Secondary Education Programs
The U.S. public school teacher shortage has motivated schools to offer more secondary education online degrees, attracting future teachers with their convenience. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual salary of $65,220 for high school teachers. The position garners a wage higher than the median annual salary of $40K for all occupations.
Many education graduate programs view a degree in secondary education as meeting the educational requirement for admission. Online teaching degree holders who pursue a graduate degree in education can qualify for postsecondary teaching jobs or top-level research positions. A secondary education program also prepares graduates for non-classroom jobs, including career counselors, corporate trainers, and instructional designers.
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Online Secondary Education Programs 2024
Teaching Secondary Education? Ask these Questions
How long does it take to earn a degree in secondary education?
A bachelor's degree in secondary education typically comprises 120 credits and takes four years of full-time enrollment to complete.
What is a degree in secondary education?
With a teaching license, a secondary education online degree qualifies holders to teach grades 7-12, or middle and high school subjects.
Can you teach middle school with a secondary education degree?
Yes. In many U.S. school districts, graduates of a secondary education program can teach middle school subjects.
What can I do with a degree in secondary education?
Aside from qualifying graduates to teach at the high school and middle school levels, a degree in secondary education can also lead to jobs in curriculum development, education administration, and career counseling.
Why Get a Degree in Secondary Education?
An accredited degree in secondary education meets the educational requirement for a teaching license in most states. Additionally, a secondary education program provides excellent preparation for postgraduate study in education or a related field.
Earning a secondary education online degree often saves enrollees time and money. Many programs follow accelerated delivery schedules, allowing students to graduate earlier than most on-campus enrollees. Online learners do not incur additional housing and transportation expenses, which can yield substantial savings during a four-year program.
How Much Does a Secondary Education Degree Cost?
National Center for Education Statistics data shows undergraduate attendance costs at public four-year institutions came to an average of $20,598 in 2018-19. One year of enrollment at a private nonprofit college or university amounted to $47,541 on average. Both figures include tuition, fees, room, and board. Students can expect to pay similar amounts for a bachelor's degree in secondary education.
Online enrollees often do not pay for on-campus room and board, significantly lowering the cost of attendance. Without on-campus housing expenses, students paid $9,212 to attend public institutions and $34,758 to enroll at private nonprofit schools. In addition, some schools allow out-of-state online enrollees to pay in-state tuition. This savings opportunity could prove significant, so students should find out if a prospective institution offers this option.
How Much Do Secondary Education Majors Make?
Several factors influence the salary levels of secondary educators, including their professional arena and state. BLS data shows elementary and secondary schools hire the highest number of professionals in this field, with 979,330 positions in 2020. However, state government agencies and religious organizations pay the highest mean salaries for secondary educators at $83,010 and $70,580, respectively.
The states that paid the highest salaries for secondary school teachers include New York, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Professionals in these states garnered annual mean wages of $88,890, $86,900, $84,130, $78,900, and $78,510, respectively.
A degree in secondary education qualifies graduates to become career or technical education teachers at vocational schools or junior colleges. Secondary education degree-holders who earn a master's in education typically qualify to teach collegiately. Postsecondary teachers earn a median annual salary of $79,540. The BLS projects a 9% growth rate for these jobs, much higher than the average growth rate of 4% for all occupations.
Courses in Secondary Education
A secondary education program usually requires degree candidates to declare two majors: secondary education and their future subject. A typical secondary education curriculum includes coursework in assistive technology, instructional strategies, and characteristics and development of adolescent learners.
Secondary education programs include fieldwork allowing students to observe teachers in an actual classroom setting. Candidates undergo supervised contact with high school or middle school enrollees, usually as teacher aides. The courses below represent some of the most common classes in a secondary education program.
Frameworks in Education
Students examine the structure and foundation of U.S. education. Participants study the various social, political, economic, and legal issues impacting the quality and delivery of educational services. The course helps enrollees identify and develop the skills and knowledge required for a successful teaching career.Instructional Strategies for Adolescent Students
The class introduces different teaching components and how to create a supportive and positive learning environment for adolescent students. Learners design lesson plans and implement classroom strategies addressing the educational and behavioral needs of diverse student populations.Pedagogy and Assessment in Effective Instruction
Degree-seekers learn how to interpret and use data from standardized tests and other assessments in making instructional decisions. The course guides students in assessing students' developmental and academic needs and developing culturally sensitive pedagogy to address those needs within their content areas.
Certifications and Licensure for Secondary Education
States require secondary school teachers to acquire licensure before they begin their teaching career. State education boards determine licensure requirements, so they vary by state. Industry-recognized professional organizations administer different certifications, but most states do not require them. That said, certification presents the holder as a committed professional with specialized knowledge and skills in specific practice areas.
Board Certification in Special Education
The American Academy of Special Education Professionals reserves this credential for master's-trained special education practitioners. Applicants must complete five certificates of advanced professional development in areas including principles of IEP development and response to intervention. After completing the certificates, applicants must pass a 50-question multiple choice exam.Certified Health Education Specialist
The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing administers the CHES credential. The certification measures a candidate's interpretation and application of knowledge in the seven areas of responsibility as specified in A Competency-Based Framework for Health Education Specialists 2015. Applicants must show completion of at least 25 credits of accredited coursework directly relevant to the areas of responsibility.Science Teacher Certification
The American Board awards the certification to applicants with at least a bachelor's degree who pass a standard background check. The program requires candidates pass the Professional Teaching Knowledge Exam (PTK), consisting of 145 multiple choice questions and a writing component. Applicants must also pass the American Board General Science Exam after the PTK.Scholarships for Secondary Education
The critical need for teachers usually means that education students can find financial support from various sources, starting with institutional aid. Students in or entering a secondary education program can explore scholarship opportunities from professional organizations and nonprofit private groups, like those below.
| Scholarship | Amount | Who Can Apply |
|---|---|---|
Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Physics Teachers | $2,000 | The American Association of Physics Teachers accepts applications from undergraduate students enrolled in a physics teacher preparation program. Applicants submit recommendation letters. |
Edward G. and Helen A. Borgens Secondary Teacher Scholarship | $1,500 | Applicants of at least sophomore status enrolled in a program leading to a secondary school teacher career can apply. The Daughters of the American Revolution sponsor the program. |
Prospective 7-12 Secondary Teacher Course Work Scholarship | $10,000 | Texas Instruments Demana-Waits Fund supports this program for full-time students pursuing a degree leading to a career as a certified teacher of secondary school mathematics. Applicants of at least sophomore status qualify with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. |
