With this emphasis within the educational theory and practice degree, prepare to offer intellectual leadership and advocacy in middle grades education, including research, teacher education and other teaching in higher education, and leadership positions in local, state, regional, national, or international institutions or agencies. Your studies and research will address the needs of middle grades education locally, nationally, and globally with a focus on:

• The study of young adolescents and middle grades education within continually shifting institutional, socio-cultural, discursive, and political contexts
• Adult stakeholders who impact middle grades education
• Teaching and learning of the content areas in the context of middle grades education
• The structure and organization of educational environments serving young adolescents
• Middle grades school improvement efforts
• Curriculum, pedagogy, policy, and social justice issues in middle grades education