Secondary Education

Completion of the program leads to a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree and prepares candidates to pursue an Illinois Professional Educators License with an endorsement in one of the following content areas:

Secondary Education (9 -12)

The secondary education program prepares candidates to teach students in grades 9 - 12 in the following content areas:

Become certified as a biology teacher at the secondary education level by completing the General Biology track and requirements for a Secondary Education Certificate. Major area of specialization coursework includes all content-area courses used to fulfill major requirements in the program (i.e., Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math courses).

As well as providing a strong foundation in the disciplines of English, this major focuses on the preparation of teachers according to CAEP/NCTE and Illinois Content Area Standards for Educators.

The social sciences secondary education major puts you on the path to teaching in social science classrooms subjects like history, politics and sociology.

The advanced courses offered in abstract algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability and statistics, and others will provide the ideal preparation for exciting careers in actuarial science, computer technology, data analytics, information analysis, research and development, risk assessment, statistical analysis, teaching and many more careers.

K-12 Specialized Areas

The secondary education program prepares candidates to teach students in grades K - 12 in the following content areas:

Art Educators in the Saint Xavier University Secondary Education program are taught to provide active and imaginative learning strategies for the visual education of students. Through an interdisciplinary Art, Design, and Art History program, future artists/teachers acquire a thorough knowledge of visual art and design concepts, as well as techniques and experiences to bring to their prospective roles as visual art/design educators.

Students enrolled in a professional undergraduate degree in music are expected to develop a range of knowledge, skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential to the professional life of a musician which include: technical competence; broad knowledge of music and music literature; the ability to integrate musical knowledge and skills; sensitivity to musical styles; and an insight into the role of music in intellectual and cultural life.

Program Highlights

Within the Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree, a student prepares for a teaching career in either vocal or instrumental music or a combination of the two. SXU music education degree programs are certified K-12 by the Illinois State Board of Education. The prospective music teacher will develop skills in musicianship and performance, in addition to learning to be a sensitive ensemble conductor. Students will gain knowledge in teaching music at a variety of levels to different age groups and in different settings, while developing a strong understanding of child growth and development. Learning to assess the progress of music students while acquiring the knowledge of excellent methods of teaching is essential to this program.

This program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Major and Minor

Bachelor of Music in Music Education - Instrumental - 132 credit hours
Bachelor of Music in Music Education - Choral/Vocal - 135 credit hours
Bachelor of Music in Music Education - Choral/Keyboard - 134 credit hours
Music Minor - 20 credit hours

Program Requirements

For more information, please review the program requirements and course descriptions in the SXU Academic Catalog.

The Spanish education program provides a strong foundation in Spanish and focuses on the preparation of teachers according to NCATE/ACTFL and Illinois Content Standards for Educators.

Requirements for Degree

To qualify for a degree in secondary education, candidates must complete the following requirements:

maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and grades of C or better in all coursework
select a major in an approved subject area
complete all courses in their major
complete required education courses, plus the University core and certification requirements

Please view the admission requirements page, as well as the program requirements and course descriptions in the SXU Academic Catalog for additional information.