The Lynch School has a long history of collaborative partnerships with Boston, Newton, and Brookline Public Schools, as well as with Catholic, private and charter schools in the Greater Boston area.
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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Secondary Education
A degree in Secondary Education from Boston College combines innovative theoretical approaches with firsthand experience working with high school students. Here you’ll learn how to think critically about education, how to teach various disciplines, and how to connect those disciplines to facilitate learning—all while applying your knowledge in local schools. This degree will lead to grades 8–12 licensure in STEM or 5-12 licensure in humanities (i.e., English and History).
Curriculum
When you graduate, you’ll be prepared to teach children in grades 8–12 (for STEM majors) or grades 5-12 (for Humanities majors). Our Secondary Education program features coursework that covers leading theories and strategies in child development, learning, and instruction.
In the classroom, you’ll focus on:
- Child, adolescent, and young adult development
- Theory and instruction in curriculum that educates diverse populations and meets the special needs of all children
- Methods of teaching a range of subjects to a range of students from various settings
- Classroom assessment
- The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students by providing high-quality and coherent instruction, designing and administering authentic and meaningful student assessments, analyzing student performance and growth data, using this data to improve instruction, providing students with constructive feedback on an on-going basis, and continuously refining learning objectives.
- The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through instructional practices that establish high expectations, create a safe and effective classroom environment, and demonstrate cultural proficiency.
- The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through effective partnerships with families, caregivers, community members, and organizations.
- The teacher candidate will promote the learning and growth of all students through ethical, culturally proficient, skilled, and collaborative practice.
- The teacher candidate will promote an inquiry stance of critical reflection about personal practice through individual and collaborative inquiry in service of improving pupil academic, emotional, and social learning.
Overview
There are five components to the Secondary Education major:
1. Take the required core courses (27 credits).
2. Engage in two pre-practicum experiences (4 credits).
3. Complete one full practicum experience (15 credits).
4. Declare and complete a second major in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences.
- Acceptable majors: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Geoscience, Physics, English, History, or Mathematics. English and History majors will be endorsed for grades 5-12.
Required Courses
Required Courses
9 courses (27 credits)
9
Core Courses
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
EDUC1030 OR FORM1050 | Child Development OR The Educational Conversation | 3 | |
EDUC1030 OR FORM1050 | Family, School and Society OR Reimagining Schools and Society | 3 | |
| APSY2041 | Adolescent Development | 3 | |
| EDUC1044 | Education and Development for Students with Disabilities | 3 | |
| MESA1060 | Classroom Assessment | 3 | Take with EDUC2211 and EDUC2151 and EDUC2131 (Pre-prac #1) |
| EDUC2211 | Secondary Curriculum and Instruction | 3 | Take with MESA1060 and EDUC2151 and EDUC2131 (Pre-prac #1) |
| EDUC6300-6304 | Secondary Methods Courses | 3 | Fall semester only. Take with Pre-prac #2 |
| EDUC3323 | Reading Special Needs Instruction | 3 | Spring semester only. Take with Pre-prac #3 (optional) |
| EDUC6347 | Teaching Bilingual Students in Secondary Education | 3 | Jr. or Sr. standing |
Required Practica and Undergraduate Inquiry Seminars
Practica and their corresponding undergraduate inquiry seminars must be taken at the same time.
Required Practica and Seminars
3 practica/seminars (19 credits)
3
Required Practica and Seminars
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
EDUC2151 EDUC2131 | Pre-Practicum #1 UG Inquiry Seminar #1 | 2 | Take with EDUC2211 and MESA1060 |
EDUC3152 EDUC3132 | Pre-Practicum #2 UG Inquiry Seminar #2 | 2 | Take with EDUC6300-6304 |
EDUC3153 EDUC3133 | Pre-Practicum #3 (optional: take with EDUC6300-6304 or EDUC3323) UG Inquiry Seminar #3 (optional: take with EDUC6300-6304 or EDUC3323) | 2 | Optional: Take with EDUC6300-6304 or EDUC3323 |
| EDUC3154 | International Field Experience (optional) | 1 | |
EDUC4250 EDUC4231 | Full Practicum (12 credits) Senior Inquiry Seminar (3 credits) | 15 | 8 courses in second major must be completed to enroll |
Secondary Education
63
Secondary Ed Majors
2
Pre-Practicum Experiences
1
Full-Practicum Experience
Student Teaching
Professional experiences are composed of early field experiences, referred to as pre-practicum placements, and an immersive, semester-long full practicum experience.
Pre-practicum
Undergraduates complete two pre-practicum experiences, each in a different setting and consisting of one school day per week for 10 weeks.
Full Practicum
Full-practicum experience is five days each week in the classroom for the entire semester.
You are guided by a qualified school-based mentor and a University-based mentor.
Accreditation
We are an approved teacher preparation program by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Upon successful completion of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development's educator preparation program, students earn endorsement from Boston College for licensure in Massachusetts. For more information about educator licensure, including if you are seeking licensure in another state, please visit the Licensure Disclosure Page.
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