Bachelor in Communication Arts: Secondary Education

The Secondary Teacher Education program prepares teacher candidates for certification in grades 6-12. It requires 27 credits of Education coursework in professional foundations and studies and 13 credits during internship. Students apply for admission to the program after successfully completing nine credits of Education coursework in professional foundations. During the course of the studies, candidates may be asked to reapply to the program if their GPA falls below 3.0 in general coursework and 3.0 in their selected content area(s) of endorsements such as biology, chemistry, communication arts, earth science, English, math, natural sciences, physical education/health, psychology, or social studies. There are separate degree requirements for each major and minor endorsement area.

Secondary Teaching Certificates (6-12) are endorsed for subject areas according to Idaho Teacher Certification standards. All certificates require a minimum of 30 semester credits for a major endorsement area and 20 semester credits for a minor endorsement area, or a minimum of 45 semester credits for a single endorsement. The following LC State areas are approved for teaching field majors: Biology; Chemistry; Communication Arts with a Speech and Debate emphasis; Earth Science; English; Kinesiology-Physical Education K-12 and Health 6-12; Mathematics; Natural Sciences; Psychology; and Social Science with a History emphasis (see degree requirements for each major). For marketability purposes, students are encouraged to pursue endorsements and minors in a second teaching field; consult with an advisor for the proper procedure. Secondary Education majors must have a content area advisor and a Secondary Education advisor.

Graduates from other colleges or universities seeking secondary teacher certification must fulfill all Secondary Education professional coursework requirements in addition to meeting all academic major or minor teaching field requirements for subject area endorsement.

Students in the Secondary Education Certification program are expected to provide evidence through performance that they have met Idaho's requirements for certification and become dedicated and knowledgeable professionals, content specialists, competent educational designers, capable educational facilitators, insightful educational evaluators, reflective professionals, culturally responsive professionals before being recommended for secondary teacher certification.