Secondary Education and Specialized Subjects

We provide students with the opportunity to earn degrees in the subject areas of Mathematics, Biology, English, Music (K-12), Art (K-12) and Spanish (K-12) with a concentration in Teacher Education. Students from these programs, possess very strong content knowledge and develop pedagogical skills as they matriculate through the degree programs.

Why Choose Secondary Education?

Earning a content area degree with a concentration in teaching gives students numerous options. You are prepared to go directly into the classroom or industry without any additional training. 

  • Steady Employment: Teacher education is a consistent high need area. Students with content area degrees usually have accepted employment opportunities before they graduate. 
  • Significant work with people: The teaching profession provides a lifetime of rewarding opportunities to help the next generation.  There is nothing greater than knowing you have made an impact and assisted a young person in reaching their full potential. 

Our Programs

We offer degrees at the baccalaureate and two degrees at the master's level with various concentrations. These programs lead to a North Carolina initial or advanced license. In addition, the Department offers the North Carolina initial licensure only programs for candidates who already hold a bachelor's degree. 

Undergraduate

Teaching Concentrations (K-12: Art, HPE, Music and Spanish) (9-12: Biology, English, Mathematics)

 
Graduate 

M.A.T. (K-12: Art, HPE, Music and Spanish) (9-12: Biology, English, Mathematics and Social Studies)  

M.Ed. (9-12: Biology, Mathematics)

To learn more about our programs and courses of study, visit the course catalog

What Will You Learn? 

  • Technology-You will gain practical knowledge of the latest technology tools used in today's classrooms.  
  • Pedagogy-You will gain valuable knowledge of culturally relevant pedagogy and pedagogy of the oppressed. 
  • Conflict Resolution-You will gain knowledge in the management of people, situations, policies and protocols as it pertains to education.  
  • Strategic Planning- You will learn and practice the art of effective lesson planning and development of short-and long-term goals for sustained success.  
  •  Diversity-You will gain a deeper understanding of themselves as well as those around them.
  • Mentoring- You will participate in mentorship relationships with in-service teachers to gain real work experience.  
  • Leadership-You will develop valuable leadership skills through intentional leadership training and situational analysis.  

What Will You Do?

Upon completion of the program, you will be able to go directly into a Secondary (9-12) or K-12 classroom and start teaching without any additional certifications. If you decided not to teach you will have access to industry in a number of capacities such as educational trainers and providing technical assistance using your methodological and pedagogical skills to support industry or entrepreneurship.

 

Exit Requirements

To graduate with a secondary education and specialized subjects, students must, successfully complete the university college core and: 

  1. Have accumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher with a grade of C or better in each professional, major core, and concentration courses (undergraduates). Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 or higher to be eligible for graduation.
  2. Successfully complete Clinical Experience (Student Teaching).
  3. Earn a satisfactory rating on the Clinical Experience (Student Teaching), Exit Criteria, or LEA/IHE Certification of Teaching Capacity.
  4. Formally submit an edTPA portfolio to Pearson for teaching licensure in North Carolina (students are responsible for cost).
  5. Successfully pass required content licensure exams determined by program (i.e., CKT, Foundations of Reading, and/or Praxis II) (students are responsible for cost of licensing exams).
  6. Submit graduation application and fees.