Middle/Secondary Education Pathway
Become a teacher — sooner than you think
Turn your passion into purpose
Begin your pathway to a teaching license and M.Ed. in middle or secondary education while you are an undergraduate student.
Middle and high school teachers have a unique role in education—they are masters in their subject matter, but they also guide students’ transition through adolescence and eventually into college and career opportunities. In the Bachelor's + M.Ed. middle/secondary education pathway, you’ll first earn an undergraduate degree in the academic subject you love and hope to teach. Simultaneously, you’ll have opportunity to use free space in your schedule to begin exploring middle/secondary education and working on licensure requirements. Once you complete your undergraduate program, you’ll seamlessly transition into an accelerated master’s degree program where you can complete the requirements for Massachusetts licensure at Gordon’s affordable graduate-level tuition rate.
1. Take EDU116: Introduction to Secondary Education
Start your journey with this introductory course where you will complete 20 hours of experiential learning and explore whether God is calling you to a career in teaching.
2. Begin your licensure coursework
Take advantage of Gordon Plus to get a jumpstart on education coursework for your graduate program. Juniors and seniors with a 3.2 GPA may take up to 12 credits of graduate level courses during their undergraduate program.
3. Earn your Massachusetts licensure and M.Ed.
After graduating with your undergraduate degree, enroll in your desired M.Ed. program. Gordon’s graduate programs are designed for working professionals, so graduate students have the option to teach under a provisional license while pursuing their degree online during evenings or weekends in as little as one year.
Looking to extend your studies further? Consider adding an optional education minor
The flexible 20 credit education minor allows you to further explore your calling and build your skills. Apply EDU 116 and 12 credits of graduate coursework, and you’ll need only 6 elective credits to complete the minor.
Go the extra mile
Jump start your professional experience
Dual Licensure: During your accelerated Master's program, you can choose to complete a dual student teaching practicum, making you eligible for licensure for grades 5–8 and 9–12 in your content field.
Work Experience: Many graduate students choose to work as a paraprofessional, substitute teacher, private school teacher, or public school classroom teacher hired on a provisional license while pursuing their graduate degree and licensure. Licensure requires passing scores on the following MTELs: Communication and Literacy, Content Area Exam(s).
What our students are saying
"Completing your bachelor’s and master’s degrees through Gordon’s accelerated education program allows you to fully immerse yourself in both your passions—education and the content area you want to teach. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to spend three years deepening my understanding of history and historical inquiry with brilliant history professors like Dr. Stephen Alter and Professor David Goss and then spend my final year at Gordon learning from expert educators how to leverage that knowledge into engaging lessons for students."
— Claire Hoag '22 '23M History Teacher at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School
In which subject areas can I pursue middle/secondary licensure?
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Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure
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Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure
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Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure
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Digital Literacy Computer Science Education
Master of Education Initial Licensure -
Master of Education Initial Licensure
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English as a Second Language (ESL)
Master of Education Education Specialist Initial Licensure Professional Licensure Licensure-only -
Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure
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Master of Education Initial Licensure
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Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure
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Master of Education Initial Licensure
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Mathematics and Science Education
Master of Education Initial Licensure -
Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure
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Moderate Disabilities Education
Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure -
Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure
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Master of Education Initial Licensure
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Master of Education Initial Licensure Professional Licensure
Gordon College's teacher education programs lead to initial and professional licensure in the state of Massachusetts.
To learn about out-of-state licensure please go to the licensure page.
Life after Gordon
Because of Gordon’s strong emphasis on practical classroom experience, you will be highly qualified for an initial Massachusetts teaching license (and comparable license in all 50 states and U.S. territories on the basis of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement), and for a wide range of teaching positions across the country and around the globe, including: public schools, private schools, Christian schools, and global missions.
Get started with Gordon
Have a question or just want to learn more about Gordon? We're here to help!