Online Professional Certificate in Middle Education (6-8)
Accelerate Your Pursuit of Middle School Professional Licensure
Online
18 Months
30 Credit Hours
$490 Per Credit
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Strengthen Your Skillset With a University Known for Teacher Education
- Apply By: 08/17/26
- Start Class: 08/31/26
Gain the expertise to optimize classroom settings for diverse student populations through the online Professional Studies Certificate, Middle Education (6-8). This CAEP-accredited program enhances your instructional effectiveness by emphasizing reflective teaching practices.
This program is intentionally aligned with Virginia licensure requirements and state approval is currently in progress. Shenandoah is a member of NC-SARA, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Certificate Details
- No application fee
- Flexible, asynchronous courses
- Designed for those seeking to transition from provisional to full professional teaching licensure
- Individualized mentorship by supportive faculty and staff
Our Industry-Aligned Curriculum Supports Your Path to Professional Licensure
12 Courses
Flexible Scheduling for Working Teachers
The online professional certificate – middle education curriculum was intentionally designed to facilitate your pursuit of professional Virginia licensure as a middle school teacher. This program leverages your current provisional teaching license and will include hands-on experiences in a classroom setting at your current place of employment.
Shenandoah’s dedicated faculty proudly support your goals through individualized mentorship and sharing their own experiences as educators. Flexible, asynchronous coursework deepens your understanding of the historical and social foundations of education while advancing your ability to design instruction based on assessment data.
Required Online Professional Certificate – Middle Education Courses
PSYP 510: Human Growth and Learning – 3 credits
This course provides a means for teachers and prospective teachers to improve their effectiveness in the classroom, and for supervisors to aid in the strengthening of professional development in teachers. It brings the discipline of educational psychology to the educator along with the summary of research findings that assist in developing a more reflective teacher.
EDU 510: The Teaching Profession – 3 credits
This course helps students understand the historical, social and philosophical foundations underlying the role, development and organization of U.S. public education and instructional design based on assessment data. The legal status of teachers and students including federal and state laws and regulations, school as an organizational culture and contemporary issues in education are addressed. In practica, students observe and participate in limited ways in the activities of the school.
EDU 633: Integrated Language Arts – 3 credits
This course is an overview of curriculum and instruction in the elementary and middle school language arts programs. This course integrates current theory and research in language development, reading methods and diagnostic procedures with specific methods for teaching reading, writing, spelling, grammar, listening and speech in PreK-6 and 6-8 classrooms. Skills in this area are designed to impart a thorough understanding of the complex nature of language acquisition and reading, to include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development and comprehension strategies for elementary and adolescent learners.
EDU 584: Classroom Management / School Climate – 3 credits
A comprehensive review of classroom management theories, designs, and strategies that produce positive learning environments, coupled with the study of ways to engineer effective school climates. Individual research resulting in a term paper or the equivalent is required. This course is one of the required courses for teacher licensure in Virginia. Course includes field placement in area elementary/middle/ secondary school.
RDG 635: Literacy in the Content Areas – 3 credits
This course includes a study of the teaching and learning strategies necessary for developing basic literacy skills in the content areas. Teacher candidates will focus on assessing and improving PreK-12 student achievement in content disciplines by implementing effective, research-based practices for teaching reading and writing. In practica, teacher candidates will tutor children struggling with literacy.
EDU 640: Assessment of and for Learning (Middle/Secondary) – 3 credits
This course focuses on the best practices of evaluating all learners’ performance, including the relationships among assessment, instruction, monitoring student progress and adapting assessments for diverse learners in middle/ secondary classrooms. Course includes field practicum in an area school and meets the requirements for middle and secondary initial teacher licensure as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education.
EDU 649: Curriculum and Instruction (Middle/Secondary) – 3 credits
This course focuses on principles of learning, application of pedagogical skills in middle and secondary settings and selection and use of materials including technology. Research-based best practices for large group, small group, individualized instruction and students with diverse and/or special needs are discussed. This course includes field practicum in an area school and meets the requirements for middle/secondary initial teacher licensure as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education.
Methods Elective (select one)
EDU 536: Science Methods – 3 credits
Students will examine science education at the elementary school level from philosophical, historical and a current and practical perspectives.
EDU 561: Methods of Teaching Social Studies – 3 credits
This course presents effective elementary and middle school teaching of social studies methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning. This course examines research-based best practices for large group, small group or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. This research-based course includes field placement in area elementary/middle school.
EDU 563: Methods of Math – 3 credits
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a mathematics course that helps them develop ability to do mathematics and have insights into the learning of mathematics. Emphasis is placed on concepts and theories underlying elementary and middle school mathematics. Topics emphasized include early fraction concepts, understanding of rational number computation, proportional reasoning, geometry and measurement.
EDU 610: Management & Mentorship I – 1.5 credits
In this course students will study and implement effective teaching methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning according to research-based best practices for large group, small group, or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. Course includes field placement in area schools.
