Most Affordable Online Secondary Education Degrees

Overview

Mississippi State University is a public university located in Starkville, MS. The school also has campuses in Meridian, Biloxi, and Vicksburg. MSU started in 1862 as The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, but has since expanded to offer a number of different degrees and majors across the sciences and humanities. MSU has around 22,000 total students throughout their locations.

Program Features

Mississippi State offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary education, with a concentration in Middle School. The program is offered through their Distance Learning service, which allows students to take online courses through their junior year. Some experience building options are:

• Field Experiences
• Internships

Courses, assignments, and requirements mirror those of on-campus classes, which means students receive the same education as they would in person.

Notables

The same program also offers a specialization in Early Childhood. This is the only online elementary education bachelor’s program in the state of Mississippi. Courses focus on delivering the most current and evidence-based educational practices. Students are no longer eligible for internships in the state of Georgia.

Overview

West Governors University is a private, non-profit online university that is based out of Salt Lake City, UT. The school was founded in 1995, and utilizes a competency-based learning system to deliver its course content. The idea for the school came from 19 different U.S. Governors, who each committed $100,000 towards the project. The group was spearheaded by the then-governor of Utah Mike Leavitt.

Program Features

Western Governors University offers four online, secondary education bachelor’s degrees. Students may choose to pursue either a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, or Biological Sciences, which are all intended for grades 5-12. Course schedules vary by specialty, but all programs are divided into two parts:

• Core Subject Areas such as Introduction to Humanities and College Algebra
• Key Subject Areas: Calculus III, Probability and Statistics I, and College Geometry

The program emphasizes the program’s low, flat-rate tuition and the high reported satisfaction of its alumni.

Notables

Students may pursue the degree in anywhere between one to three years. Most students choose to pursue their degree in around two years. WGU’s online secondary math program was ranked #1 by the National Council on Teacher Quality in 2014. Students must pass a state-specific skills test before entering the program.

Overview

Hope International University is a private, Christian university in Fullerton, CA. HIU was founded in 1928 as Pacific Bible Seminary, and now consists of five different colleges. The school has a student population of around 2,000. It identifies as non-denominational, but has strong ties to the Restoration Movement and the Christian churches and churches of Christ.

Program Features

Hope International offers an online Bachelor of Arts degree in Teacher Preparation, through their Liberal Arts Department. It is a 100% online program, which ranked #2 for online programs by California Edudemic. Sample courses in the program include:

• A Practical Approach to Classroom Management
• Technology for Teachers
• Written Communication
• Biological Science

Students’ credits are divided between Education Core (51-62), General Education (49), and Elective Courses (13-22), for a total of 122 credits.

Notables

Students receive their own dedicated academic coach, who helps with time-management, goals, and academic planning. The university also offers personalized career services, including a free job portal and resume/cover letter workshopping. The program generally takes students five semesters to complete. Hope International has a Master’s Degree and California certification program that students may continue in to.

Overview

Great Basin College is a community college located in Elko, NV. The school was opened in 1967 as Elko Community College, and is a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Great Basin College has around 3,400 students. They offer Associates degrees in subjects such business and criminal justice. They also have four year degrees in areas such as nursing and education.

Program Features

Great Basin College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education degree. The program is intended to help provide distinctive secondary education to rural Nevada. Great basin utilizes technology to offer distance education for helping deliver education courses in rural areas. Example courses include:

• Secondary Education Methods/Practicum
• Secondary Supervised Teaching Internship
• Secondary Education Capstone Course

Students may also pursue endorsements along with their degree, including Biological Science, Business Education, English, Mathematics, and Social Science.

Notables

Great Basin incorporates the heritage and traditions of the region into its teaching curriculum. The school works with six local school districts to provide clinical and field experiences throughout their programs. Students may also pursue endorsements in Special Education and Teaching English as a Second Language.

Overview

Judson College is a private, women’s college located in Marion, AL. The school was founded in 1838 by members of the Siloam Baptist Church. The school now has an affiliation with the Alabama Baptist Convention. They have a student population of around 340 students. The school is home to a former Carnegie library, which is now home to the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame.

Program Features

Judson College offers two different distance learning programs in secondary education. Students may choose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English/Language Arts (6-12) or a Bachelor or Arts in Secondary General Social Studies (6-12). Courses vary by program, but samples include:

• Material and Methods of Teaching Social Science in Secondary Education
• Secondary Teaching Internship
• Reading in the Content Areas

Terms for the program run from August-December, January-April, and May-June. Most classes are delivered through Moodlerooms.

Notables

Students entering with a Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field may take PCTF courses at Judson to earn a Traditional Class B Certificate. A 2.75 GPA must be maintained throughout the program. Students must complete General Studies coursework before moving into Education courses.

