Middle Grades Education: Additional Requirements by Concentration

The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that students complete prerequisite coursework before being considered for admission to this program. A prerequisite evaluation will be conducted when your application and all official transcripts are received. All prerequisite courses should be completed with a grade of C or better to count.

Language Arts

Applicants must have completed at least five courses (or 15 semester hours) in language arts including at least one composition course and at least one American or British literature course with other credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5156: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 156

Mathematics

Applicants must have completed at least five courses (or 15 semester hours) in mathematics of which at least three credits of calculus is recommended, with other math credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5158: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 173

Mathematics and Language Arts

Applicants must have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in mathematics of which at least three credits of calculus is recommended, with other math credits being at a similar level or beyond. Applicants must also have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in language arts including at least composition course and at least one American or British literature course with other credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5158: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 173
  • Test code 5156: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 156

Mathematics and Science

Applicants must have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in mathematics of which at least three credits of calculus is recommended, with other math credits being at a similar level or beyond. Applicants must also have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in science of which at least one life science, one earth science, and one physical science are recommended with other credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5158: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 173
  • Test code 5159: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Science
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 156

Mathematics and Social Studies

Applicants must have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in mathematics of which at least three credits of calculus is recommended, with other math credits being at a similar level or beyond. Applicants must also have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in social studies including a minimum of two courses in U.S. history, American government, or world history with other social studies credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5158: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 173
  • Test code 5157: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Social Studies
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 150

Science

Applicants must have completed at least five courses (or 15 semester hours) in science of which at least one life science, one earth science, and one physical science are recommended course with other credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5159: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Science
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 156

Science and Language Arts

Applicants must have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in language arts including at least one composition course and at least one American or British literature course with other credits being at a similar level or beyond. Applicants must also have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in science of which at least one life science, one earth science, and one physical science are recommended with other credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5159: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Science
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 156
  • Test code 5156: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 156

Social Studies

Applicants must have completed at least five courses (or 15 semester hours) in social studies including a minimum of two courses in U.S. history, American government, or world history with other social studies credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5157: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Social Studies
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 150

Social Studies and Science

Applicants must have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in social studies including a minimum of two courses in U.S. history, American government, or world history with other social studies credits being at a similar level or beyond. Applicants must also have completed at least four courses (or 12 semester hours) in science of which at least one life science, one earth science, and one physical science are recommended with other credits being at a similar level or beyond.

Praxis II Information

The official score report must demonstrate a passing score on the following tests.

  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
  • Praxis® PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155) 

Additionally, to be eligible for certification, all applicants must pass the relevant Praxis® Subject Assessment in their intended content area. Although not required, we recommend that applicants pass the subject-area test prior to admission.

  • Test code 5157: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Social Studies
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 150
  • Test code 5159: Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Science
    • Pennsylvania qualifying score: 156

Additional Testing Requirements

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was a language other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet the following minimums.

  • TOEFL iBT: 79
  • IELTS Academic: 6.5
  • PTE Academic: 53
     

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