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Education

Middle School Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Spark the creativity of students in the middle grades.

Remember that one teacher who inspired your passion for (insert your favorite subject)? Prepare to be that teacher.

To capture the interest and spark the imagination of learners in grades 5–8, you’ll need strategies for teaching the whole child. At Lesley, you’ll focus on the psychology of adolescence, preparing you to develop the most creative and relevant curriculum for this age group.

You'll blaze a trail as a leader and teacher in the world of education as your grow into your career as an educator, principal, special educator, community center director, or publisher. Our reimagined general education curriculum will prepare you to succeed in an increasingly complex, diverse, and global world.

As a Lesley graduate, you'll join the largest network of educators in New England, with more than 4,500 Lesley education graduates in the last five years alone. Become one of our amazing education alumni, who include Teachers of the Year and MacArthur “Genius” Fellows.

You'll learn innovative teaching techniques from Lesley’s expert faculty. You’ll also become an authority on a specific content area by choosing a second major from the liberal arts, designed for future educators like you.

You’ll also put your new knowledge and skills to the test in Greater Boston’s middle school classrooms. These hands-on, professional experiences will begin freshman year, and are designed to build your strengths working with different age groups and all types of learners in both urban and suburban educational settings. With hands-on guidance and support from our expert faculty and mentoring practitioners in the schools, you’ll be immersed in Cambridge, Boston, and surrounding towns including in private schools such as the Lesley Ellis School in Arlington, and the public schools in Belmont, Watertown, and Medford.

You'll have the benefit of Lesley's network of education alumni when seeking student-teaching opportunities and job leads. There are more than 4,500 Lesley education graduates in the last five years alone.

You can count on our career counselors and academic advisors to guide you through your transition from student to teacher, whether you have questions about teaching licenses, field experiences, or career opportunities.

Gain an initial teaching license

Our middle school education major leads to initial licensure as a teacher of General Science, Mathematics, English, or History in grades 5–8. You may qualify for positions involving work with middle school-aged children in a variety of middle school settings. Learn more about licensure.

Program Structure

Full-time or part-time on-campus program

120 Credits
Thinking about transferring here?

Log in to Transferology(link is external), add the courses you've taken, and see how they'll transfer to Lesley University.

Important Licensure Information

All Lesley University educator licensure programs comply with current Massachusetts educational requirements, as specified. In addition, Massachusetts participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement, which makes it possible for an educator to have their Massachusetts license/s recognized across the United States. Depending on your professional goals, where you reside or plan to teach, and the licensure structures that exist within that state, there are diverse pathways to licensure that may be relevant. In accordance with Lesley University’s institutional participation in SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) and with federal regulations, Lesley University strongly encourages prospective applicants who intend to pursue licensure in a state other than Massachusetts review the Lesley University Licensure and Credentialing page for more information.

“I want to make sure that everybody has equal access to a fantastic education.”
Rosie Heller ’16, Education Major
teacher and students at reading table

Choose a second major in the liberal arts.

In addition to your education major, you’ll go in-depth in a content area in one these majors:

Craft Creative Combinations
As a Middle School Education major at Lesley, you'll need to choose a second major from the approved list of liberal arts majors. You can also pursue one of our 45+ minors to become a more empathetic and informed teacher.

Force your own path with a creative combination:
Gain Skills and Expertise
Here’s a taste of what you’ll do in our Middle School Education program:
Students and a teacher crowding around a computer and circuit boards, finalizing their coding project

Small College, Big University

Within the dynamic environment of a larger university, you'll receive the personalized education of a small liberal arts college of 1,300 students and hands-on attention from specialized faculty. You'll also benefit from Lesley's reputation for providing the best teacher preparation in Massachusetts, where school principals prefer to hire our graduates.

$85,230
Average salary for middle school teachers in Massachusetts
Massachusetts the fourth highest paying state in the country for middle school teachers. Massachusetts is also among the states with the highest employment for middle school teachers, with 16,480 people employed in these roles. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024)
Internships & Careers
Get Classroom Experience
Through field placements that begin your first year, we help you connect with the places that fit. These connections will launch you into your teaching career. All internships are guided by expert faculty and mentoring practitioners in the schools. Theory will come alive as you develop your professional self in the classroom. You'll be immersed in diverse public and private schools in Cambridge, Boston, and surrounding towns:
doble campus during the fall

Cambridge is our campus. Boston is our neighbor.

As an education major at Lesley, you'll take classes on our three beautiful Cambridge campuses. You'll explore passions to then weave into your teaching. You'll discover the Cambridge and Boston area—a dynamic hub of internships, professional opportunities, service work, culture, and fun that few other cities can match.

Approximate cost, before financial aid, for one year of study in this undergraduate program. Tuition and fees are for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Use our step-by-step guide to apply for federal, state, and university funding. Scholarships, grants, Work-Study, and loans. It’s all right here.

Next steps to apply

Ready to get started? We're here to make the application process as smooth as possible. Just answer a few quick questions, and get your customized application guide.