Quick Facts

  Next Start Date: January 6, 2025


  • Delivery: 100% Online
  • Major Credits: 30
  • No GRE Required
  • Nationally ranked by U.S. News

Whether you’re working as a middle or high school teacher or a future middle or high school teacher pursuing this program, you have much to gain from a university that's consistently highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report in best online graduate education programs.

This master’s helps you develop skills in pedagogy, curriculum, foundations of education, educational technology, multicultural education, and educational research on your way to becoming a lifetime learner.

Ball State's fully online master's in secondary education provides you with with four concentrations in which to pursue intensive professional preparation. The four concentration areas help you focus on your professional goals:

  • Education Core
  • Secondary Teaching License (Grades 6-12)
  • Teaching of a Content or Special Area (for already licensed teachers)
  • Dual Credit Teaching Credential (for limited content areas)

Our online master’s also provides maximum flexibility:

  • You can complete the degree in as few as four or five semesters (18 to 21 months).
  • Because the GRE is not required, you can apply sooner and begin learning.
  • If you don’t have a teaching license and want to teach junior high or high school, you’ll want to choose the secondary teaching license concentration.
  • You can begin with the Transition to Teaching for Secondary Education and take four additional courses to also earn the Master’s in Secondary Education. (Half of our students follow this plan.)
  • Add additional credentials to your résumé by earning graduate certificates in diversity, curriculum, middle level education, and educational technology – with no additional courses.

Federal Employees Pay In-State Tuition

Ball State has joined the Federal Academic Alliance and is offering reduced tuition rates for all eligible, non-Indiana resident Federal Government Employees (civil servants), spouses, dependents, and retirees who enroll in online graduate-level programs and courses through Ball State’s Teachers College. Learn more.

Our Program is Nationally Ranked

  • Ball State is consistently highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report in best online graduate education programs.
  • U.S. News & World Report ranks our Master’s Degrees in Education Programs 21st in the nation for best online programs for veterans.
  • Our program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), a professional accreditor of U.S. teacher education programs.

Questions?

Contact Becky Druetzler, who can answer questions you might have about our program.

Course Requirements

The master of arts in secondary education is a 30-credit degree. For a full list of program requirements and courses, see the course catalog.

View Catalog

 

  • EDCU 601 Principles and Procedures of Curriculum Development (3 credits)
  • EDTE 650 Technology (3 credits)

Select one pedagogy course from the list below:

  • EDJH 512 Instructional Strategies for Middle School and Junior High Classrooms (3 credits)
  • EDJH 534 Classroom Management (3 credits)
  • EDSE 695 Dynamics of the Secondary Classroom (3 credits)

Select one foundations of education course from the list below:

  • EDFO 620 Social Foundations of Education (3 credits)*
  • EDFO 621 Educational Ethics
  • EDFO 631 Philosophy of Education (3 credits)
  • EDFO 641 History of American Education (3 credits)
  • EDFO 651 Sociology of Education (3 credits)
  • EDFO 660 Comparative Education

*Students pursuing a secondary teaching license must take EDFO 620.

Select one multicultural education course from the list below:

  • EDMU 660 Multicultural and Multiethnic Education in American Schools (3 credits)
  • EDMU 670 Social and Cultural Minorities in American Education (3 credits)

Select one research course from the list below:

  • EDCU 673 Curriculum Evaluation (3 credits)
  • EDST 671 Evaluation of Educational Programs (3 credits)
  • EDST 676 Research on Impacting Student Learning (3 credits)

Concentrations

Choose one concentration from below:

 

Select one curriculum course from the list below:

  • EDCU 620 The Secondary School Curriculum (3 credits)
  • EDCU 630 The Junior High and Middle School Curriculum (3 credits)
  • EDCU 640 The Alternative School Curriculum (3 credits)
  • EDCU 665 Integrative STEM Education: Principles and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • EDST 680 Staff Development to Strengthen Curriculum (3 credits)
Select one program elective from any of the curriculum, educational technology, pedagogy, foundations, multicultural education, or research courses listed above (3 credits).

Select six additional hours from the courses listed above or in other related disciplines as electives.

You can earn your initial teaching license through the master’s in secondary education by choosing the Secondary Teaching License concentration. This license will make you eligible to teach grades 6-12 only. If you don’t have a teaching license, you can earn initial licensure while concurrently completing requirements for the MA.

  • EDCU 620 The Secondary School Curriculum (3 credits)
  • EDCU 630 The Junior High and Middle School Curriculum (3 credits)
  • EDCU 640 The Alternative School Curricula (3 credits)
  • EDCU 665 Integrative STEM Education: Principles and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • EDST 680 Staff Development to Strengthen Curriculum (3 credits)

Select three program electives from any content area or education department (9 credits).

You can earn your initial teaching license through the master’s in secondary education by choosing the Secondary Teaching License concentration. This license will make you eligible to teach grades 6-12 only. If you don’t have a teaching license, you can earn initial licensure while concurrently completing requirements for the MA.

  • EDCU 620 The Secondary School Curriculum (3 credits)
  • EDCU 630 The Junior High and Middle School Curriculum (3 credits)
  • EDCU 640 The Alternative School Curricula (3 credits)
  • EDCU 665 Integrative STEM Education: Principles and Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • EDST 680 Staff Development to Strengthen Curriculum (3 credits)

Select three program electives from any content area or education department (9 credits).

Select four courses (12 credits) from a content area (e.g., Technology, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, etc.)

FAQ

For a deeper look into the MA in Secondary Education read the FAQ with detailed answers to common questions.

Read the FAQs

Ready to Apply?

You will first want to check if you meet the admission requirements for the Ball State Graduate School. Then you may apply.

No GRE is required. 

Get Started

Students from Other States

Ball State is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accept online students from all U.S. states. However, if you are considering a program that leads to professional licensure, some states may have additional regulations. Review our state authorization website if you live outside of Indiana and contact us if you have questions.

Want to Learn More?

Do you have questions about this program or online learning? We’re here to help! You may request more information using our online form, or feel free to reach out directly to one of our staff.

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