Bachelor of Science
Secondary Education

Secondary Education at Greenville University

A Bachelor of Science in secondary education will prepare and license you for a career in teaching students from grades 9-12. As a secondary education major, you'll take professional education credits dispersed with the content specialization courses you need to pursue a teaching career in your chosen area of study.

You can choose from the following options:

Biology

As a biology education major, you will gain the experience and education you need to teach science, particularly biology, at the secondary level. Our biology courses focus on environmental biology and laboratory research including cell growth, DNA expression, botany, parasitology, and recombinant DNA technology.

Chemistry

As a chemistry education major, you will gain the experience and education you need to teach science, particularly chemistry, at the secondary level. Our chemistry courses incorporate studies in geology, physics, environmental science, biology, and laboratory research.

English Language Arts

As an English language arts education major, you will gain the experience and education you need to teach common English subjects like composition and literature at the secondary level. Our English courses focus on experiencing and analyzing the diversity and depth of literature in the English language; investigating the origins of that language; cultivating exceptional writing skills in academic, professional, and creative contexts; and reading texts within a global context.

History

As a History Education major, you will gain the experience and education you need to teach common English subjects like Composition and Literature at the secondary level. Our English courses focus on experiencing and analyzing the diversity and depth of literature in the English language; investigating the origins of that language; cultivating exceptional writing skills in academic, professional, and creative contexts; and reading texts within a global context. This coursework is interspersed with your education courses, helping you learn to integrate the two disciplines.

Mathematics

As a mathematics education major, you will gain the experience and education you need to teach mathematics at the secondary level. Our mathematics courses focus on mathematics as well as natural and computer science.

Physics

As a physics education major, you will gain the experience and education you need to teach science, particularly physics, at the secondary level. Our physics courses focus on natural science and mathematics as well as physical, chemical, and biological processes.

Have questions? We’d love to talk to you!

I'd Like to Learn More!

GU in a View

90% job placement

Ninety percent of graduates from Greenville University’s School of Education find work in the field of education within the first year after graduation.

99% pass rate on edTPA

Students at GU currently have a 99% pass rate on the edTPA, a high-stakes test required in the State of Illinois for licensure.

300 classroom hours

Acquire more than 300 hours of experience in classroom from rural to urban settings.

Why GU

Gateways ECE credential. Greenville University is a Gateways to Opportunity entitled institution for the ECE credential levels 2,3,4, and 5.

Character education. Earn nationally recognized certification in character education from Character Plus and learn to educate the whole child.

Fully accredited. Our School of Education is accredited through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

Double licensure. Complete double licensure requirements for early childhood and elementary education in a four-year bachelor's degree program. Double licensure allows teachers to work with students from birth through grade 6 in public schools, providing a wide range of opportunities.

Request Information

Success Stories

The education program at GU has equipped me to be a lifelong learner. With small class sizes, professors that care, and ample opportunities to gain real-life classroom experience, I feel confident in my skills and abilities going into my own classroom. Because of Greenville, I will be able to shape the future of education.

-Sidney Webster

Program Requirements

Visit the Online Undergraduate Catalog for an explanation of graduation requirements.

Secondary Education, BS Courses

This course prepares the candidate for admission to Teacher Education. Course content includes the characteristics of the Greenville University Teacher Education Program, a survey of the legal, social and ethical issues involved in public school education, an introduction to program portfolio development, and a correlation of psychological principles to varied learning styles and milieus. This course is conducted on campus and includes field experience in school settings that have a large minority population. This course will give students the opportunity to determine whether they want to persist in the Teacher Education Program. (Offered fall and interterm) $92 Fee.

The purpose of this course is to explore race and poverty issues that impact the classroom environment. Candidates will search for effective strategies to better meet the needs of underserved populations. The hidden rules of economic class and characteristics of generational poverty will be studied, with emphasis on the impact this has on instruction. Students will spend time assisting in a classroom which serves a high minority and low socioeconomic population. Meets the general education global foundations requirement. Prerequisite: EDUC 101. (Offered every Interterm.) Course fee may apply.

