2023 Best Online Certificate in Secondary Education

The University of Phoenix is a private institution with an online Certificate in Graduate Initial Teacher/Secondary Education requiring the completion of 24 credit hours. Typically, students graduate in 13 months while studying full time. The University of Phoenix accepts 100% of applicants, with 27% of students graduating.

All online courses at University of Phoenix are delivered through the Blackboard Ultra learning management system. This software allows students to study completely online and asynchronously through five- to six-week courses. This certificate offers a licensure track and master's credits. The core requirements feature Structured English Immersion, Secondary Content Methods, and Effective Learning Climates. Additionally, students must complete 100 hours of clinical experience and additional clinical practice based on their state's licensure requirements. Secondary schools may hire students as mathematics, social studies, and English teachers.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) is a public university offering an online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Special Education Mild/Moderate Secondary Grades 6-12 for post-licensed teachers in Louisiana. There are 18 credit hours that full-time students can complete in less than one year. The acceptance rate at NSULA is 96%, and the graduation rate is 43%.

Students at NSULA use the Moodle learning management system to access their courses remotely in an asynchronous format. The curriculum highlights instructional practices, technologies, and services through required classes, such as Behavior Management & Modification for School Settings, Interactive Teaming and Physical and Medical Management, and Professional Development for K-12 Technology Integration. Students must also complete Praxis exams in teaching applications, core content, and disabilities. Graduates often gain employment as special education teachers.

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus (ENMU) is a public university that offers an online Alternative Licensure Certificate in Secondary Education requiring 18 credit hours. Students studying on a full-time schedule complete similar programs in less than one year. The acceptance rate at ENMU is 33%, and the graduation rate is 46%.

Students at ENMU use the Canvas learning management system to access their courses, which are entirely online through live, synchronous modalities. This licensure program is designed for bachelor's graduates with previous teaching experience in New Mexico. The curriculum features Content Area Literacy, Diversity Issues in Secondary Education, Instructional Design for Educators, Praxis exams, and an internship. Graduates may advance their careers in secondary teaching to full-time roles.

ENMU also offers an Endorsement in Spanish with Elementary/Special Education and Secondary Education Licensure requiring 26 credits. This alternative is focused on Spanish culture and language, specifically.

Wilson Community College (WCC) is a public college offering an online Certificate in School-Age Education - School-Age Development that requires 66 credit hours and does not include a licensure track. Students can complete this program in approximately two years while studying full time. The acceptance rate at WCC is 100%, with 31% of students graduating.

At WCC, students use Moodle for remote courses completed entirely online and on a flexible study schedule. This online program covers teaching tools and techniques for elementary and middle school children. Students learn how to develop classroom initiatives and coursework based on children's age and developmental stages. Required classes include Child Guidance, Children with Exceptionalities, and Principle and Practices of the Instructional Assistant. An internship is also required. Graduates may explore teaching roles as paraprofessional teachers in after-school programs, childcare centers, and public/private schools.

Pima Community College (PCC) is a public college offering an online Post-Degree Certificate in Secondary Education that requires between 31 and 34 credit hours. Students can complete this program in approximately one year while studying full time. PCC has an open admissions policy, with 17% of students reaching graduation.

At PCC, students use Brightspace for remote courses completed entirely online and on a flexible study schedule. This certificate prepares students to take the elementary education certificate in Arizona to become licensed teachers. The comprehensive coursework features core classes such as 21st Century Learning, Secondary Teaching Methods, and Structured English Immersion. Students must also complete an internship or traditional practicum and supervised student-teaching sessions. Graduates may explore roles in public and private schools as secondary teachers.

The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) is a public institution with an online Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education requiring 24 credit hours. Students studying full time will likely complete the certificate in 11 months. UAS accepts 56% of its applicants, while 38% of students graduate.

UAS uses Blackboard to deliver its online coursework. This software allows students to finish their certificates entirely online, with most courses taken asynchronously. Students should hold a master's degree in teaching before enrolling in this program. Coursework includes Alaska Resources, People, and Perspectives; Curriculum Development; and Inclusive Education for Students with Disabilities. Students are also required to complete a year-long internship in an Alaskan school. Career paths include professional teaching roles for grades 6-12.

