Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Secondary Education

A degree in Secondary Education from Boston College 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. This degree will lead to grades 8–12 licensure in STEM or 5-12 licensure in humanities (i.e., English and History).

Curriculum

When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to teach children in grades 8–12 (for STEM majors) or grades 5-12 (for Humanities majors). 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

Requirements


  • Courses: 8 
  • Pre-Practica: 3
  • Full Practicum: 1 
  • Credits: 45
  • A second major in BC's Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty

Students

Secondary Education

63

Secondary Ed Majors

3

Pre-Practicum Experiences

1

Full-Practicum Experience

Student Teaching

Professional experiences are composed of early field experiences, referred to as pre-practicum placements, and an immersive, semester-long full practicum experience.

Pre-practicum

Undergraduates complete three pre-practicum experiences, each in a different setting and consisting of one school day per week for 10 weeks. 

Full Practicum

Full-practicum experience is five days each week in the classroom for the entire semester. 

Support


You are guided by a qualified school-based mentor and a University-based mentor.

Licensure


Designed to meet the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE) requirements for endorsement from Boston College, leading to licensure.

Variety of Settings


Experience a range of urban and suburban public, private, parochial, and charter schools in Greater Boston.

Accreditation

We are an approved teacher preparation program by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Upon successful completion of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development's educator preparation program, students earn endorsement from Boston College for licensure in Massachusetts. For more information about educator licensure, including if you are seeking licensure in another state, please visit the Licensure Disclosure Page.

Careers

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

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.

Learn More about Student Teaching