Pre-Secondary Education
At Western Michigan University, secondary education teacher certification is accomplished through a graduate certification pathway for students beginning catalog year fall 2020 and beyond. Secondary education candidates are eligible for teacher certification at the middle, junior high and senior high school levels. Students complete a bachelor's degree in their teachable subject area and then complete the 14-month master's degree in secondary education. Bachelor's degree options include a select list of content area options through WMU’s College of Arts and Sciences. Special admission is required into the competitive master’s degree program. Students planning to become teachers begin working with youth and teachers during their undergraduate studies through select courses or verified service experiences.
The Pre-Secondary Education Pathway is advised through the College of Arts and Sciences for completion of content area requirements and pre-requisite courses. The M.A. in Teaching: Secondary Education is housed in the College of Education and Human Development.
As a pre-secondary education student at WMU, you will be required to complete three undergraduate courses that include clinical experience hours in local classrooms working with students and teachers. In addition to teaching methods and pedagogy coursework, students in the M.A. in Teaching: Secondary Education program complete a year-long internship in a local public school classroom, following the academic calendar.
You can also gain valuable networking and professional development opportunities through student and community organizations, including the Western Student Education Association, Future Teachers of Color and Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education.
Students who complete the M.A. in Teaching: Secondary Education and become certified teachers will be eligible for employment as middle school and high school teachers in school districts around Michigan and the United States. Students who follow the Pre-Secondary Education Pathway but do not complete the master's degree or become a certified teacher are able to pursue non-teaching careers based on their bachelor's degree area.
- Kalamazoo
- Business Education
- Elementary Education
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education
- Industrial Technology Education: Non-Vocational
- Industrial Technology Educational: Vocational
- Physical and Health Education Teacher Education: K-12
- Special Education Learning Disabilities K-12 and Elementary Education PK-3
- Workforce Education and Development