Bachelor of Science in Middle School Education

Do you have a passion for teaching and enjoy working with children and teenagers? Middle school students need teachers who understand the many changes they are experiencing as they transition between childhood and adulthood. Earn your bachelor's degree in Middle School Education from SBU, one of the leading producers of teachers in the region.

As a middle school education major, you will become certified in the state of Missouri to teach grades 5-9. Through coursework and in-class experiences at local schools, we prepare you to meet the needs of your students to ensure their success.

As part of our middle school education program, you will choose one content area for certification.

Content area choices include:

• Language arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Speech/Theatre

You are encouraged to pursue a minor in your content area. You also can become certified in more than one of our middle school content areas. Having certification in multiple areas makes you more versatile in the job market.

The SBU Advantage

• SBU's middle school education graduates have achieved a 100% pass rate for the past six years on the certification exams in three of the four core content areas (language arts, science, and social studies). A 100% pass rate has been achieved on the mathematics exam in five of the past six years, with an overall pass rate of 93% for all middle school content areas over the past six years.
• 100% of SBU's elementary education teacher candidates passed the Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment (MoPTA) completed during student teaching.
• Spend time in Bolivar Public Schools on their late-start Wednesdays to benefit from professional development opportunities.
• Engage in field experience opportunities beginning as early as your freshman year and culminating with your student teaching experience your senior year.
• Learn from faculty who are experts in their field and come from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, including public school, private school, and homeschool.
• Faculty are dedicated to helping you succeed and will work with you one-on-one to develop your resume, network for jobs, and pursue teaching certification in other states.

Founded in 1878, Southwest Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university offering more than 100 areas of academic study at undergraduate and graduate levels throughout four physical campuses in Bolivar, Mountain View, Salem, and Springfield, Mo., plus an online campus.

Founded in 1878, Southwest Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university with:

• More than 100 areas of academic study on undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels;
• Faculty who are passionate about you, your education, and your future success;
• Global service and mission projects to share your faith and develop as a servant leader;
• Vibrant campus life within a close-knit community for getting involved and developing lifelong friendships; and
• Five campuses throughout the southwest and south central Missouri. The 152-acre main campus is in Bolivar, Mo., population 10,300 about 25 minutes north of Springfield, Mo. Additional campuses are in Mountain View, Salem, and Springfield, Mo., and Online.

Liberal arts schools provide both breadth and depth. Breadth is offered across the curriculum with coursework in the arts, sciences, and humanities, with the goal of preparing students for life. Depth is provided through the major, which focuses on preparation for work in a specific field. In a Christian liberal arts education, the Christian lens is the primary lens for learning. Breadth and depth in a Christian liberal arts setting also mean a focus on critical thinking so that non-Christian perspectives are examined (but not endorsed) and students are prepared to serve in secular careers and in service to Christ.