Secondary Education

Degrees Offered

• Bachelors

Start Terms

• Fall or Spring

Program Format

• On-campus
• Select classes available online to provide added flexibility for students

Credit Hours & Timeline

• Total credits required: 121 – 137 depending on endorsement
• Typical completion time: 4 years

Curriculum Highlights

• Content Area Major + Education Coursework
  Pair your teaching subject, such as English, math, or science, with education courses that focus on teaching strategies.
• Instructional Methods for Secondary Classrooms
  Learn how to plan lessons, manage classrooms, and engage students at the high school level.
• Assessment & Student Learning
  Develop skills to evaluate student progress and adjust instruction to improve outcomes.
• Field Experience & Student Teaching
  Gain hands-on experience in secondary classrooms, culminating in a full student teaching placement.

Prepare to teach and inspire students in grades 7–12 with a strong foundation in both content and instruction. The Secondary Education curriculum combines subject-area expertise with hands-on classroom experience.

• Preparation for teacher licensure and secondary education careers
• Coursework in teaching methods, curriculum and adolescent development
• Focus on subject-area specialization and instructional strategies
• Field experiences in middle and high school classrooms
• Student teaching for real-world classroom preparation

Applicants for admission are evaluated based on the following criteria to gain full admission.

1. High school record of cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. An applicant for a degree program must have graduated or will have graduated with 16 high school units from an accredited high school. The college preparatory program is strongly recommended to high school students. Ordinarily this program includes four years of English and two years of social studies, science, and mathematics.
2. College/university record of cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, if applicable.

Applicants who do not meet the following criteria and show potential for success may be reviewed for an alternate admissions pathway.

Students who have successfully completed the General Education Development Test (GED) and have not accumulated at least 12 collegiate level semester hours credit at a regionally accredited institution with a 2.5 GPA or better will follow the Alternate Admissions Pathway.

Admission into the Teacher Education Program

During the spring semester of the sophomore year or second semester after transfer, students are evaluated and considered for formal acceptance into the teacher education program.

Prior to or during the first year, students take the Core Academic Skills for Educators Test that is required for admission into the teacher education program. Core Academic Skills for Educators test scores, academic performance, evidence of professional dispositions for successful teaching, field experience evaluations, student interview, student website and command of oral and written language are factors considered in determining acceptance into the teacher education program.

Students must provide evidence of academic competence and professional development by having attained a cumulative GPA of 2.65 in course work, providing an active digital portfolio of work that demonstrates professional and scholarly growth, and completion of an interview with the Teacher Education Committee.

Applications open July 1 for the upcoming academic year. CSM follows a rolling admission process, reviewing applications as they are received. We encourage students to apply early for priority consideration for scholarships, housing, and financial aid.

The Mercy Core is CSM’s general education curriculum and the foundation of every degree. Rooted in the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy, it integrates ethics, reflection, and action to prepare women to lead with purpose and advance justice in their communities.