The Secondary Education program is designed for those who want to become a teacher at the middle or high school level. The program leads to a recommendation to the state of Washington for a teaching certificate endorsed in at least one subject area. This program requires completion of the Secondary professional education course sequence, a baccalaureate degree with academic preparation for an endorsement, and a student teaching internship.
See the Department of Secondary Education catalog page for additional program and teacher certification information. In particular, review the following headings: Certification, Endorsements, Requirements upon Program Admission, Character and Fitness, General Retention Requirements, Program Completion, and Internships.
Why Consider a Secondary Education Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Program?
Teaching today is more and more focused on ensuring student learning. The benchmark of great teaching is student learning. However, this is a challenge. Teaching and learning are collaborative and reciprocal; it is an on-going process, requiring openness to new ideas. No other profession allows you to engage with a subject matter that you enjoy every day, and work with youth to help them think and learn with you. Teachers have opportunities to go beyond content and create a classroom environment that fosters students to learn and share diverse viewpoints and perspectives about the content and skills they are learning. Plus, you are able to see firsthand when students understand for the first time a new idea or phenomenon. We hope to prepare teachers who are able to foster creativity, transform the status quo, and develop a classroom community of learners. Teaching will transform you and serve the next generation of citizens in our democracy.