This course will examine the historical context, diverse characteristics, and individual planning for the exceptional child. Students in this course will explore how individuals develop and learn within the context of their cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. Co-teaching instructional plans based on diverse student characteristics, student performance data, and curriculum goals will be developed. Thirty hours of field experience in a special education classroom are required. Prerequisite: EDUC 101. Corequisite: EDUC 282. (Offered every semester.)

This course will provide a current and comprehensive overview of research and theory related to human learning. The course will emphasize major concepts of learning theory but will also cover relevant motivational and developmental theories. The course will underscore the relationship between theory, research, and practice. Meets the general education social science or business management requirement. Prerequisite: EDUC101; Corequisite: EDUC 280. (Offered every term.)

Emphasis is on teaching reading and writing in content areas from grades 6 through 12. Relationships between reading, literacy, and writing within content areas are established and ways of meeting the needs of culturally diverse and dysfunctional students are explored. Candidates design appropriate learning experiences and apply reading-study skills to the content areas. Field experiences required. Cross listed with ENGL 316. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. (Offered fall semester.)

This course will investigate the structures of a safe and healthy learning environment that facilitates cultural and linguistic responsiveness, positive social interaction, active engagement, and academic risk-taking. A three tiered level of positive behavior supports (PBS) will be explored as a framework for creating plans to accomplish a productive learning environment. Twenty hours of field experience required. Prerequisite: EDUC 280

This course is designed to explore classroom evaluation of student growth as an integral part of instruction. Candidates explore the purpose of evaluation as it relates to planning instruction. Professional, social, ethical, and philosophical considerations related to teaching/learning are also explored. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. (Offered every semester.)

A study of social and philosophical assumptions related to curricula, materials, and methods of instruction pertinent to middle grades students. Focus is on organizing classes, making curricular decisions, determining methods and selecting learning resources along with the literacy needs of the middle grades student. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program.

After admission to the professional internship, candidates receive student teaching placements. Candidates work with their cooperating teachers during the first week of school. Five days of clinical experience required. Prerequisite: Admission to the Professional Internship. (Offered fall semester)

Teacher candidates work to integrate prior coursework experienced into the context of real classrooms. Teacher candidates develop a teaching philosophy and an operational "professional identity." Candidates consider the impact that various factors have on the learning environment, develop teaching strategies that promote active learning and which engage students with diverse abilities, cultures, and ethnicity. Candidates explore methods specific to their subject areas under the additional guidance of the program coordinator. Teacher candidates will engage in preparing for the edTPA. Candidates complete a minimum of 15 hours in the clinical setting completing pre-mini student teaching assignments. Students must take EDUC 409 and 410 (Offered Interterm) during the same academic year. Meets the general education upper division writing intensive requirement. Prerequisites: Admission to the Teacher Education Program; EDUC 316, 333, and 340. (Offered fall semester.)

Candidates complete a mini-student teaching experience, consisting of 12 full days in the secondary classroom. Teacher candidates will meet on campus for a minimum of three class sessions. The course faculty member, assisted by the Director of Field Experience, will determine the placement for the clinical experience. Students must take EDUC 409 in the same academic year. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program and EDUC 409. (Offered Interterm.)

Candidates complete their full semester professional internship and EdTPA assessment. *K-12 physical education majors are required to complete eight weeks of student teaching in conjunction with EDUC 424. Prerequisite: Admission to the Professional Internship. (Offered every semester.)

The seminar addresses professional topics within the field of education. In addition, the seminar provides an opportunity for teacher candidates to focus on the required performance assessment. The performance assessment, aligned with state standards, is an authentic assessment tool that shows how teacher candidates develop and evaluate student learning. The centerpiece is a portfolio that describes and documents authentic practices from the candidates teaching experience. The portfolio addresses planning, instruction, assessment, analyzing teaching, and academic language to reveal the impact of a candidates teaching performance on student learning. As a capstone seminar, the course requires students reflect mastery of self-reflection and critical self-awareness, collaboration across disciplines, communication in multiple modes with multiple audiences, and reflection on how Christian faith impacts and guides their daily work. The seminar topics and tasks guide and support the candidates progress in the teaching profession. Meets the general education senior seminar requirement.

Start My Application Now!

Bachelor of Science Secondary Education