Pursuing a degree in secondary education allows you to enter a career as a teacher at the high school level. High school teachers tend to teach students about a single subject. They work hard to prepare students for post-secondary education and entering the workforce after graduation.
Education
Students who want a career in secondary education need to complete a bachelor’s degree, which will take about four years to complete. You’ll be expected to focus on a specific subject, such as math or history. You can also choose to focus on a more specific area of study, such as economics or politics, or special subjects such as art or foreign language.
A bachelor’s degree in secondary education usually includes field work, such as student teaching, which is often completed at the same time as teaching certification requirements. Teaching certification differs state-to-state, so you’ll need to find out what your state requires. Some states require you to receive a master’s degree after initial teacher certification, which sometimes can be earned while teaching full-time.
Career
Secondary school teachers typically work with grades 9-12, but depending on the school district you may work with grades 7-12. As a high school teacher, you’ll need to create lesson plans that you can adapt to different class sizes. You will need to create a curriculum that prepares students for standardized testing, challenges them personally and academically and — most importantly — holds their interest.
This career also includes grading assignments and exams, which you may have to complete at home, and communicating with parents, fellow teachers and other staff. In the age of information, you’ll most likely be expected to upkeep a website to post assignments and coursework as well.
Salary and Job Outlook
According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in 2015 for secondary school teachers was $57,200. The profession is expected to grow by 6 percent by 2024, about as fast as average.
Explore a little more with Next Step Academy’s course “Careers in Education: Secondary Education“