The University of West Georgia (UWG) is a public university with an online Education Specialist in Secondary Education. There are ten concentrations available, including mathematics and history, with each requiring a minimum of 27 credit hours. Full-time students can graduate in approximately one year. UWG has a 70% acceptance rate and a 49% graduation rate.

UWG students use CourseDen from Desire2Learn as their primary learning management system, where they complete courses 100% online and asynchronously. The curriculum teaches classroom techniques and practices, such as curriculum design and leadership, with an additional focus on education research. Required classes include Content Area Literacy Instruction, Contemporary Issues in Education, and Teacher as Leader. Students are also required to complete an investigative final project. Career opportunities for education specialists, secondary teachers, and librarians may be available.

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus (OSU) is a public university that hosts an online Graduate Certificate in Effective Teaching in Secondary Schools. Students must complete 12 credit hours to graduate, which they can achieve in less than one year on a full-time schedule. OSU's acceptance rate is 68%, with 64% of students graduating.

Online students at OSU use Canvas to complete their fully online coursework. The curriculum allows students to seek permanent licensure in Oklahoma by learning classroom management techniques, teaching strategies, and education research methods. Required courses include Effective Classroom Management for Secondary Schools, Teaching and Learning in the Secondary Schools, and Methods for Teaching Secondary Science. Students are also required to complete a practicum for early-career secondary teachers. Graduates of similar programs seek professional teaching positions at private and public schools.

Franklin University is a private university that offers an online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Adolescence to Young Adult Education (7-12). Specializations include math, English language arts, and social studies. This online certificate requires 78 credit hours, which students generally complete in two to three years while studying full time. Franklin accepts 100% of applicants, while 41% of students graduate on average.

BlueQuill is the primary learning platform Franklin students use for their coursework, completed 100% online through synchronous and asynchronous modalities. The curriculum features teaching strategies, education principles, reading and writing processes, and instruction design. There are some required classes, such as Classroom Assessment, Technology in the Classroom, and Education in Diverse Society. Upon graduation, students can apply for their teacher's license in Ohio. Additional credits are needed for field experience and student teaching. Graduates can advance into professional teaching positions once a state license is achieved.

The University of Missouri at Saint Louis (UMSL) is a public university with an online Graduate Certificate in Secondary School Teaching requiring the completion of 37 credit hours. Typically, students graduate in approximately one year while studying full time. UMSL accepts 57% of applicants, with 59% of students graduating.

All online courses at UMSL are delivered through the Canvas learning management system. This program allows students to study completely online and at an asynchronous pace. This certificate is for bachelor's graduates not pursuing a master's degree in secondary education. The core classes include Instructional Design, Foundations of Education, and Teaching Reading in the Content Areas. Additionally, students must complete a clinical experience and site-based practicum. Graduates can apply for an Initial Professional Certificate (IPC) in Missouri to work in public and private schools.

Mercer University (MU) is a private university offering an online Education Specialist in Secondary Education (The Accomplished Teacher) requiring 30 credit hours. Students can choose from endorsements in online learning, autism, STEM, computer science, and more. The expected completion time for this certificate is 16 months. The acceptance rate at MU is 75%, and the graduation rate is 61%.

Students at MU use the Canvas learning management system to access their coursework, which is entirely online. Courses may come in synchronous and asynchronous formats. This program is for master's certified teachers who wish to advance their understanding of education theory, curriculum design, pedagogy, and diversity. There are required courses such as Socio-Political Influences in Education, Trends and Issues in P-12 Education, and Curriculum and Assessment for Students with Disabilities. Students who choose the reading endorsement must complete a clinical practicum. Graduates may earn career opportunities as tutors, secondary teachers, and education specialists.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) is a public university offering an online Graduate Certificate in Teaching - Middle Grades and Secondary Education: Career and Technical Education that requires 16 credit hours. Within the career and technical education concentration are specializations in business, technology, family and consumer sciences, and marketing. Students can complete each program in less than one year while studying full time. The acceptance rate at UNCC is 79%, with 62% of students graduating.

