Accredited Online Secondary Education Degrees

Overview of Online Secondary Education Degrees

A bachelor's degree in secondary education is the minimum degree required in order to become a licensed secondary education teacher. Master's degrees are also available online for those who have completed an undergraduate degree not focused in education but want to become teachers. Master's programs are a good option for teachers looking to advance in their careers. There are some online certificate programs for those who have a non-teaching bachelor's degree and want to work as secondary education teachers, but who do not want to complete a full master's degree program.

Online Bachelor's Degrees in Secondary Education

A bachelor's degree is the minimum education necessary to become a fully licensed teacher.

Program Requirements

To be admitted to this level of program, students must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, provide standardized test scores from the SAT or ACT, and submit an application essay. Application materials vary depending on the school. Secondary education degree programs usually last between four to five years total and are offered by colleges and universities. Those who hold an associate degree can apply to transfer their credits and finish the bachelor degree in less time.

Curriculum

Students take general education courses as well as courses in pedagogy, educational psychology, curriculum development, and lesson planning. Students in secondary education programs also typically choose one to two subject areas in which they will take additional, advanced courses, such as math or sciences, in order to be qualified to teach in this subject area. Student teaching or internship experience will usually be required.

Upon graduation from a bachelor degree program, graduates can enroll in teacher certification programs in which they will work towards their professional teaching certificate. Some programs have teacher certification built into the program, while others do not. Each state has different teacher certification requirements, including background checks, student teaching experience, general teaching exams, and more.

Accreditation

Schools receive accreditation through a rigorous process of academic review against official standards by recognized third-party organizations. Accreditation is essential for a valid diploma on the job market or to transfer course credits between schools. In higher education, there are three kinds of accreditation: national, regional, and programmatic. National accreditation is geared towards mostly for-profit technical, career, or vocational schools, and is awarded by ten national accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education including the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), New York State Board of Regents, and the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). Regional accreditation is generally considered to be the most prestigious of accreditation designations. Therefore, regionally accredited schools do not normally accept credits that are transferred from nationally accredited schools.

Those looking to pursue a degree in secondary education should be sure to take courses at regionally accredited institutions from the start to ensure that their coursework will transfer if necessary and that their diploma will be valid if used towards a future graduate degree. Regional accreditation is awarded to not-for-profit, full degree institutions such as colleges and universities by one of six regional accrediting bodies in the U.S., recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Finally, programmatic accreditation is awarded by specialization or profession, such as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Individuals who wish to be teachers should enroll in a program that has been accredited by CAEP. This will ensure the student that they are receiving a quality education that will prepare them for their future careers. 

Licensing Requirements

Teacher requirements vary per state and must be verified individually on each state's department of education website; however, a bachelor's degree in teaching as well as a teaching license are standard requirements for teachers in secondary education. To get a teaching license with a non-teaching bachelor's degree an individual will have to complete an additional certification program or complete a master's degree in education. Many graduate programs in secondary education will offer initial teacher licensure for grades 7-12, setting the graduates up to teach in their desired field of specialization with targeted coursework.

Careers in Secondary Education

Secondary education involves the teaching, curriculum planning, administration, and counseling of middle and high school students. Those who wish to study secondary education may become teachers, principals, school district administrators, education counselors, college professors, education policymakers, or work in non-profit organizations or international schools. The day-to-day activities vary depending on the profession. While teachers spend their days planning lessons, grading papers or homework, and teaching in the classroom, administrators and policymakers deal with policies, research, and paperwork. Counselors work with students to plan their college or professional goals after high school graduation.