Best Master's Degrees in Secondary Education

Applicants to master's degree programs in secondary education usually have to have at least a bachelor's degree, but commonly, this degree does not have to be in a specific area. However, there are some program tracks that may require a specific bachelor's degree. For example, one master's program in Indiana, Ball State University, requires students in the secondary teaching license concentration to have a bachelor's or master's degree in their specific content area or pass the state's CORE assessment for their content area. Although it is not required, many students who enter these master's programs have a degree in education or a chosen content area. There are, however, certain content or specialization areas that offer an excellent foundation for further studies in a secondary education master's track. Have a look at what is considered good minors for secondary education majors.

Admissions requirements are slightly different based on institution, but typically applicants to master's degree programs in secondary education need to have at least a bachelor's degree. Some programs may require a minimum GPA, such as 2.75 or higher. The GRE exam is required for some programs, but many do not require the exam or offer waivers for students who meet other criteria, such as being a state-licensed teacher or pursuing a second license or endorsement. Students must include transcripts of all of their prior college-level coursework with their application. Depending on the school, they can also be required to submit forms such as letters of recommendation, a resume, a statement of purpose, and/or essay responses.

Students trying to decide between master's programs in secondary education should examine their career goals and find a program that will best prepare them to meet these goals. For example, students may need to begin by looking at programs that lead to licensure or certification in a specific state they wish to teach in. Then, they may begin comparing programs and the concentrations offered to ensure they can specialize in a particular content area if they so choose. The format of a program can be another important consideration, as some students want the flexibility to learn online on their own time. Other students could be more concerned about the price of a program or the hands-on learning experiences that a program offers.

Master's degree programs in secondary education commonly require between 30 and 34 credits of coursework. These programs can typically be completed in two years, but some programs may offer one-year formats for students who want to earn their degree faster. Most master's programs have some core course requirements, as well as concentration and/or elective courses. Depending on the program, students may finish with a practicum experience or another capstone experience of some kind, such as an educational research paper or portfolio. Examine curriculum details below.

Secondary Education Foundational Courses

Programs in secondary education at the master's level usually have some core required courses. These courses aim to equip students with foundational skills and knowledge concerning secondary education. Depending on the program, required courses may be separated into different categories and students are allowed to choose from a few different courses to customize their degree. For example, some programs require students to choose from courses in areas such as pedagogy, foundations of education, multicultural education, and research. Most programs include one or more courses concerning educational research to help teachers understand research design and methods in the field. Other core courses could cover topics in:

• Classroom ecology
• History and philosophy of education
• Organization of educational systems
• Procedures of curriculum development
• Technology
• Diversity in the classroom
• Educational psychology

Secondary Education Specialist & Elective Courses

Students usually finish out their master's degree with concentration courses in their chosen content area. However, there are some programs that also include some elective courses. While concentration courses focus on training students to teach a specific subject area, elective courses are generally designed to give students the chance to explore other areas of interest or obtain other education-related skills. Some programs allow students to choose from any course in a given subject area, such as middle childhood education, while other programs have a list of recommended electives in topics such as planning and assessment strategies or reading and literacy.

Licensure & Certification in Secondary Education

In order to become a secondary education or high school teacher in a public school, teachers in any state must earn a state-issued license or certification. Most of these licenses and certifications qualify students to teach grades 7 through 12, with some variation by state, and typically, students earn an endorsement or certificate in a chosen content area. Earning a teaching license usually requires students to hold at least a bachelor's degree and complete a period of hands-on teaching experience, such as student teaching. Aspiring teachers must also pass a background check and two exams, a general teaching exam and an exam in their content area. Other education-related positions may also require a teaching license or other licensure, such as an education administrator license.

Due to the hands-on nature of the field, students typically gain exposure to a real-world secondary education classroom at some point during their studies. Several programs include a practicum experience that places students in a middle or high school classroom to observe the teacher and/or participate in teaching. Some programs include as much as 8 credit hours of hands-on experience through a practicum and/or internship experience in secondary education. Depending on the requirements of the practicum, students may be responsible for creating lesson plans for a certain amount of units to gain practical experience. This field-based work may try to match students in a classroom within a specific content area of interest.