At UNCC, students use Canvas for remote courses, which are taken entirely online through synchronous and asynchronous modalities. This program explores education reform, classroom diversity, lesson implementation, and instructional tasks. Required classes include Equity and Education, Methods in Teaching Career and Technical Education, and Planning for K-12 Instruction. A student teaching/internship experience is also required. Graduates may apply for the North Carolina Initial Standard Professional I teaching license and pursue employment at public and private schools.

Georgia Southern University (GSU) is a public institution with an online Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning - Secondary Education (Grades 6-12) requiring 33 credit hours. Concentrations are available in various subjects, including business, chemistry, English, and history. Students studying full time will likely complete the certificate in one year. GSU accepts 91% of its applicants, while 53% of students graduate.

GSU uses Folio to deliver its online coursework. This software allows students to finish their certificates entirely online and on a schedule that meets their needs. This research-driven curriculum combines practical and theoretical skills for students seeking a teaching certificate upgrade in Georgia. Required classes include Educational Statistics, Teacher Leadership, and Applied Qualitative Research Methods. Students are also required to complete a capstone project before they graduate and pursue a secondary-level teaching position.

Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public university with an online Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education Professional Studies. This certificate requires 12 credit hours, which full-time distance learners can complete in under a year. Students are accepted into ODU at a rate of 96%, with 57% graduating.

ODU students use Canvas as their primary learning management system, where they complete courses 100% online, some of which are delivered in live sessions. This cohort-based certificate is designed for students with provisional teaching licenses in Virginia. Students will learn how to educate classrooms through content development and behavioral management. Required classes include Human Growth and Development, Foundations of Education, and Reading Across the Content Areas. Students are also required to complete field experience through a practicum or internship.

Alternatively, ODU offers a Post Baccalaureate Endorsement in Secondary Education 6-12 (Licensure). Career opportunities for either certificate involves becoming a secondary teacher in public or private schools.

Columbus State University (CSU) is a public university that hosts an online Educational Specialist in Secondary Education Mathematics. There are also English, science, and social science concentrations. Students must complete between 30 and 33 credit hours to graduate, which can be done in approximately one year on a full-time schedule. CSU's acceptance rate is 79%, with 43% of students reaching graduation.

Online students at CSU use Desire2Learn to complete their coursework, delivered online through an asynchronous format. This online certificate program in secondary education is for licensed teachers with two years of experience. The curriculum teaches content development, leadership, and pedagogical skills inside and outside the classroom. Required courses include Curriculum Studies: Mathematics Education, Developing Teacher Leaders, and Integrating Multicultural Approaches into Project-based Instruction. Students are also required to develop a specialist portfolio and have the option of completing an internship. Graduates may upgrade their teacher certifications to become full-time secondary teachers in Georgia.

Pace University is a private institution that offers an online Advanced Certificate in Literacy Specialist - Middle Childhood/Adolescent (grades 5–12). This 21-credit program is generally completed in one year while studying full time. Pace accepts 88% of applicants, while 60% of students graduate.

Brightspace is the primary learning platform Pace students use for this 100% online certificate. Coursework may be delivered synchronously or asynchronously. This certificate is designed for master's degree holders and uses a research-based curriculum focused on multimodal literacy. There are required classes such as Adolescent Content Literacies in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Settings, Literacy Instruction and Technological Applications for a Diverse Population of Students in the Middle Grades, and Assessment in Reading and Writing. Additional credits are required for a practicum in literacy. Once completed, graduates are eligible for careers as full-time secondary teachers.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) is a public university offering a hybrid online/on-site Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Secondary Education, which requires a total of 36 credit hours. Students studying on a full-time schedule complete similar programs in 18 months. The acceptance rate at UHM is 70%, and the graduation rate is 63%.

Students at UHM use the Laulima learning management system to access their synchronous courses, which are mostly online with some campus requirements. This certificate program is designed for bachelor's degree holders who wish to earn initial teacher licenses. The core curriculum features education theory and adolescent classroom principles and practices. There are required courses, such as Engaging the Adolescent Learner, Foundation of Educational Theory, Teaching in the Subject Field, and a teaching residency and practicum. Graduates may earn career opportunities as secondary teachers in public and private schools in Hawaii.