Online Secondary Education Degree Programs

Students in George Washington University’s online Master of Arts in Secondary Special Education & Transition Services program learn to lead transition services and programs for youths with disabilities in a variety of settings, including post-secondary education, employment, and life as an independent adult. Coursework for this degree can be completed fully online, meaning that students need not ever appear on the GWU campus. However, the program does require completion of a supervised teaching internship. The program meets both the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability for Youth (NCWD-Youth) transition guideposts and the CEC Advanced Knowledge and Skills Base for Transition Specialists. Completion of the program does not directly result in teacher licensure or certification, however. Students seeking licensure in the District of Columbia must complete the relevant teacher assessment (PRAXIS). Students intending to teach outside or the District of Columbia should contact the licensing agency in their jurisdiction to determine if this degree qualifies them for licensure eligibility.

Grand Canyon University offers four secondary education master’s programs that feature online coursework: MEd in Secondary Education (leading to initial teaching licensure); MEd in Secondary Education (not leading to initial teacher licensure); MEd in Secondary Humanities Education; and MEd in Secondary STEM Education. While courses for these programs can be completed online, both the licensure and non-licensure programs include in-person practical field experiences, and the licensure program concludes with a 15-week in-classroom student teaching experience. Graduates in all programs receive the training necessary for careers in middle, junior, and high-school settings. However, licensure is required for becoming a teacher in a public school. The Humanities and STEM programs are designed specifically for teaching candidates in Nevada working on an Alternative Route to Licensure (ARL). Graduates of these programs are eligible for a standard Nevada teaching license. The school also offers four online secondary education bachelor's degrees in English, History, Business, and Mathematics -- all of which lead to teacher initial teacher licensure.

The University Connecticut’s Online Graduate Certificate in Special Education Transition to Adulthood prepares graduates to address the challenges faced by students with disabilities as they transition from their high school educations into their lives as adults. Participants learn to address transition issues of students within a broad spectrum of cognitive and physical disabilities, including learning disabilities, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and others. This 12-credit program consists of four courses: Transition Planning for Students with Disabilities; Policy, Law, and Ethics in Special Education; Advanced Topics in Secondary Transition; and Capstone in Secondary Transition. All coursework, including the capstone project, can be completed entirely online.

Southern Arkansas University’s Master of Arts in Teaching program is designed for current bachelor’s degree holders interested in a career change to become a teacher. This two-year (based on two classes per semester including summer) program consists of 24 credit hours of online coursework and six credit hours of either a teaching internship (for students hired as a fully-employed teacher of record) or student teaching (for students not working as a fully-employed teacher). The MAT degree prepares graduates for secondary education licensure eligibility in Arkansas in one of 14 subject areas. Students outside of Arkansas may also pursue this degree but are advised to contact their state’s department of education to determine if Arkansas licensure is eligible for license reciprocity. SAU additionally offers a graduate certificate to students interested in taking education courses but not seeking licensure. All coursework for the certificate can be completed online.

FHSU students in the Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education program who are intending to become licensed as a middle or high school teacher are required to select a concentration from among over a dozen specific fields of study (English, mathematics, physical education, etc.), and then pursue a double major in secondary education and the chosen field of study. Once the concentration is selected, an individualized curriculum is created for the student by advisors in the specific field of study's department. All general education and secondary education core courses can be completed through online study. However, only those opting for the business concentration can complete 100% of their degree coursework online. Regardless of concentration, all students must additionally participate in an in-person teaching field experience at a school in their local area.

The University of Maine’s Master of Arts in Teaching program prepares individuals currently holding a bachelor’s degree to become teachers at the secondary school level (grades 7 to 12). Completion of the program leads to both the awarding of a master’s degree and initial teacher certification in Maine in a designated field of study. Field of study areas include English, life science, math, social studies, and world languages. UM’s MAT program is an accelerated program designed to be completed in 15 months of full-time study (four terms consisting of initial summer term, fall term, spring term, and final summer term). Students may also opt for an individualized part-time study plan. Most coursework is completed fully online. However, some courses must be taken on the UM campus. Additionally, students are required to complete both an educational practicum and educational internship in an in-class setting.

The University of Missouri St. Louis offers two graduate-level programs for those interested in a career in secondary education. The Teach in 12 Master of Education (MEd) in Secondary Education program allows students to obtain their Missouri teacher certification in as little as 12 months while working on their MEd degree. All coursework in the program is offered entirely online. However, students are required to complete field and on-site practicum experiences at agencies and program partner schools located throughout the St. Louis area. To be admitted to a Teach in 12 program, an applicant must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree, as well as obtain a passing score on the Missouri Content Assessment (MOCA) in their chosen field of study. UMSL also offers a Master in Education in Secondary Education for currently certified teachers seeking to expand their knowledge bases and advance to higher pay levels in their teaching careers. Students can tailor their curriculums to include study in one or more area of concentration to best match their individual professional goals and interests. Coursework may or may not be completed entirely online depending on the specific courses taken.

Missouri State University offers several options for those interested in careers in secondary education. Completion of MSU’s curriculum for undergraduate secondary teaching leads to the awarding of a Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education (BSEd) degree, which comes with an initial professional certificate (PC1) to teach in the state of Missouri. There are currently 18 disciplines from which BSEd students can choose, and degrees are awarded by the department of the discipline pursued. MSU graduate-level secondary education programs include its Master of Science in Education – Secondary Education (MSEd) currently offered with 12 discipline options, and its Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), which is presented in an accelerated format and allows students to obtain both their MAT degree and teaching certificate (18 certification areas) in the same program. It’s important to note that none of MSU’s secondary education programs feature 100% online coursework, meaning that some courses must be taken on the school’s Springfield campus. Additionally, students will be required to complete clinical and teaching experience components in-person in classroom settings.

UAM’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is designed for both holders of a bachelor’s degree in a specific content area and recent graduates of an education baccalaureate degree program interested in becoming a licensed teacher. Students who choose the Secondary Education Licensure option select a licensure area from among nearly two dozen fields of study, including business, math, life science, physical science, social studies, and more. All regular coursework for UAM’s MAT with Secondary Education Licensure option is presented 100% online. However, an in-person teaching internship must also be completed to earn the degree, and students must be employed as a teacher of record (via provisional licensure) to be enrolled in the internship program. Graduates are eligible to receive Arkansas licensure in their field of study. Individuals intending to teach outside of Arkansas may be able to apply for license reciprocity after obtaining their Arkansas license, but should check the licensure requirements in their intended jurisdiction before committing to the degree program.

The University of Alabama offers its Master of Arts in Secondary Education degree with four certification options: English for Speakers of Other Languages P-12 Certification; English Language Arts 6-12 Certification; Reading Specialist P-12 Certification; and Science Certification. Each program requires completion of 30 credit hours of coursework (courses and internship), and can be completed in as little as two years of part-time study. All courses can be completed entirely online. The internship, however, requires in-person teaching in a program-approved class setting. Admission into any of the concentrations requires, among other things, a bachelor’s-level teaching certificate. Students opting for the Reading Specialist Certification must additionally have two years of teaching experience to be admitted into the program. UA also offers a MA in Special Education (Collaborative 6-12 Certification) in an online/on-campus blended format.