Secondary Education (Teacher Certification), MEd
No matter where you're located, you can earn your master's degree in as few as five semesters. Remote coursework paired with in-person professional experiences prepares you to obtain teacher certification and thrive in the high-demand field of education.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Secondary Education (Teacher Certification) master's description
If you have a bachelor's degree in any field and want to become licensed to teach grades 6-12, the Master of Education program in secondary education with a concentration in teacher certification is for you. The program fosters strong professional growth and leadership development.
The program of study is flexible, and you can complete it within five semesters with the appropriate professional experience placements. You can also enroll part time over additional semesters.
Faculty members actively engage in the educational research community, bringing new and relevant knowledge into the program. You engage in your own research through applied project coursework, deepening your knowledge and improving your practice through research, critical evaluation and application of education concepts.
A series of professional experiences assist you in developing a thorough understanding of teaching and learning as you apply knowledge from your coursework in varied school settings.
This program offers two routes leading to Arizona teacher certification:
- In the traditional certification pathway, you complete three professional experiences: two internships and one student teaching.
- The alternative certification pathway provides a different pathway to teacher certification if you are are currently employed full time by a school as a teacher of record. To qualify, you must secure a full-time teaching position in an approved content area and grade level.
The coursework is the same in both certification pathways and culminates in an applied project in which you apply what you've learned to address a problem of practice or topic related to education.
Upon graduation, you earn an institutional recommendation from ASU that is recognized by the Arizona Department of Education for teacher certification in Secondary Education, 6-12.
Why specialize in secondary education (teacher certification) at ASU?
You can tap into the resources that come with being part of ASU, while also connecting with the closer-knit Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation community, surrounded by peers who share your passions and professional interests.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (SED 593) - Alternative Certification Pathway, or
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (SED 593) - Traditional Certification Pathway
Required Core (5 credit hours) Concentration (6 credit hours) Other Requirements (6 credit hours) SEI Endorsement (3 credit hours) Methods Requirements (7 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Students select either the alternative certification pathway or traditional pathway. Alternative pathway students choose six credit hours of apprentice teaching and internship from concentration requirements. At least four credit hours must be apprentice teaching. Traditional pathway students choose six credit hours of internship and student teaching from the concentration requirements. At least two credit hours must be internship, and at least two credit hours must be student teaching. If a student plans to switch options mid-program, the student must reach out to the academic unit for appropriate advisement.
TEL 510 Instructional Design, Planning and Assessment (2)
TEL 517 Creating Equitable Learning Environment: Decision Making and Action (3)
SED 557 Internship I (2)
SED 567 Internship II (2)
SED 571 Apprentice Teaching I (2)
SED 574 Apprentice Teaching II (2)
SED 576 Internship III (2)
SED 578 Student Teaching (2)
SED 579 Apprentice Teaching III (2)
SED 596 Residency/Student Teaching (2)
TEL 502 Exploration of Education: Child/Adolescent Development and Foundations of Special Education (3)
TEL 532 Literacy Across the Disciplines (3)
ELL 515 Structured English Immersion (SEI) Methods (3)
SED 510 General Methods and Assessment (3)
SED 511 ELA Methods and Assessment (4)
SED 512 Secondary Mathematics Methods and Assessment (4)
SED 513 Science Teaching Methods for Secondary School (4)
SED 514 Methods of Teaching Secondary Social Studies (4)
TEL 598 Special Topics (4)
SED 593 Applied Project (3)
Students should see an advisor for the other requirements section.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Execute an instructional cycle using research-based pedagogical practices and theories appropriate for a range of learners
- Create learning experiences that address the content disciplines to engage learners in accessible, relevant, and meaningful content to ensure critical thinking and mastery of the content.
- Create and maintain inclusive, equitable learning environments that support individual and collaborative learning experiences, utilize high leverage practices, and foster critical thinking, active engagement, and well-being for all learners
- Use multiple methods of assessment and sources of data to evaluate various aspects of learners
- Apply strategies for teaming to meet students’ needs
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate strategies to promote habits of mind
- Build and implement a professional growth plan using evidence and reflective practices
- Advocate for students, families, and communities with an understanding of the historical, social, local, or global context
- Self-reflect and assess personal contributions for shaping and supporting the mission of a school/organization's culture
- Apply expectations of the profession
- Analyze key ethical issues present in a prominent social or cultural problem in education, including the ways different ethical perspectives influence decision making related to the issue
- Examine previous understandings and assumptions and articulate the impact of the local/cultural context, personal histories, and relevant experiences on problem(s) of practice
- Engage in iterative cycles of inquiry in collaborative educational contexts and systems to imagine new concepts, catalyze ideas, and form new solutions, guided by principles and research that create positive change for learners.
- Analyze a relevant problem of practice in an educational context and system informed by major theories, theorists, and/or frameworks
- Implement an applied project, synthesize the findings and defend the significance and implications of the study as relevant to social and global context
- Utilize research findings to improve their own practice
- Apply relevant interdisciplinary perspectives and methods to current practices as an educator
Execute an instructional cycle using research-based pedagogical practices and theories appropriate for a range of learners Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The letters of recommendation should be from individuals who can speak to the applicant's potential for success in a graduate program. The personal statement should describe the applicant's interests and reason for seeking this degree.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this secondary education (teacher certification) concentration prepares you for
Graduates are highly sought-after teachers in public, charter and private education institutions. Graduates of the program gain skills in teaching, conducting research, using technology and collaborating in teams --- all of which prepare them to succeed in educational careers working with learners in grades 6-12.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Division for Advancing Educator Preparation
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ED 118
GraduateEducation@asu.edu
480-965-5555
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
