Teach for Impact with Your MEd in Secondary Education
Make an impact on the lives of middle and high school students through content knowledge you love while learning essential transdisciplinary knowledge and skills in the Master of Education in Secondary Education program.
This full-time, New Hampshire based MEd program was designed to prepare you to become a secondary school classroom teacher while instilling a transdisciplinary mindset. At the end of this program, you’ll have earned a teaching certification specializing in 1 of 5 content areas:
- English language arts for grades 5-12
- Mathematics teaching – middle level
- Mathematics teaching – upper level
- Science for grades 5-8
- Social studies for grades 5-12
In addition, every candidate earns a Certificate in Transdisciplinary Competencies in addition to two STEM education digital badges. With a June start every year, this master’s degree program is a campus cohort, residency-based model that is four academic terms, totaling 12 months. This program strongly supports candidates’ development of equity, inclusion, and cultural competence. Our partner district is Manchester, NH and during the school year, members are partnered full-time with a mentor teacher in their certification area. During the summers, members work with 5-12 students in a summer camp-based experience. Each term a trio of SNHU faculty, as well as the Manchester school-based Clinical Educator, support candidates to grow and develop their commitment to students, content knowledge, and teaching skills.
See Yourself Succeed in Secondary Education
Setting this program apart from others, members earn their transdisciplinary competencies Certificate and STEM EDU badges demonstrating to future employers they can collaborate effectively across content areas regardless of certification area and design Project Based Learning (PBL) experiences for middle and high school students. As PBL has become more and more prevalent in secondary education, so has the need for high quality educators with an appreciation for collaboration. If you’re passionate about cross-subject, competency-driven learning and authentic assessments for middle and high school level students, this program will help you become a valuable asset as a teacher in a secondary school setting.
As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your master's in secondary education with STEM education at SNHU include:
- Supportive community. Join the SNHU campus community of fewer than 3,000 students, with faculty and staff dedicated to your success.
- SNHU is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in New Hampshire.
- Accessible faculty. Learn from highly credentialed faculty who are experts in their fields and interact with you in the classroom, dining hall, fitness center and the stands.
- Stipends Available. Southern New Hampshire University and Goodwill AmeriCorps have partnered to offer financial benefits for eligible enrolled students. Eligible students are co-enrolled as AmeriCorps volunteers to receive a living allowance during the program, as well as an education award upon successful completion of the term of service. Other benefits may include health coverage and childcare assistance if eligible. Contact admission at 603.645.9688 for details.
- Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your graduate degree on campus and in the field in as few as 12 months.
- Minimal requirements. No GRE or GMAT required for admission.
- Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for tips and career opportunities.
- Campus experience. Enjoy more than 50 student clubs, champion Division II athletics and fun events on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, named a "Best Place to Live" by Money magazine. Graduate student activity fees may apply.
Admission Requirements
SNHU requires an undergraduate major (or substantial course work) in the intended licensure area and an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 (or equivalent) for admission.
If you are an international student in need of a visa to study on campus, please see our international admission requirements.
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year up until early June in preparation for a summer start each year. To apply, simply complete our online application form.
Licensure Information
The secondary certification programs listed below are fully approved by the New Hampshire State Board of Education and have earned CAEP accreditation:
- English language arts for grades 5-12
- Mathematics teaching – middle level
- Mathematics teaching – upper level
- Science for grades 5-8
- Social studies for grades 5-12
Careers & Outcomes
The good news is, employment of secondary teachers is projected to grow by 8% from 2020 to 2030, with about 77,400 openings across the country each year, on average, over the course of the decade. And more good news, with your newly earned Certificate in transdisciplinary competencies, you can take advantage of the benefits of having STEM experience on your resume. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects that occupations in the STEM field are expected to grow by 10.5% through 2030. So, this program is all around a great option if you are seeking teacher certification in a middle or high school.
The MEd in Secondary Education program at SNHU is competency-driven, ensuring graduates of this program are prepared to teach in the growing number of New Hampshire schools that have adopted a competency-based approach to teaching and learning, so you’ll be ready for a career in the classroom.
“Southern New Hampshire University’s Master of Education program helped me gain experience as a culturally competent educator in one of New Hampshire’s largest and most diverse school districts. SNHU provided a supportive community that enabled me to establish connections with employers and ultimately land a full-time job as high school teacher,” says Ally Lincourt-Daniel, a 2021 graduate of SNHU’s MEd Secondary Education program.
Curriculum
The MEd in Secondary Education is a 36-credit, 12-month clinical master’s in education program. You’ll engage with grade 5-12 students from the start of the program, spending a full school year working alongside practicing educators in local schools.
During the summer, you will develop project-based learning activities, and then work with middle and high school students during a summer learning program sponsored by SNHU. By the end of the program, you will have earned a Graduate Certificate in Trans-Disciplinary Competencies along with STEM education badges as part of your clinical coursework.
Graduate Education for Licensure Programs
The School of Arts, Sciences and Education at Southern New Hampshire University is granted accreditation at the initial licensure level by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (1140 19th St NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036; 202-223-0077). Additional information regarding the programs covered under this accreditation and the accountability measures can be found on our CAEP Accreditation page.
