BA Secondary Education

Middle school and high school teachers help to prepare students to go on to college and enter the workforce. As a Secondary Education teacher, you’ll be teaching academic lessons as well as life skills to equip young students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in life.

Earning your Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, will train you to teach in grades 7-12, and specialize in a subject such as English, math or science.

The bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education program is in the College of Education and Professional Development at Marshall and part of its Curriculum, Instruction & Foundations program that includes elementary, secondary, educational foundations and educational computing for pre-service teachers. The Secondary Education programs are designed for those who want to teach content to middle school and / or high school students. Through teaching degree programs, students receive broad content knowledge in the core academic area of choice as well as in the art and science of teaching children.

Training for your degree in education at Marshall University means you’ll benefit from all the advantages we provide to future teachers: Award-winning faculty, small classroom size, newly renovated facilities, multiple clinical experiences, a full semester of student teaching and training in technology.

The College of Education and Professional Development (COEPD) is one of the oldest academic units within Marshall University, dating back to 1867. Our focus on preparing top-quality teachers continues to be an integral part of the university’s mission. Future teachers can pursue any of our 32 educational certifications, including certifications in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Secondary Education and Administration.

The COEPD has held national accreditation since 1962 from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), now the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Earning accreditation means we’ve successfully completed a rigorous process of on-site reviews led by a team of experts in the field of education.

We prepare teachers and other professional educators, including counselors, principals, supervisors and superintendents, and provide continuing education opportunities for professional educators. Our college also provides educational services for students and the community, which include the Autism Training Center, Child Development Academy, Early Education Center, Learning Resources Center, Testing Center, Center for Reading Excellence and the June C. Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development.

We provide top-quality education and services that meet the academic needs of future educators and other professional personnel.

Currently, our accredited Secondary Education program offers licensure degree programs in the following areas:

Secondary Education majors may also add an additional content area endorsement in the following areas:

The employment of high school teachers is projected to grow 8 percent through 2026, about as fast as average for all occupations, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Rising student enrollment should increase the demand for high school teachers. Also, through 2026, a significant number of older teachers will reach retirement age, which will create job openings for new teachers, according to the BLS.

Many schools report difficulty in filling teaching positions for certain subjects, including math, science, English as a second language and special education. As a result, teachers with education in these subjects or certifications to teach these specialties should have better job prospects. Also, says the BLS, job opportunities for teachers are likely to be better in urban and rural school districts than in suburban school districts.

The median annual wage for high school teachers was $60,320 in May 2018, reports the BLS. The lowest 10 percent of teachers earned less than $39,740, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $97,500.

Upon graduation, Secondary Education majors at Marshall will be licensed to teach in their content areas through the West Virginia Department of Education. Many Marshall graduates work in West Virginia school districts including Cabell, Wayne, Putnam, Kanawha, Logan, Lincoln, Mason and Boone counties.

Secondary Education graduates may also choose to go on for graduate study at Marshall University and at institutions around the country.

Marshall’s accredited graduate degree programs in Education include:

Students pursuing the M.A. in Education may choose from a variety of concentrations including Early Childhood Education, Elementary Math Specialist, English as a Second Language, Individualized Plan of Study, Instructional Processes and Strategies, Instructional Technology & Learning, Library Media Specialist and Math thru Algebra I.

Graduate Certificates are available in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Math Specialist, English as a Second Language, Instructional Technology & Learning, Library Media Specialist, Math thru Algebra I and Program Evaluation. 

All teacher education students participate in clinical experiences in order to observe children or youth in activities which serve as examples of the teaching / learning process. These experiences are provided in cooperation with the local public schools. Secondary Education majors participate in clinical experiences and student teaching placements in local county school districts in West Virginia.

Students who enroll for clinical experiences are expected to meet the standards of professionalism and conduct that apply to employees in the schools where they are assigned.

The Student Center of Professional Education Services (SCoPES) provides Marshall students with a broad range of support while promoting a proactive approach to academic achievement, goal attainment and life-skill development. Secondary Education majors can take advantage of the center’s assistance, which provides access to resources that will help students navigate their individual academic and career paths. SCoPES strives to impart the essential values of critical thinking, respect, accountability and self-advocacy in meeting the holistic needs of students.