The Lynch School has a long history of collaborative partnerships with Boston, Newton, and Brookline Public Schools, as well as with Catholic, private and charter schools in the greater Boston area.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Secondary Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Secondary Education
A degree in Secondary Education from Boston College is distinct. It combines innovative theoretical approaches with firsthand experience working with high school students.
Here you’ll learn how to think critically about education, how to teach various disciplines, and how to connect those disciplines to facilitate learning—all while applying your knowledge in local schools and enhancing your experience with elective courses.
You’ll round out your degree with a second major in English, history, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, earth/environmental science, French or Spanish—preparing you to teach in these subject areas. To focus your degree further, you can add a concentration in Special Education.
When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to teach children in grades 8–12 in a variety of classrooms covering an array of subjects.
Comprehensive coursework, practical settings
Our Secondary Education program features coursework that covers leading theories and strategies in child development, learning, and instruction.
In the classroom, you’ll focus on:
- Child, adolescent, and young adult development
- Theory and instruction in curriculum that educates diverse populations and meets the special needs of all children
- Methods of teaching a range of subjects to a range of students from various settings
- Classroom assessment
Outside of the classroom, you and your cohort will spend your first pre-practicum at a nearby Boston public high school, where you will:
- Learn the latest curriculum and instruction methods from Boston College faculty and veteran high school teachers
- Participate in inquiry-based practice and receive feedback from onsite supervisors
- Take part in student, faculty, and guest speaker panels
The Lynch School has a long history of national accreditation, which includes NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education), TEAC (Teacher Education Accreditation Council), and CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation). Most recently, the Lynch School was granted full and complete accreditation through CAEP, valid from Fall 2018 through Spring 2024. Boston College is currently the only CAEP accredited education preparation organization in Massachusetts.
The Lynch School partners with a range of urban and suburban public, private, parochial, and charter schools in Greater Boston—empowering students to apply their skills in dynamic classroom settings. In the process, they gain teaching experience and learn how to thrive in an increasingly diverse education environment.
Student teaching opportunities include:
- Field placements for pre-service candidates
- Action research projects
- Urban immersion site-based courses
- Professional development opportunities for in-service teachers, administrators, and other professionals in schools and community based organizations
Boston College supports these partnerships through competitive national grants, including recent awards from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the National Science Foundation and through Title III funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
- The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students by providing high-quality and coherent instruction, designing and administering authentic and meaningful student assessments, analyzing student performance and growth data, using this data to improve instruction, providing students with constructive feedback on an on-going basis, and continuously refining learning objectives.
The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through instructional practices that establish high expectations, create a safe and effective classroom environment, and demonstrate cultural proficiency.
The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through effective partnerships with families, caregivers, community members, and organizations.
The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through ethical, culturally proficient, skilled, and collaborative practice.
- The teacher candidate will promote an inquiry stance of critical reflection about personal practice through individual and collaborative inquiry in service of improving pupil academic, emotional, and social learning.
- The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students by providing high-quality and coherent instruction, designing and administering authentic and meaningful student assessments, analyzing student performance and growth data, using this data to improve instruction, providing students with constructive feedback on an on-going basis, and continuously refining learning objectives.
The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through instructional practices that establish high expectations, create a safe and effective classroom environment, and demonstrate cultural proficiency.
The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through effective partnerships with families, caregivers, community members, and organizations.
The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through ethical, culturally proficient, skilled, and collaborative practice.
- The teacher candidate will promote an inquiry stance of critical reflection about personal practice through individual and collaborative inquiry in service of improving pupil academic, emotional, and social learning.
Where do our graduates work?
King Philip High School
English Teacher
Virginia Public Schools
History Teacher
Uncommon Schools
Science Teacher
Chongro Overseas Educational Institute
ESL Tutor and Adminstrative Assistant
Sharon Public Schools
ELA Teacher
St. Joseph's Preparatory High School
English Teacher
Cristo Rey Boston High School
Science Teacher
Acton-Boxborough High School
Physics Teacher
Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Associate General Counsel
Career paths chosen by previous graduates of the TCS Department.