CAEP advances equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning. Accreditation makes sure that educator programs prepare new teachers to know their subjects, their students and have the clinical training that allows them to enter the classroom ready to teach effectively.
| View Full Curriculum in the Catalog |
|---|
| MEd in Secondary Education |
| Courses May Include | ||
|---|---|---|
| MEd in Secondary Education with STEM Education Campus | ||
| EDU 609 | Theoretical Foundations | This competency-based course will focus on the knowledge, skills, abilities and dispositions teachers need to apply and analyze the theoretical foundations of general education and special education to his/her professional practice. Teacher Candidates will examine the theoretical foundations of special education and its impact on students with disabilities. This course will provide evidence-based research and clinical opportunities that will be implemented, analyzed, evaluated and refined during Clinical Experience I, II, III and IV (42 weeks). This iterative process facilitates an in-depth understanding of the theoretical foundations needed to address the individual needs of K-12 students with disabilities. With the support of the college faculty and the cooperating practitioner, the teacher candidate will actively engage in on-going self-assessment, focusing on the refinement of their understanding of the unique factors related to students' abilities and disabilities within the learning environment. |
| EDU 611 | Classroom and Behavior Management | This competency-based course will focus on the knowledge, skills, abilities and dispositions teachers need to apply and analyze the principles, procedures and strategies for classroom behavior management. Teacher Candidates will examine social skills development, assessment of social behavior and learning environment enhancement. This course will provide evidence-based research and clinical opportunities that will be implemented, analyzed, evaluated and refined during Clinical Experience I, II, III and IV (42 weeks). This iterative process facilitates an in-depth understanding of classroom behavior management needed to address the individual needs of all children, including children with disabilities. With the support of the college faculty and the cooperating practitioner, the teacher candidate will actively engage in on-going self-assessment, focusing on the refinement of their understanding of the unique factors related to students' abilities and disabilities within the learning environment. |
| EDU 613 | Initial STEM Clinical | This clinical, competency-based course will focus on the knowledge, skills, abilities and dispositions teachers need to teach middle and high school students during the SNHU Summer Experience. This clinical experience will provide evidence-based research, and clinical opportunities that will be implemented, analyzed, evaluated and refined during the clinical experience. This iterative process facilitates the development of skills that promote the learning of all students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The Humanities is integrated throughout with an emphasis on transdisciplinary practices and collaborative approaches to teaching and learning. With the support of the college faculty and the cooperating practitioners, the teacher candidate will actively engage in on-going self-assessment, focusing on the refinement of instructing students, supporting student learning and linking the secondary pupils' learning progress to the knowledge, skills, abilities and dispositions of the teacher candidate. |
| EDU 622 | Secondary Instructional Methods I | This course provides students with foundational, yet innovative and authentic learning experiences about teaching at the middle and high school levels. The course focuses on the most effective approaches to planning, implementing, managing, and assessing successful and effective learning experiences for 5-12 students. Through interactive discussions, examining resources, and relevant readings, students explore aspects and challenges to teaching content at the middle and high school levels. Topics include: knowing your content, knowing your students, collaborative pedagogies, cooperative learning, lesson/unit development, competency based teaching and learning, project based learning, and the reflective process. Students will be embedded in a middle school in order to learn and apply course concepts. |
| EDU 623 | Professional Clinical Experience I | This competency-based clinical course will focus on the knowledge, skills, abilities and dispositions teachers need to teach middle and/or high school pupils. This experience will provide evidence-based research, and clinical opportunities that will be implemented, analyzed, evaluated and refined during the 16 weeks of clinical experience. This iterative process facilitates the development of skills that promote the learning of adolescents, in the following: (a) Student development; (b) Learning differences; (c) Learning environment; (d) Content knowledge; (d) Assessment; (e) Planning and learning facilitation; and (f) Reflection and continuous growth. With the support of the college faculty and the public school clinical practitioners, the teacher candidate will actively engage in on-going self-assessment, focusing on the refinement of instructing students, supporting student learning and linking pupils' learning progress to the knowledge, skills, abilities and dispositions of the teacher candidate. Importantly, candidates will develop their certification specific content knowledge. |
| EDU 533C | Learning through Technology | In this course, students will develop the knowledge and skills to use technology to enhance student learning and achievement. This course also introduces students to learning targets (standards/outcomes) and a general model of curriculum development, implementation and assessment. |
| Total Credits: 36 | ||
Licensure and Certification Disclosures
SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page.
Graduate Tuition
Earning your degree is a smart choice to advance your career, and investing in an affordable program increases your ROI. We keep our costs low to remove barriers between you and your goals.
University Accreditation
The School of Arts, Sciences and Education at Southern New Hampshire University is granted accreditation at the initial licensure level by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (1140 19th St NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036; 202-223-0077). Additional information regarding the programs covered under this accreditation and the accountability measures can be found on our CAEP Accreditation page.
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References
Sources & Citations
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm#tab-6 (viewed March 15, 2022).
- https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/stem-employment.htm#ep_table_111.f.1 (viewed March 15, 2022).