At CUC, you'll have the exciting opportunity to learn about the developmental need and abilities of young adolescents as you prepare to educate and shape the minds of the future. 

Whether earning a degree as a Middle Grades educator or earning a Middle Grades endorsement, your educational courses will help you to connect theory to practice. You will engage in many exciting high-quality instructional experiences both in and out of the collegiate classroom as you engage with many of our partnering middle schools.

As a Middle Grades educator, you will develop a strong foundational knowledge base in two of the following content areas: literacy, math, science, social studies, art, physical education, or music.

A Middle Grades Endorsement added to either an elementary or secondary education program enables you to extend your Professional Educator License (PEL) to includes grades 5-8.

In addition to your general education and content courses, you will receive training in specific education courses, which focus on teaching in diverse classrooms, differentiated instruction, classroom management and assessment, and teaching literacy throughout the content area.

As a teacher candidates must complete a rigorous 16-week student teaching internship in real classrooms—this means you are managing and teaching a class of your own and building your resume before you even graduate.

You will be trained by experienced educators who themselves are teachers with years of practical classroom experience. Our faculty understand the day-to-day challenges you will encounter because they have been there themselves. They strive to thoroughly prepare you for the realities you will face as a teacher.

Concordia-Chicago's location near Chicago provides access to a rich socioeconomic learning environment at the crossroads of urban and suburban communities. Originally founded as the Addison Teachers Seminary in 1864, the University has a 150-year track record of producing some of the most qualified teachers in the country.

More than a dozen CUC graduates have been recognized by the highly prestigious Golden Apple Foundation for outstanding teaching, which speaks volumes about the level of training you will receive.

In addition to your student teaching experience, the Office of Career Services also participates in Teacher Fest, with more than 100 Illinois school districts in attendance looking for teaching candidates.

This is also a way to build strong contacts and meet hiring principals face-to-face. Concordia-Chicago also partners with the Illinois Small College Placement Association as well as CareerRookie, which provides extensive databases of internships, jobs and resources to help you shape your future.

• A completed admission application for Concordia University Chicago.
• Official transcripts of all college coursework from each institution you have attended.
• Foreign transcripts evaluated by a Concordia-Chicago-approved international credentialing service. Concordia-Chicago accepts evaluations from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
• A certified document pledging financial support for your first year of study and without any unexpected events, and enough funding from the same or an equally dependable source for the following years.
• Proof of graduation from a secondary school.
• A transfer verification form for students transferring from a school in the United States.
• Proof of English proficiency, via one of the following:
• A score of at least 72 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) — Concordia-Chicago’s DI code is 1140
• A score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Successful completion of Level 112 at an ELS Language School (ELS) or a certificate of completion of program from an English Language Institute (ELI), along with a recommendation of the program director
• Duolingo test with a minimum score of 95