND/OR
Teacher Education Council*, Date
________________________________
College/School Dean, Date
________________________________
Undergraduate Policies and Curriculum Committee,
Date
________________________________
Associate VP of Academic Affairs, Date
*For curriculum proposals involving General Education courses, there should be collaboration by the
Department Curriculum Committee and the General Education Council. For Teacher Preparation
proposals, there should be collaboration by the Department Curriculum Committee, the Professional
Teacher Education Unit (PTEU) Program Area Committee, the Teacher Education Council, and the
College/School Curriculum Committee.
Form Updated August 27, 2009
5