Secondary Education

All Master's & Doctoral Programs

Secondary Education

Format & Location

Hybrid

School/College

School of Education & Human Development

A student smiling at a desk in a classroom.

Start Dates

Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September)

Application Deadline

Rolling Admission

Completion

12-24 months

Schedule

Full-Time or Part-Time

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The Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation Department in the School of Education and Human Development offers nationally accredited graduate programs for aspiring middle and high school teachers.

A well-rounded education.

The Master of Arts Degree in Secondary Education with initial 7-12 certification prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed for initial teaching licensure in one of five secondary subject areas: English, math, science (biology, chemistry, physics, or general science), social studies/history, and world languages (French, German, Italian, Latin, or Spanish).

Learn in an inclusive environment.

For each program, you’ll learn within an inclusive environment of faculty, community members and leaders, and experienced, aspiring classroom teachers. This collaborative approach provides you with a strong foundation to help adolescents reach their full potential.

Paid teaching internships.

Paid teaching internships are available in the spring and fall semesters, offering practical, hands-on experience in real classroom settings while you complete your studies.

Empowering educators.

Now more than ever, the need for teachers who can foster cross-cultural understandings, scientific literacy, critical thinking, and problem solving, as well as prepare students to communicate effectively in a variety of languages and settings, is vital.

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Course Requirements

33-42 credits

Contact Us

Graduate Admission
gradadmis@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4184

Elementary and Secondary Education at Fairfield

Whether you pursue a Master of Arts Degree (MA) or a Sixth Year Certificate (SYC), you'll learn within an inclusive environment of faculty, community members and leaders, and experienced, aspiring classroom teachers - providing you a strong foundation on which to build a successful career and a fulfilling life.

Teaching Internships

The School of Education and Human Development offers teaching internships for both non-certified and certified teachers studying for a master's degree or sixth-year certificate of advanced study at Fairfield.

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Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

The School of Education and Human Development is currently accredited by NCATE, currently known as CAEP, the largest accrediting body for educator preparation providers, through December 2028.

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Emily Shamash

Associate Professor/Co-Director of Special Education

eshamash@fairfield.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants need to provide documentation of scores on the , or if they meet the minimum score requirements for the SAT, ACT, or GRE, a waiver based on appropriate scores would fulfill that requirement.

The overall GPA requirement for admission is 2.67 with a 3.0 average in the subject area (licensure area) coursework. Candidates who do not meet the overall GPA requirement can apply for a GPA waiver if their GPA is not below 2.4. Candidates whose subject area coursework is below 3.0 may be required to take additional coursework.

Visit the tuition and fees page for information about Fairfield's graduate programs.

Our program is designed to meet the learning needs of full and part-time students.

Most of our courses are offered from Monday through Thursday in the late afternoon and evening. A few are offered on the weekends. Weekday courses generally meet once a week for 2 hours. Weekend courses tend to be full-day courses that meet for 4 or 5 weekends or weekend days over the semester. We also offer summer courses from late May through early August.

We keep our classes small. The typical maximum class size is 20, but class sizes range from 10 to 20.

Our students come from a variety of undergraduate and graduate backgrounds, which adds to the richness of our interactions in class. Though an undergraduate degree in the content area is strongly recommended, candidates with other related majors are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates for 7-12 teaching certification must have a minimum of 30 approved credits in the content area. Candidates who do not have a minimum of 30 credits are advised to meet with program faculty to identify appropriate coursework to take before beginning the MA program.

Applicants are not required to have previous teaching experience or education coursework to be admitted to the program. Candidates spend a significant amount of time in school settings as part of their planned program. That said, if you have not been in a school setting for a long time, it is useful to visit a classroom to familiarize yourself with schools today and ensure this is the right career path for you.

Students who attend full-time take 9 credits each Fall and Spring semester and up to 6 credits in the summer sessions. For full-time students who start in the Fall semester, the program can be completed in about 2 years. For students who attend part-time, the time will vary based on how many courses are taken at a time. Students are required, however, to complete their degree within six years after they begin their first course.

Applications

When you are ready to apply, you can create an . Please plan to spend about 10 - 15 minutes completing the application. You can create the application and return to the platform in the future to submit it if you require additional time. You should be prepared to answer a series of questions pertaining to your biographical information, program of interest, and educational/ work background. Additionally, you will be required to enter the names and contact information for two references. As part of the application process, you will be required to submit all official college transcripts (sent directly from your institutions), two recommendations (submitted directly from your references who will receive a unique email link), a personal statement, resume, and test scores (required for programs leading to state certification). Please note, you may submit the online application prior to submitting the required supplemental materials. For any questions about the online application please contact ��ϲʹ�� Graduate Admission.

See how to apply to an SEHD program.

Our Office of Graduate Admissions is available to explain the application requirements and to help you get your application together. You may contact them by submitting a request for information or by phoning (203) 254-4184.

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