EDU 611: Management & Mentorship II – 1.5 credits
In this course students will study and implement effective teaching methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning according to research-based best practices for large group, small group, or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. Course includes field placement in area schools.
EDU 615: Management & Mentorship III – 1.5 credits
In this course students will study and implement effective teaching methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning according to research-based best practices for large group, small group, or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. Course includes field placement in area schools.
EDU 616: Management & Mentorship IV – 1.5 credits
In this course students will study and implement effective teaching methods and management strategies for improving achievement, aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning according to research-based best practices for large group, small group, or individualized instruction, and including students with diverse and/or special needs. Course includes field placement in area schools.
Go Further With Teaching Licensure or Endorsements
Continuing your education will unlock rewarding opportunities in your teaching career. Some positions in education require a teaching licensure, certification, or endorsement. Licensure and certification requirements vary among states, but Shenandoah is committed to helping you graduate ready to succeed in a vital and evolving industry.
To explore your options for becoming a professional licensed teacher, or to learn about add-on teacher endorsements, visit our Teaching Licensure and Certification page.
Secure Professional Licensure to Advance Your Career
Increase your job security and move up the salary scale by completing the online professional certificate – middle education program. Recent statistics show that Virginia is facing a shortage of credentialed educators1, so earning your professional license as a middle school teacher cements your status as a valued professional with no shortage of opportunities. Start today and begin making a lasting impact on the lives of students.
Gain Career-Focused Education Credentials
Middle School Teacher $62,970 per year2
Number of Jobs Nationwide 633,700 in 20242
Value of a Certificate
Upon completion of this certificate, you’ll be ready to sit for the Praxis examination of your choice and transition from provisional to professional licensure as a Virginia middle school teacher. Take advantage of small class sizes to form meaningful connections with fellow students who can help grow your professional network. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn from supportive faculty who know your name and are invested in your future success.
Develop the real-world expertise to transform learning environments and improve student performance through our inquiry-based coursework. This CAEP-accredited program is designed to offer you a faster, more direct path to professional licensure than a full master’s degree program. Should your goals change, you can apply all earned credits toward a higher credential and reduce the time needed to earn it.
Foster Positive Middle School Learning Environments When You Learn How To:
- Understand school culture and the roles of educators, and accurately observe, interpret and reflect on middle-level classroom environments.
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of adolescent development — physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive — and apply this knowledge to guide instructional decisions for diverse learners.
- Implement inquiry-based, standards-aligned STEM and science instruction, including integration of engineering, computer science and cross content connections.
- Design and deliver effective social studies instruction that is responsive to learners with disabilities, English language learners and students from minority socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Develop and apply mathematics pedagogy that strengthens students’ mathematical understanding and supports learning through observation and interaction.
- Implement evidence‑based classroom management strategies, design and analyze student assessments (including technology‑enhanced tools) and collaborate with teachers, peers and specialists through co‑teaching, feedback cycles and reflective practice to enhance instructional effectiveness and student learning.
- Support content area literacy development, including vocabulary instruction, comprehension strategies, background knowledge building and writing to learn across subjects.
- Demonstrate readiness for supervised clinical practice by planning, teaching, reflecting, completing a Teacher Work Sample (TWS) and maintaining a professional e-portfolio.
How to Apply for the Online Professional Certificate – Middle Education
Application Deadline 08/17/26
Start Date 08/31/26
Don’t leave your career aspirations on hold. Begin your online professional certificate – middle education program sooner by taking advantage of a simple admission process that requires no application fee or entrance exams. We offer multiple start dates each year to eliminate any long waits before starting classes. After reviewing the following table to ensure you meet the qualifications, submit your application today.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Degree and Minimum GPA | Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a preferred minimum GPA of 3.0; however, applicants with GPA below a 3.0 are welcome to apply and will be reviewed holistically |
| Transcripts |
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| Additional Requirements | Must be the current instructor of record in a K-12 classroom and hold a Virginia provisional teaching license. Must also submit the following:
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International Students
If you are an international student, you must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. To do so, you may be required to meet the minimum requirement for one of the following exams: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test (DET). Fill out a Request for Information form to speak to an engagement specialist and learn more.
| TOEFL Minimum Requirement | 79 |
|---|---|
| IELTS Minimum Requirement | 6.5 |
| PTE Minimum Requirement | 53 |
| Duolingo Minimum Requirement | 105 |
How This Certificate Fits Your Budget
$490 Cost per Credit
30 Total Credits
Invest in your future with the online professional certificate – middle education program. Designed to offer you a cost-effective path to enhancing your teaching acumen, this career-focused program features pay-by-the-course tuition to minimize the financial challenges of pursing licensure as a middle school teacher. Earning this important credential helps your resume stand out to educational administrators and elevates your earning potential.
Tuition & AidSources
- Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC). “Virginia’s K-12 Teacher Pipeline.” Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://jlarc.virginia.gov/landing-2023-virginias-k-12-teacher-pipeline.asp.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Middle School Teachers.” Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/middle-school-teachers.htm.