Most master's degree programs in secondary education include different concentration areas. Typically, these concentration areas are main content areas and allow students to earn licensure or certification endorsements in these specific subject areas. However, some programs have concentrations that serve more as tracks that result in different licensure options. For example, there is a MA program that offers concentrations in education core, secondary teaching license, the teaching of a content area, or a dual credit teaching credential. Programs that offer traditional concentrations in content areas, such as English, mathematics, and science, may have certain areas that lead to certifications for one specific set of grades and those that lead to certification for a different set of grades. For example, a teacher may be certified in chemistry for grades 7 through 12 or certified in music for grades Pre-K through 12. Other concentration areas include, but are not limited to:

• English
• Mathematics
• Social studies
• Life science
• Spanish
• Visual art
• Business education

Students wishing to pursue a doctoral degree in secondary education after earning their master's degree in the field have several program options. Students can usually find Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs or Doctor of Education (EdD) programs in the field. PhD programs focus on research and academia, while EdD degrees are more for practitioners and leaders in the field. Students can find doctoral programs specifically in education, as well as related areas, such as curriculum and instruction, with a concentration in secondary education. There are also some doctoral programs in specific content areas, such as an EdD in Secondary Education Math.

The obvious answer for what you can do with a master's in secondary education is to become a secondary education teacher. However, students can also pursue a range of other education-related positions. For instance, those who like to work with special education students may become a special education teacher in a high school. If you wish to move into a more administrative role, a student can also earn a principal license or work as an instructional coordinator. With these different career options, the salary for graduates with a secondary education degree varies. Salary can also vary by state and school setting, such as public vs. private schools. Learn more about a couple career options below.

Job Outlook for a Master's in Secondary Education

In general, education careers are in demand. Students always need to be taught and teachers often retire or change careers. A master's degree in secondary education is also flexible and can qualify students for different career positions, which can increase job prospects. Although job outlooks vary by position, many in education are positive. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the job outlook for high school teachers was 4% from 2019 to 2029. This outlook is comparable to the average. Other occupations such as instructional coordinators have job outlooks that are faster than average. The BLS stated that over the same time period, these professionals had a job outlook of 6%.

How to Become a High School Teacher

As mentioned, high school teachers usually need to have at least a bachelor's degree and a state-issued license or certification if they want to teach in a public school. This degree is usually in a particular content area or in education studies. Some states require these teachers to later earn a master's degree. Private school teachers do not usually have to meet state requirements, but commonly need a bachelor's degree in a content area. States do typically offer alternative routes to teaching licensure or certification for those students who are interested in teaching but do not have a background in education. According to the BLS, high school teachers made a median annual salary of $62,870, as of 2020.

High school teachers are responsible for teaching various courses, usually in their content area. This involves making lesson plans, coordinating learning activities, and designing assessments. It is important for these teachers to communicate with students, their parents, and the administration as needed. They may also be responsible for monitoring students during lunch and other times outside of class, creating class rules, and working individually with students who need help.

How to Become an Instructional Coordinator

Unlike teachers, instructional coordinators typically need to have at least a master's degree. This degree may be in areas such as curriculum and instruction or a specialized area, like history or science. It is also important for coordinators to have some prior educational experience, such as teaching experience or experience as an administrator. Therefore, most of these coordinators are required to hold a teaching license or an education administrator license. According to the BLS as of 2020, the median annual salary for instructional coordinators was $66,970.

Instructional coordinators or curriculum specialists, assist teachers and administration by overseeing school curriculums. They help develop curriculums, train teachers on how to teach the curriculum, and evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum. Developing curriculums involve analyzing student test scores, examining books and other educational materials, and planning procedures for teaching the curriculum. Sometimes, at the secondary school level, these coordinators may specialize in a particular area, such as special education.

Earning a master's degree in secondary education can cost a lot of money when students add up the cost of tuition, fees, transportation, books, and other living expenses. Many students want and need to seek out various forms of financial aid to help lower some of these costs. Students, even those undertaking graduate studies, should always start with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Not only does this allow students to see what federal aid they qualify for, but some schools and scholarship awards require it.

In addition to federal loans or grants, many schools and outside organizations offer additional forms of aid. Some schools provide various kinds of merit- or financial need-based scholarships for students. These awards can be generic in nature or specific to a certain subject area. For example, the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers several scholarships specifically for students in their School of Education. These awards vary in amounts from $2,000 to $15,000 and are awarded based on various considerations, such as gender, teaching location, or ethnicity, for example.