Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (AZ)

Overview

Ottawa University’s Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (BASE) degree program in Arizona is designed to produce teachers who are sensitive and compassionate to the unique needs, challenges, and learning styles of a diverse adolescent student population. Students develop critical thinking skills through an analysis of educational history; philosophy and psychology; measurement and evaluation of learning; and classroom management; as well as gaining an awareness of cultural diversity and the social and political contexts of education.

Program Description

Ottawa’s BASE degree in Arizona provides students with the knowledge, social competencies, methods, communication skills, attitudes, and values to become an effective educator. Students will participate in student teaching and gain a foundation in today’s educational methods as you work towards your teaching license. This program is based on state, regional, and national licensure criteria and testing competencies. Specific subject-matter courses, developed in collaboration with lead faculty in the discipline, build connections between theory and practice. Preparations in the subject major along with education courses, including field experiences, assist in leading to licensure.

Career Outlook

Potential employment opportunities for secondary education majors include teaching in public or private middle schools or high schools, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These teaching jobs are projected to grow 4 percent through 2029. Rising student enrollment should increase demand for middle school teachers, but employment growth will vary by region.

The median annual wage for middle school teachers was $59,660 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,990, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,280. The median annual wage for high school teachers was $61,660 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,540, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,660.

Concentrations

Ottawa’s bachelor’s degree in secondary education offers several concentrations that allow you to tailor your degree in an area of specialization, such as:

• Secondary Education (AZ) - Business Concentration
• Secondary Education (AZ) – English Concentration
• Secondary Education (AZ) - History Concentration
• Secondary Education (AZ) - Mathematics Concentration
• Secondary Education (AZ) - Music Concentration

Licensure Areas

Work with your advisor on content specific to licensure areas and additional state-specific requirements.

• English
• History
• Mathematics
• Business
• Music (Choral & Instrumental)

Courses

Pre-Professional Education

• The Teaching Profession I: Explores current and future teaching profession. Introduces Ottawa University’s mission and teacher education program’s conceptual framework. Learn about topics such as reflective inquiry, standards driven classrooms, use of technology, and diversity of learners. Skills assessed in relation to profession.
• Educational Psychology: Designed to acquaint students with knowledge gained from educational psychologists in learning theory and practice, motivation and management, and effective instruction. Meets required competencies in research, teaching methods and materials, media and technology, teaching effectiveness, interpersonal relations, educational ethics, understanding the learner, teaching-learning process, learning styles, and understanding the relationship between school and home. Emphasis placed on understanding methods needed to maintain an effective learning environment through classroom management strategies and motivational techniques.
• Foundations of Schools in a Diverse Society: Provides candidate with understanding of historical, philosophical and social foundations of education in the United States. Addresses legal and ethical issues. Learn how educational policy is formulated and affects classroom practice. Provides opportunities to learn from a variety of professionals from diverse backgrounds.
• The Exceptional Child: Become familiar with various emotional and behavioral disorders, health and physical impairments, and intellectual deviations associated with children (birth through high school age) who are identified as exceptional. Addresses strategies for meeting academic, social and emotional needs of these children within the confines of the classroom (including IEPS). Examines criteria for effectively working with administrators, specialists, support personnel, and family who impact the educational experiences of these children. Field experience required.
• Secondary Education Methods and RICA: Learn to design, implement, and evaluate materials and instructional techniques for early through late adolescent learner. Topics include assessing readability of materials, evaluating student reading skills, teaching vocabulary, comprehension and study skills, working with at risk students, and incorporating writing into curriculum.
• Secondary Specialized Methods/Practicum: Observe, develop, and practice skills under the guidance of a classroom teacher in the student’s major area of interest.

Clinical Practice-Licensure

• SEI Methods for ELL II
• Secondary Student Teaching I: Capstone field experience for secondary pre-service teachers. Gives opportunity to observe and teach in a secondary school setting. Consult Education Department for placement information.
• Secondary Student Teaching II: Capstone field experience for secondary pre-service teachers. Gives opportunity to observe and teach in a secondary school setting. Consult Education Department for placement information.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program meets professional licensure requirements in certain states, as outlined on the University’s Licensure Disclosure page. Students are advised to verify that they are located (or plan to seek initial licensure) in a state where Ottawa University’s program meets requirements. Students who have questions about a program’s status should consult with an enrollment advisor. Those who relocate to another state during their course of study may no longer be eligible to enroll in the program or receive federal financial aid, and they may not meet licensure requirements in their state.

Locations

Secondary Education (AZ) is offered at the following locations:

• Surprise, AZ (Residential Campus)
• Online

University Accreditation

Ottawa University, as a whole, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Specific degree programs within our institution have also been accredited by relevant bodies within the field:

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC)
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)