About this pathway

The Secondary Education Certificate is not a stand-alone transfer pathway but a complementary credential designed to be completed in conjunction with another IECC transfer pathway in the student's chosen teaching content area. Students who plan to teach at the middle school or high school level select a content-area transfer pathway — such as English Literature, History, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Music, Art, or another approved discipline — and add the Secondary Education Certificate to gain the foundational professional education coursework needed for transfer into a four-year teacher preparation program. Because secondary teachers are licensed to teach a specific subject, the content-area pathway provides the academic teaching field while the certificate provides an introduction to the profession of teaching. Topics of study include introduction to education, educational psychology, diversity in education, and early classroom observation experiences. Graduates who complete a bachelor's degree and obtain state licensure will have the potential for employment as secondary school teachers in fields such as English/language arts, social studies and history, mathematics, science, world languages, fine arts, and other approved content areas.

Course offerings, prerequisites, and transfer requirements may vary. Meet with an IECC advisor before registering each semester to ensure course selections align with academic goals. Students are responsible for consulting with their intended receiving institution to verify transfer requirements and course applicability.