An online bachelor’s degree in secondary education may provide students with the skills and training needed successfully teach at the high school level. In these four-year programs, students may learn how to plan lessons, assess students’ abilities, and communicate with parents regarding students’ progress. Coursework within these programs may include select general education courses along with electives and major-specific courses, such as educational psychology, human development, and school leadership.

Graduates of bachelor’s degree programs in secondary education may seek entry-level employment or further their education by enrolling in a graduate-level program. Bachelor’s-level graduates may find employment opportunities in private, public, secular, and magnet schools.

Program Overview

• Prerequisite: High School Diploma or GED
• Program Length: Four years to complete
• Post-Grad Options: Entry-Level Employment or Master’s / Doctoral Program
• Projected Employment Growth: 7% (2010-2020)*

Program Coursework

The curriculum within an online bachelor’s degree program in secondary education may combine several general education requirements alongside major-specific courses and electives. Select programs may offer students an area of concentration, in which they may gain additional skills in mathematics, science, or English. In these four-year programs, students may study curriculum development, cultural diversity, and classroom management. Core secondary education courses may include the following:

• School Leadership
• Instructional Paradigms
• Safe Schools
• Content Area Reading
• Educational Psychology
• Human Development
• Classroom Environment

Career Options

Graduates of online baccalaureate-level programs in secondary education may find careers in public, private, religious, magnet, or charter schools. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for those in secondary education may increase by 7% from 2010-2020.*

Possible careers include:

• High School Math Teacher
• High School English Teacher
• High School Chemistry Teacher
• High School Art Teacher
• High School Physics Teacher

Continuing Education

Graduates of an online bachelor’s degree in secondary education may decide to further their education and enroll in a graduate-level program in secondary education or a related field. These upper-level programs may teach students about the latest theories and techniques for high school education through programs such as diagnostic assessment and adolescent psychology. High school teachers may be required to hold a bachelor’s degree at minimum, and most states require licensure.

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook