Secondary Education Concentration
Why Study Secondary Education?
The Secondary Education concentration leads to certification in grades 7 through 12 in biology, English, mathematics, earth science, or history and social studies. Teacher candidates gain skills in pedagogy, academic content areas, educational technology and how to create learning environments that support diversity.
Why Study Secondary Education at Eastern?
The Secondary Education concentration leads to certification in grades 7 through 12 in biology, English, mathematics, earth science, or history and social studies. Teacher candidates gain skills in pedagogy, academic content areas, educational technology and how to create learning environments that support diversity.
Salary Potential
Median Salary
Secondary Teacher
* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Clinical Experience
Secondary education candidates complete clinical placements during their studies, working closely with students and cooperating teachers in secondary schools. A full semester of student teaching in the senior year gives candidates the opportunity to deepen their understanding of teaching practices and connect educational theory to practice.
Faculty Spotlight
David L. Stoloff
Professor – Educational Technology and the Social Foundations of Education
“I believe that learners should manage and own their own learning and should find meaning in what they study.”
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Mark A. Fabrizi
Professor and Department Chair
“Teaching should be purposeful and valuable to both the individual and society. I am strongly influenced by the pedagogical beliefs of Paulo Freire and John Dewey.”
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Tanya Moorehead
Associate Professor
“We have a campus environment where everyone is learning, open to conversations. I can even invite President Núñez to speak to my class.”
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Laura Rodriguez
Associate Professor
“Nurturing relationships is a combination of demonstrating care and respect for your students with explicit teaching of interactional norms and communicating high expectations.”
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Career Options
- Middle school or high school teacher
- Special education teacher
- Administrator
- Curriculum design
- Tutor
- School librarian
- Educational consultant
Successful Alumni
Graduates of Eastern’s Secondary Education program are teachers and leaders in Connecticut’s schools, and many have been named teachers of the year within their school districts. Other graduates continue in the graduate programs offered by Eastern’s Department of Education or at other universities.
Alumni Testimonials
Best Buddies
Natalie Devlin ’22
A Barnard Scholar, Natalie served as a tour guide, a teaching assistant and a
writing tutor on campus. A member of the Best Buddies Club, Natalie says, “I will advocate unconditionally for those who are unable to voice their beliefs. As an aspiring English teacher, I understand the necessity of recognizing that all students and members of a community are ‘a little bit different, a lot the same.’”
Technical Support Analyst
Danielle Robillard ’16 M'17
Danielle is a mathematics teacher in the Providence, Rhode Island school district. “Eastern was the perfect school for me as a prospective teacher, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in becoming a part of the education field. The broad range of classes paired with clinical work and student-teaching prepares students for their careers.”
Peace Corps Volunteer
Tyler Hinde ’16
History major Tyler Hinde earned a master’s degree in Secondary Education at Eastern and is now teaching English in Indonesia as a Peace Corps volunteer. “The residential portion of my master’s program — in which I worked full time at a local middle school — fully prepared me to begin teaching. After the Peace Corps, I hope to teach American and world history and prepare future generations to find solutions for current and upcoming social, political and environmental issues.”
Teacher of the Year
Heather Warner ’03
Middle school language-arts teacher Heather Warner ’03 was named 2018 Bolton Teacher of the Year. “Professors in the secondary education program tailored their instruction to meet my needs and interests, while also creating a supportive learning environment that prepared me for real-life teaching experiences.”
