ABSTRACT
This case study describes the local context and explains the details of the Middle Level Education degree programs at the University of South Carolina Aiken. The authors explain how their programs are operationalized and specialized in one content area while facilitating add-on certification in a second area. As a dedicated middle years program, the Middle Level Education degree prepares teacher candidates to work with young adolescent learners. Key to the success of their program is the coursework and diverse field experiences that provide multiple opportunities for candidates to obtain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to meet the standards established by the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). An interesting feature of this chapter is the explanation of how faculty are actively involved in national and state MLE leadership in the United States. This connection enables teacher candidates to collaborate with faculty and share research projects through state-wide conference presentations and professional publications. The authors claim a unique component of their program is their partnership with local middle level schools that serve as professional development schools.
