BSEd in Middle School Education with Emphasis in Science

Degree Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle School Education prepares students to work with children from fifth through ninth grade in public, private, and alternative school systems. You may consider a degree in education if you enjoy working with children and/or adolescents, want to strengthen the future through education, and want to make a difference in the lives of others. MU students work closely with mentors, practicing teachers, administrators, and university faculty to develop the knowledge and skills to enhance learning outcomes for children and youth. The coursework through the College of Education & Human Development focuses on teachers’ roles in facilitating learning at all levels of development and considers the influences of cultural, political, historical, and economic factors on students, teachers, and schools. Upon successfully completing the initial teacher certification process, the state grants you certification in middle school science.  Practical and rewarding clinical training in schools and agencies begins sophomore year, and continues each semester culminating in a senior-level teaching internship, enhancing teaching skills and confidence. Coursework within Middle School Science will teach you ways to support the development of science learning of middle school students. This includes consideration of the nature of science, methods for teaching science, strategies for assessing science learning, and pathways for developing into a professional science educator.

Major Program Requirements

Students must complete all university, general education, and content requirements, in addition to degree requirements. Please meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss degree requirements and to create a semester plan.

Teacher Education programs in the College of Education & Human Development are accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Curriculum changes mandated to earn teacher certification may become effective at any point during your academic program. Therefore, it is extremely important that you DO NOT SELF ADVISE.

Degree Requirements Sample Program

Cultural Diversity Requirement-Choose one of the following, or a course from the Multicultural Certificate Course List The course must be in addition to major Education and content course requirements (it cannot double dip with any other professional Education course requirement or content course requirement); however, it may count towards a general education requirement.3
Early Experiences
Experiencing Cultural Diversity in the United States
Multicultural Study of Children and Families
or Multicultural Certificate Course (https://multicultural.missouri.edu/application/course-list/)
LTC 1100Orientation1
or SPC_ED 1100 Orientation: Special Education
LTC 2200School Health and Student Wellbeing3
ESC_PS 2010Inquiry Into Learning I3
ESC_PS 2014Inquiry into Learning I - Field Experience1
or ESC_PS 2014H Inquiry into Learning I - Field Experience - Honors
LTC 2040Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I3
or LTC 2040H Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I - Honors
LTC 2044Inquiry into Schools, Community and Society: Field1
IS_LT 2467Inquiry into Empowering Learners with Technology3
Mid-Level Experiences
LTC 4340Middle School Science I4
LTC 4344Middle School Science Field I1
LTC 4460Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages3
or LTC 4460H Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - Honors
LTC 4560Reading and Writing in the Content Areas3
LTC 4350Middle School Science II3
LTC 4354Middle School Science Field Experience1
LTC 4565Reading and Writing in the Content Areas II3
SPC_ED 4020Teaching the Exceptional Learner3
Advanced-Level Experiences
LTC 4355Middle School Science Methods III3
LTC 4654Teach Sci MS/Sec Sch: Phil,Hist,Sci Inq,Curr,Assm & Tech III Fld1
LTC 4410Teaching, Engaging and Assessing Middle-Level Students3
ED_LPA 4060Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society II3
SPC_ED 4310Behavioral and Classroom Management3
LTC 4971Internship and Capstone Seminar12
Internship and Capstone Seminar - Honors (Honors students can choose to enroll in 6 credit hours of LTC 4971H and 6 credit hours of LTC 4971 to fulfill 12 credit hour requirement for Internship and Capstone Seminar.)
Content Area
CHEM 1320College Chemistry I4
or CHEM 1320H College Chemistry I - Honors
CHEM 1330College Chemistry II4
or CHEM 1330H College Chemistry II- Honors
PHYSCS 1210College Physics I4-5
or PHYSCS 2750 University Physics I
PHYSCS 1200Everyday Wonders: Explaining How Ordinary Things Work4
GEOL 1100Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory4
or GEOL 1200 Environmental Geology with Laboratory
or GEOL 1100H Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory - Honors
or GEOL 1200H Environmental Geology with Laboratory - Honors
ATM_SC 1050Introductory Meteorology3
or ATM_SC 1050H Introductory Meteorology - Honors
BIO_SC 1500Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory (Recommended ) (BIO_SC 1030: Transfer students only)3-5
or BIO_SC 1500H Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory Honors
or BIO_SC 1010
BIO_SC 1020
General Principles and Concepts of Biology
and General Biology Laboratory
or BIO_SC 1030 General Principles and Concepts of Biology with Laboratory
BIO_SC 1060Basic Environmental Studies3
or NAT_R 1070 Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources
or ENV_SC 1100 Introduction to Environmental Science
or ENV_SC 1100H Introduction to Environmental Science - Honors

Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student’s actual plan may vary based on course choices and where options are available.                      

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 11001LTC 22003
Cultural Diversity Requirement3IS_LT 24673
MATH 11003ENGLSH 10003
Humanities3BIO_SC 15005
American History or Government3Elective1
ATM_SC 10503 
 16 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ESC_PS 2010 or LTC 2040 (Social Science)3ESC_PS 2010 or LTC 2040 (Social Science)3
ESC_PS 2014 or LTC 20441ESC_PS 2014 or LTC 20441
Humanities3Humanities3
CHEM 13204CHEM 13304
Writing Intensive3GEOL 1200 or 11004
Social or Behavioral Science3 
 17 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 43404LTC 43503
LTC 43441LTC 43541
LTC 44603LTC 45653
LTC 45603SPC_ED 40203
PHYSCS 12004PHYSCS 1210 or 27504-5
 15 14-15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 43553LTC 497112
LTC 46541 
LTC 44103 
ED_LPA 40603 
SPC_ED 43103 
BIO_SC 1060, NAT_R 1070, or ENV_SC 11003 
 16 12
Total Credits: 120-121

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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