Secondary teachers, also known as high school teachers, teach students in grades 9-12 in specialized subject areas such as biology, chemistry, American history, English, and foreign languages. Public school secondary teachers must have a bachelor’s degree and at least 24-36 hours of college courses in the specialty area; many schools also require a master’s degree in the teacher’s specialty. Public school secondary teachers must also complete an approved teacher education program, and be licensed; private school secondary teaching requirements vary. Secondary teachers prepare and deliver lessons and exams in their specialty areas, maintain classroom discipline, evaluate student performances, and meet with parents and school administrators to discuss student progress. Since secondary teachers are highly specialized, they are also expected to keep up to date on developments and trends in their specialty area. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the 2007 median earnings for secondary teachers was $49,420; the highest-paid 10% made about more than $78,100 while the lowest-paid 10% made less than $32,920. The top paying states for secondary teachers were New York, Illinois, Connecticut, California, and New Jersey. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there were 1,038,000 secondary teachers in the US in 2006 and projects there will be 1,096,000 in 2016 for an increase of 6%, a modest growth in job prospects. The most need will continue to be in areas such as mathematics, science (especially chemistry and physics), bilingual education, foreign languages, and vocational courses. Generally, public school secondary teachers must have a bachelor’s degree, and many schools also require a master’s degree in the teacher’s specialty; private school teaching requirements vary. Bachelor’s Degrees Grand Canyon University: BS Secondary Education Western Governors University: BA Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12) Western Governors University: BA Social Science (5-12) Western Governors University: BA Science (5-12, Bioscience) Western Governors University: BA Science (5-12, Chemistry) Western Governors University: BA Science (5-12, Geosciences) Western Governors University: BA Science (5-12, Physics) Master’s Degrees Capella University: K-12 Studies in Education Drexel University: MS Mathematics Learning and Teaching Grand Canyon University: MEd Secondary Education Kaplan University: MS Education/Teaching Literacy and Language (6-12) Kaplan University: MS Education/Teaching Mathematics (9-12) Kaplan University: MS Education/Teaching Science (6-12) Regis University: MEd Secondary St. Joseph’s University: Secondary Education with Certification (OATCERT) Walden University: MS Education/Integrating Technology in the Classroom (K-12) Doctorate Degrees Capella University: K-12 Studies in Education Jones International University: EdD K-12 Leadership Walden University: K-12 Education Leadership Find K-12 Teaching Jobs · ABC Teaching Jobs · Education Jobs · K-12 Jobs · Teach Abroad (for international opportunities) · Teachers-Teachers.com