Children go through many critical stages of growth and development as they grow from babies to school age children to adults. Perhaps the most critical stage of our development comes when we are transitioning from middle school to high school in our early teen years. For the first time our brains are challenged with a more critical thinking approach to education, while at the same time everything about us is changing from our emotions to our physical appearance. Individuals that wish to have a hand in crafting students at this critical period can become teachers with a secondary education degree.
Secondary education degrees prepare individuals for a career in the education system at the secondary level. In the United States, secondary education refers to middle schools and high schools. The process of earning a secondary education degree should not be entered into lightly however as there are a number of factors that individuals need to take into consideration. These factors include:
- Degree to pursue
- Desired position upon graduation
- Area of specialization
There are secondary education degrees available at several levels that will prepare individuals for a variety of positions within the educational system. These degrees are available at the undergraduate and graduate level and include:
- Bachelor of Arts in Education
- Bachelor of Science in Mathematics for Secondary Teachers
- Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Teachers
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- Master of Education (MEd)
- Educational Specialist degree (EdS)
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
Each of these degrees will lead individuals down a different trail within the educational system. Those who have a desire to work in secondary education but have not decided upon an area of specialization could choose a simple Bachelor of Arts in Education. This will provide graduates with the basic foundation necessary to function as a teacher at the secondary education level. Those who already have a desire for a particular specialty could pursue the B.S. in Mathematics to teach math classes, or the B.A. in English to teach English classes at the secondary level.
Teachers currently working in secondary education who want to increase their earning power and move into a position of greater responsibility often pursue the MAT or MEd degrees. Both master’s programs offer a slightly different curriculum and approach. The MAT program focuses on specialized areas such as curriculum development or educational psychology, while MEd programs often adopt a broader perspective.
In between earning a master’s and a doctorate, teachers have the opportunity to increase their specialization in one area with an Educational Specialist degree (EdS). EdS programs prepare students who already have a master’s to complete advanced certification in areas such as school psychology or administration.
Lastly, there are doctorate level secondary education degrees. Doctoral level graduates often find themselves in a wide variety of roles upon graduation ranging from the nation’s best secondary schools to research roles, university teaching positions, and high-level administrative positions. The Doctor of Education focuses on applied practice principles and grooms graduates for specialized positions in teaching and learning, leadership, administration, or curriculum development. The Doctor of Philosophy degree on the other hand offers more of a theoretical research and understanding approach.
Graduates from these programs will be eligible for a number of different positions within secondary education. Typical positions available include but are not limited to the following, in order of educational level from lowest to highest:
- • Secondary School Teacher
- • Gifted Education Teacher
- • English as a Foreign Language Teacher
- • Speech Therapist
- • Curriculum Developer
- • Daycare Centre Director
- • Continuing Education Director
- • Superintendent of School Board
- • President of Association
- • University Professor
- • Educational Development Program Director
If you need help researching online courses and programs devoted to a secondary education degree, click over to ieducation.com. Here you can research courses and programs and even find grants to help pay for your schooling.