Secondary Education (Teacher Certification), MEd
edugte, teachers college
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College is changing their name, effective Fall 2025. The new name is Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
No matter where you're located, you can earn your master's degree in as few as five semesters. Remote coursework paired with in-person internships and student teaching prepares you to obtain teacher certification and thrive in the high-demand field of education.
The Master of Education program in secondary education with a concentration in teacher certification is for those who already have a bachelor's degree in any field and want to become licensed to teach grades 6--12. The program is designed to foster strong professional growth and leadership development.
The program of study is flexible, and students can complete it within five semesters with the appropriate internship and student teaching placements. Students can also enroll part time over additional semesters.
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College faculty members actively engage in the educational research community, bringing new and relevant knowledge into the program. Students engage in their own research through applied project coursework, deepening their knowledge and improving their practice through research, critical evaluation and application of education concepts.
A series of professional experiences assist students in developing a thorough understanding of teaching and learning as they apply knowledge from their coursework in varied school settings.
This program offers two routes leading to Arizona teacher certification:
- In the traditional certification pathway, students complete three professional experiences: two internships and one student teaching.
- The alternative certification pathway provides an different pathway to teacher certification for individuals who are currently employed full time by a school as a teacher of record. To qualify, individuals must secure a full-time teaching position in an approved content area and grade level.
The coursework is the same in both certification pathways and culminates in an applied project in which students apply what they've learned to address a problem of practice or topic related to education.
Graduates earn an institutional recommendation from ASU that is recognized by the Arizona Department of Education for teacher certification in Secondary Education, 6--12.
Physical education content area students earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Secondary Education, 6--12, along with the Physical Education, Pre-K--12 endorsement. This program does not lead to teacher certification in any other elementary content area.
Art education content area students earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Secondary Education, 6--12, along with the Art Education, Pre-K--12 endorsement. This program does not lead to teacher certification in any other elementary content area.
- College/school:
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
- Location: Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (SED 593) - Alternative Certification Pathway, or
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (SED 593) - Traditional Certification Pathway
Required Core (11 credit hours)
TEL 502 Exploration of Education: Child/Adolescent Development and Foundations of Special Education (3)
TEL 510 Instructional Design, Planning and Assessment (2)
TEL 517 Creating Equitable Learning Environment: Decision Making and Action (3)
TEL 532 Literacy Across the Disciplines (3)
Concentration (6 credit hours)
SED 557 Internship I (2)
SED 567 Internship II (2)
SED 571 Apprentice Teaching I (2)
SED 574 Apprentice Teaching II (2)
SED 576 Internship III (2)
SED 578 Residency/Student Teaching in Secondary Education (2)
SED 579 Apprentice Teaching III (2)
SED 596 Residency/Student Teaching (2)
SEI Endorsement (3 credit hours)
ELL 515 Structured English Immersion (SEI) Methods (3)
Other Requirements (7 credit hours)
PPE 550 Physical Education for Elementary School (3)
PPE 555 Physical Education for Secondary School and PPE 566 Conceptual Physical Education (1)
SED 510 General Methods and Assessment (4)
SED 511 ELA Methods and Assessment (4)
SED 512 Secondary Mathematics Methods and Assessment (4)
SED 513 Science Teaching Methods for Secondary School (4)
SED 514 Methods of Teaching Secondary Social Studies (4)
TEL 598 Special Topics (4)
Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
SED 593 Applied Project (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
Students select one of the alternative certification or traditional pathways.
Students should see an advisor for the Other Requirements section.
Alternative pathway students choose six credit hours of apprentice teaching and internship from concentration requirements. At least four credit hours must be apprentice teaching.
Traditional pathway students choose six credit hours of internship and student teaching from Concentration Requirements. At least two credit hours must be internship and at least two credit hours must be student teaching.
If a student plans to switch options mid-program, the student must reach out to the academic unit for appropriate advisement.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- three letters of recommendation
- personal statement
- resume
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The letters of recommendation should be from individuals who can speak to the applicant's potential for success in a graduate program.
The personal statement should describe the applicant's interests and reason for seeking this degree.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
Graduates of Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College are highly sought-after teachers in public, charter and private education institutions. Graduates of the program gain skills in teaching, conducting research, using technology and collaborating in teams --- all of which prepare them to succeed in educational careers working with learners in grades 6--12.
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
To be eligible for secondary certification in Arizona, students must:
- pass the appropriate Arizona educator subject knowledge exam, as well as the professional knowledge exam offered through the National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments
or - hold a conferred bachelor's or master's degree with the content area listed in the degree title, and receive a passing score on the professional knowledge exam offered through the National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments
Division of Teacher Preparation
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ED 118
GraduateEducation@asu.edu
480-965-5555
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
