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

An online secondary education degree prepares you to teach middle and high school students. This bachelor's program covers curriculum design, classroom management, and adolescent psychology, often leading to initial teacher certification. 

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 鈥� 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.

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 or websites. Also look for programs that have earned programmatic accreditation from the . 

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.

A secondary education degree typically requires the completion of about 120 credit hours, including one or two semesters of classroom teaching experience. Most full-time students are able to fulfill these requirements in four to five years, but part-time students may need additional time.

Yes, 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. 

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 鈥� 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. 

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:

• Classroom Management and Engagement: Creating a positive, inclusive learning environment in the classroom is essential to student and teacher success. This course introduces concepts and principles that teachers can use to engage their students' attention and effectively manage their classes. 
• Curriculum and Assessment: In this course, teacher candidates learn about curriculum development by planning and sequencing lessons to produce desired learning outcomes. Coursework may also include the administration and interpretation of standardized tests. 
• Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning: Technology has proven to be a valuable asset for teaching many subjects, particularly science, technology, education, and math (STEM). In this course, teacher candidates discover a number of technological tools and learn how to use them in their lesson plans. They also learn to assist their students in developing technology skills. 
• Educational Psychology of Children and Adolescents: By understanding how adolescents grow and develop cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically, teachers are better prepared to work with young adults. Teacher candidates learn to construct healthy learning environments that support and motivate their students. 

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

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.

• Master's in Secondary Education: Earning an online master's degree in secondary education may make you a better-qualified job candidate and may increase your salary potential. These two-year degree programs are designed to give you advanced teaching skills and strategies. A master's degree may prepare you for other roles in education as well, such as school principal or administrator. You could also consider earning a master's in school counseling, master's in educational leadership, or master's in elementary education.
• Doctorate in Secondary Education: If you want to continue your education beyond the master's level, you may want to earn a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree, which prepares students for high-level administrative roles in education. If research and the study of learning and education interests you, then a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education may be the best choice for you.

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 .

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.

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:

• English as a Second Language (ESL): Middle school and high school can be particularly challenging for young students who are accustomed to speaking another language besides English. ESL degree graduates work with students one-on-one or in small groups to help them learn to speak, read, and write in English.
• Special Education: Special education teachers work with students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. They often adapt lesson plans and activities for students with mild to moderate disabilities, and they coach these students in developing effective learning strategies.
• Health Education: As students progress through the 7th to 12th grades, their bodies change considerably, and they need information to help them stay healthy. Teachers who specialize in health education inform students about anatomy, hygiene, sex, and more.
• Physical Education (PE): Just like health, physical education is important for young adults. Physical education specialists teach students about fitness and how their physical health may impact their mental and emotional health. In the process, PE teachers may help students discover and develop their athletic abilities.

With a secondary education degree, you can teach middle school grades 6-8 and high school grades 9-12, depending on your state's requirements. Secondary education jobs at the high school level typically require professionals to have expertise in teaching one particular academic subject, such as English, math, science, or social studies.

If you're looking for a rewarding career working with young adults, a degree in secondary education is worth it. According to of more than 17,500 secondary education teachers, professionals rate their job satisfaction at 3.0 out of 5 stars, which is in the bottom 38% of careers. This could be due to the modest salary as well as the often limited resources for use in the classroom.

Depending on each student's strengths and motivation, a secondary education degree program may be more challenging for some than others. You'll be required to take courses in two major areas 鈥� teaching and the subject you plan to teach. You'll also need to develop skills in speaking to a group, listening, instructing, and planning.

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.