Classroom instructors who want to further their professional goals and teach subjects for which they have passion often go back to school to earn Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education degrees. While secondary education is a specialization within most M.Ed. programs, student teachers can customize their degrees even more by taking selected electives that lead to recognized degree concentrations or official endorsements. Successful completion of chosen concentrations like science and social studies subject areas may appear on teachers’ degrees. Official endorsements, however, are earned in areas that are specially regulated by each states’ school systems. Endorsements are recorded on teachers’ licenses and provide verification that educators are qualified to instruct in specialized areas. Here are some common concentration subjects and endorsement areas for secondary school education majors who are pursuing their M.Ed. degrees.
Math Concentration
According to education advocates, there will be a shortage of qualified teachers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) within the next few years. The demand is so high for STEM educators that some school systems like the one at the Douglas County, Colorado district are considering paying math and science teachers more than their peers who instruct in other academic disciplines. Math is just one of the popular subject area concentrations that secondary school education majors can choose to pursue during graduate school. Some course topics that student teachers are likely to take for a math concentration are linear regression, probability, statistics and geometry. Mathematics instruction is also at the heart of the Common Core standards initiative, and student teachers can expect courses that prepare them to apply the standards within their secondary school classrooms.
Reading Endorsement
100 percent literacy within secondary schools has always been a goal of the nation’s Department of Education, and reading is a subject that is regulated through endorsement in most states. Student teachers can earn their reading endorsements by taking elective courses in topics like theory in literacy, incorporating literacy throughout entire secondary school curricula, reading comprehension, writing instruction and reading assessment. In addition to the coursework, graduates of M.Ed. programs in secondary school education must take the Teaching Reading Praxis test to earn the reading endorsement.
Gifted and Talented Instruction Endorsement
Teachers within the special education niche are in high demand in certain school districts across the country, and instruction of gifted students normally falls under the category of special education. However, teachers who want to lead classroom programs for gifted and talented students must earn a specific endorsement in the subject. These instructors can expect to take course topics like identification of gifted students, methods for gifted student education and creativity in education.
English as a Second Language Endorsement
Culturally curious instructors often seek out opportunities to share their knowledge of English with non-native speakers while they learn new things about their students’ countries of origin. These instructors are often infected with mild cases of wanderlust and use their English as a Second Language (ESOL) endorsements to land teaching positions abroad. Some course topics that are often taken to earn the ESOL endorsement are acquisition of second languages, diversity in education, linguistics and ESOL instructional strategies.
The field of education encourages instructors to pursue advanced degrees in a variety of subjects which contribute to the quality of classroom instruction and allow the teachers to become experts in areas that particularly interest them. Teachers are also rewarded with higher pay when they earn Master’s in Education in Secondary Education degrees, and they are eligible for increased job opportunities when they choose to gain specializations.
Related Resource: What Types Of Jobs Can I Get With A Master’s In Education In Secondary Education?