Overview

Union Institute and University is a private, non-profit university in Cincinnati, OH. The schools offers a variety of Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral programs. Union operates satellite campuses in Vermont, Florida, and California. The university has around 1,600 total students, including around 1,000 full-time and 600 part-time. The school operates on a trimester schedule.

Program Features

Union offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education, which is a hybrid program. Students take classes both online and on-campus. Sample courses include:

• Classroom Management
• Physiological and Sociological Foundations of Education
• Foundations and Practices in Teaching Reading
• Educational Assessment

Students may earn up to eight credits in eight weeks. The total program requires the completion of 120 units, including 48 within the major. Students may transfer up to 90 credits from previous college courses.

Notables

The program offers four areas of specialization: English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. These specializations are not certification programs, but they are meant to prepare students to meet the standards of certification. Students work closely with individual support staff and a personal advisor to prepare academic schedules. The program is specifically tailored towards those looking to teach in the state of Florida.

Overview

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located in Waxahachie, TX. The school has an official affiliation with Assemblies of God USA, which is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. They have around 2,000 total students most of whom are undergraduates. They offer bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in liberal arts, Bible, and Church ministry.

Program Features

Southwestern Assemblies of God University offers a Bachelor’s Degree in English, Language Arts, and Reading (Middle and Secondary Education). The program is designed for those looking to teach English for grades 7-12. The school also offers a similar degree for those looking to teach Social Studies/History at the same level. Sample courses include:

• Advanced Grammar and Composition (English)
• Linear Algebra (Mathematics)

Both degrees are offered 100 percent online. Both degrees lead toward a Texas teacher certification. The base of knowledge may also lead to certification in other states.

Notables

The school notes “everything we do springs from a Christian worldview.” They emphasize a school culture and environment that strengthens faith and mind by integrating faith into learning. SAGU says that their students graduate with approximately 20 percent less debt than other private universities.

Overview

Valley City State University is higher learning institute in Valley City, ND. It is a part of the North Dakota University System. The school was founded in 1890 as the Valley City State Normal School, which was a two-year college that instructed future teachers. The school has around 1,400 students. Since 1996, they have been a “laptop” campus, issuing laptops to full-time students.

Program Features

Valley City State University offers four different online learning programs that students may use to pursue a career in Secondary Education. Students may choose Business Education, Career and Technical Education, History Education, or English Education. Example courses from the History Education program include:

• World Civilization to 1500
• History of Ancient Greece and Rome
• Educational Psychology

All degree plans begin with general education requirements, which then transfer to specialization/elective courses towards a student’s junior and senior years. All teaching students finish with a 10 credit student teaching course.

Notables

Field experiences for the History degree include Introduction to Education, Practicum, and Cultural Diverse Practicum. Each of these is intended to help teachers translate their knowledge to students in a diverse classroom setting, using the most up to date and research-backed methods possible.

Overview

Webster University is a non-profit university located in Webster Groves, MO. The school is non-denominational, which offers degrees in liberals arts, fine arts, performing arts, teacher education, and business/management. Webster has around 14,000 total students, and 184 full-time academic staff. The school has an endowment of $111 million.

Program Features

Webster offers a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Mathematics. The secondary mathematics degree requires 128 credit hours including 33 credit hours within the major. Sample courses include:

• Behavior Management
• Apprentice Teaching: Seminar
• Child and Adolescent Development
• Education of Students with Exceptionalities

Teachers may be required to complete additional coursework to earn teacher certification and electives to complete 128 total credit hours. Students must also complete coursework in the University Global Citizenship Program.

Notables

The Bachelor’s program is not available fully online. Webster offers online course options and fully online certification programs, but not a fully online Bachelor’s program. Students may be able to take some of their courses online, but should consult with their academic advisor about how much of the program may actually be completed online.

Overview

Grand Canyon University is a for-profit, Christian university located in Phoenix, AZ. The school was founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberals arts college, and has recently received approval to return to non-profit status in 2018. The school has 19,500 on campus students, as well as roughly 60,000 online students. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs

Program Features

Grand Canyon University offers a hybrid Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education. This program combines online learning with on-campus instruction. The degree program requires completion of 120 credits, including 80 within major. Sample courses from the major include:

• Arizona and Federal Government
• Transatlantic Literature
• Social Justice for Educators
• American Encounter Narratives

Students who graduate from the program will meet the requirements for the secondary education certificate in English.

Notables

Students will also qualify for endorsements at the middle school and high school levels, which enables teaching from grades 5-12. The online and evening program generally takes around four years to complete. Certification programs may require practicum hours, state exams, student teaching, and an institutional recommendation from GCU.