2023 Best Online Secondary Education Degrees

What Is a Bachelor's in Secondary Education Degree?

Secondary educators — both middle school and high school teachers — provide a significant service to their students. They help young people acquire the necessary knowledge, social abilities, and life skills for adult life. 

A bachelor's degree program in secondary education is designed to give you the information and tools you'll need to work successfully with young people in the classroom. By learning the current learning theories and strategies in education, you'll discover how to design engaging lesson plans, encourage learning with different types of students, and manage your classroom effectively.

There are three major types of secondary education bachelor's degrees — a Bachelor of Education (BEd), a Bachelor of Arts (BA), and a Bachelor of Science (BS). BEd programs typically focus on the practice of teaching, making it a great choice for those who plan to become teachers. BA and BS programs cover both the study of learning and the practice of teaching, which may prepare you for a broader range of roles in education. These roles include teacher, learning designer, or administrator. BA programs emphasize the arts and humanities, while BS programs emphasize math and science.

Secondary Education Degrees and State Licensure

To legally work as a teacher, you'll need to obtain state licensure, often called a teaching credential. If you're considering earning your secondary education degree online, it's important to choose a program that will help you meet all of the requirements in the state where you plan to work, not just the state in which your college is located. 

Each state has its own unique requirements. For example, states may have different specifications about a teacher candidate's training to teach different subjects and grade levels. You may want to explore your state's specific secondary education requirements for licensure before enrolling in a program. Be sure to confirm that your program's courses, fieldwork, and practicum hours will prepare you for sitting for the teaching credential exam and qualify you for a teaching credential. 

Degree Requirements

Bachelor's programs in secondary education require the completion of approximately 120 credit hours. About half of the required courses cover general education subjects, such as math, literature, and science, while the other half are core courses and electives in secondary education. Most full-time students take four to five years to complete a program, while part-time learners may need more time. 

Secondary education degree programs include several field experiences as you progress through a program. Again, these program components are designed to help you meet the requirements to earn your state teaching license or credential after graduation.

Depending on the program, fieldwork can take several forms — in-class observation, internships, and unpaid student teaching, for example. The final degree requirement for most programs is the completion of one or two semesters of full-time student teaching. Some programs will work with your local institutions to help you find these fieldwork placements. 

Education Courses

The curriculum for a bachelor's degree in secondary education is based on the grade level that future graduates intend to teach. For example, if prospective educators plan to teach middle school, they would typically take courses about how to instruct their students on an array of subjects, such as English, math, and history. By contrast, future high school teachers are more likely to take classes focused on teaching a single content area. 

All programs, however, include general education classes, foundational courses about pedagogy, and electives in practical teaching methods and skills. The following courses are often found in secondary education bachelor's programs:

Admissions

Colleges may set different application deadlines, so it's important to know the exact deadlines of the school or schools of your choice. In general, however, prospective students may submit their applications as early as the beginning of the academic year preceding the fall semester when they plan to start attending college. 

When you're submitting your online college application, you may be asked for several of the following documents:

• Official high school or GED transcripts, usually with a minimum GPA of 2.5-3.0
• Scores from college entrance exams, such as the SAT or ACT 
• A personal essay
• One or more letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, or other mentors
• A list of extracurricular activities, jobs, and volunteer activities

What Can You Do With a Bachelor's in Secondary Education Degree?

If you're interested in working in the education field and focusing on middle and high school students, secondary education may be the ideal educational path for you. If you'd rather work with younger children, you may want to investigate degrees in early childhood education and elementary education. Of course, graduates with online secondary education degrees are not limited to careers as teachers. With additional experience and education, they may become learning specialists, curriculum designers, school principals, or education administrators.

Further Education

Depending on your state's licensure requirements and your career goals, you may want to consider pursuing a graduate degree.

Other Education Specializations

Some secondary teachers choose to specialize in teaching certain subjects or working with specific types of students. Training in these specializations may come from bachelor's coursework, postgraduate certification, or master's programs. Some of the more common specialties include the following:

Secondary Education Careers

Earning an online secondary education degree prepares you for a number of different career options. Many graduates become high school or middle school teachers. They plan lessons and provide instruction in the academic subject they teach, which may be English, math, physical science, or something similar. They also help students develop skills, assess student learning, and communicate with parents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual pay for teachers across the country is $61,820.

Other career options include working as a special education teacher focused on young students with learning challenges or a technical education teacher in vocation-oriented high schools and community colleges.

Financing Your Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education

Prior to enrolling in a program to earn a degree for secondary education, you may want to establish how much you can afford to pay for your education. Knowing your budget may help you select the ideal college for your needs. You may also want to determine the degree's return on investment (ROI). To calculate the ROI, compare the total cost of earning the degree to your potential lifetime earnings from a career in secondary education. 

Cost

Our list of the best online secondary education degrees shows that tuition rates vary among schools. To help you determine an average estimate, we turned to the College Board's 2022 report, which indicates that the average annual tuition fee is $10,940 for four-year public schools and $39,400 for four-year private schools. The College Board also estimates that students spend an average of $1,240 on books and other supplies each year. Some schools, however, charge lower fees for online degree programs than they do for on-campus programs. Also, online students do not have to factor in room, board, and transportation expenses.

Financial Aid

Online and on-campus students are eligible to apply for financial aid. Even if you don't think you'll qualify, experts recommend that all prospective college students submit a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if they can obtain some type of financial assistance.

There are many forms and sources of financial aid. Once you've applied by submitting the FAFSA form, you'll be notified by mail if you qualify for assistance from the federal or state government or from your school. Grants and scholarships are preferred because they don't generally need to be paid back, unlike student loans that must be repaid with interest. There are also many privately sponsored scholarships — some specifically intended for teaching and education majors — but you'll need to submit separate applications to obtain them.

Before accepting a student loan, you'll want to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of the two major types of loans. In general, federal student loans offered through the government are preferable to private student loans offered by banks and lending institutions. Federally funded loans tend to have lower interest rates and better repayment terms.

Because teaching is considered a public service, you may also qualify for financial assistance programs specifically designed for educators. For example, the TEACH Grant and the Teach for America program may help you fund your education as long as you agree to the terms of service.

What Else Should You Consider?

Before making a final decision regarding a bachelor's degree in secondary education, you'll naturally want to consider whether this degree will equip you for the kind of career you have in mind. You might also want to confirm that your first choice school provides student services, like academic advising, tutoring, and job placement assistance.

Another important consideration is accreditation, which proves that a college or university has met established standards of excellence. You need to be enrolled in an accredited program to receive federal financial aid, transfer credits between schools, gain acceptance into a graduate program, and possibly obtain a teaching credential. Make sure your program has earned institutional accreditation by checking the U.S. Department of Education or Council on Higher Education Accreditation websites. Also look for programs that have earned programmatic accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. 

You'll also want to decide whether to earn your degree online or on campus. Online degree programs usually provide greater flexibility in your schedule, which may help you fit college into your busy life. However, online learning requires more time management, so students who need more structure and accountability may prefer on-campus classes. Also, some schools may feature asynchronous courses, as opposed to synchronous or live-streaming courses, which could influence your choice of online programs.

Additionally, if you decide to earn your secondary education degree online through a college in another state, make sure that the program prepares you to meet the licensure requirements in the state where you plan to teach.

FAQs About Bachelor's in Secondary Education Programs

Bottom Line

Getting an education degree online can be rewarding and satisfying. If you're interested in teaching middle school and high school students, pursuing a bachelor's degree in secondary education may be the right choice for you. With additional graduate education, you'll be qualified for a variety of career opportunities as a superintendent, principal, education administrator, and more.