Master of Education (MEd) in Secondary Education: Humanities Emphasis
Master of Education (MEd) in Secondary Education: Humanities Emphasis
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Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Education shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies. As an institutionally accredited university, GCU is proud to stand by the quality of our education and the competence and dedication of our instructors.
Additionally, all humanities courses are designed to align with standards set by the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) and International Society of Technology Educators (ISTE).
These online graduate courses are geared toward students who aspire to enhance their teaching skills and have an interest in the study of humanities and social sciences.
Experienced faculty will focus on the topics of technology and diversity in the classroom while teaching you how to integrate humanities into grades 6–12 subject matters, including English, social studies, history and psychology. Humanities educators teach a wide range of topics, such as understanding human behavior, human experience, contemporary society and diversity, that may encourage you to become a knowledgeable and impactful contributor in secondary school settings.
Take Master’s-Level Humanities Online Courses at GCU
As a modern university that prioritizes accessibility, GCU is pleased to offer humanities online courses while you continue to meet your current professional obligations. With our interactive digital learning platform, you can access your coursework from virtually anywhere while still benefiting from the same quality of instruction and curriculum as our on-campus students. GCU’s online program may be ideal for working professionals who need a convenient, flexible degree program.
The Master of Education in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities Non-Initial Teaching Licensure (NITL) degree at Grand Canyon University can elevate your academic credentials for teaching humanities in grades 6–12 classrooms. This graduate-level education degree is designed for working teachers who already hold a teaching license or certificate in their state and who wish to enhance their academic qualifications and effectiveness in the classroom. With a broad approach to humanities subjects, the curriculum is well-suited for those who wish to teach any humanities course — from history to creative writing.
This institutionally accredited program is developed to maximize learning opportunities for working professionals and to expand on competencies that teachers are expected to have obtained during undergraduate coursework. Humanities graduate courses are taught by faculty members who are knowledgeable in their respective fields, including secondary education, humanities and educational psychology.
Throughout your humanities courses, you will have opportunities to apply research, concepts and theories in practical settings. Secondary educational field experiences can build upon your learning and provide guidance on a minimum of 100 hours of observational and practice-based experiences. This program does not lead to licensure.
You may choose to pursue the licensure version of this MEd in teaching humanities program to enhance your teaching skills and actively engage in the humanities education conversation. Education students who pursue the licensure version of this humanities emphasis will be prepared to earn a teaching certificate by completing practical/field experience hours and passing the state exam for teaching licensure.
As you choose the right degree program for you, it is important to be aware of different certification requirements specific to your state.
This licensure version may be ideal for professionals who want to work toward becoming a licensed secondary education teacher (grades 6-12).
Before you take the next step in your education and career path, you may wish to conduct some background research on degree and career pathway options. GCU has assembled some frequently asked questions and answers to help guide your decision-making process.
A Master of Education degree program that leads to initial teacher licensure is typically designed for those who may have earned a bachelor’s degree in an area other than education and do not have a teaching license or certification but wish to pursue it. Upon completion of a degree program that leads to licensure, you may then apply to receive your teaching license through your state. In contrast, a non-licensure MEd program is designed for working teachers who already hold a teaching certification or license and who wish to enhance their teaching skills and knowledge. A non-licensure MEd program does not contain the in-classroom teaching experience component necessary to obtain a teaching license.
Note: If a candidate already holds a bachelor’s degree or certification in the same specialized degree area (such as humanities), this non-initial licensure version of the initial licensure program is not an appropriate degree program for practicing teachers looking to further their career, knowledge or skills as they already hold a certification in the area covered by the program.
There is a broad range of humanities subjects to choose from. When teaching humanities, you might decide to focus on history or social studies, or you might prefer to teach English and language arts. Other examples of humanities courses taught in secondary schools may include philosophy, creative writing and religious studies. Humanities courses typically focus on qualitative analysis, promoting critical thinking skills and creativity.3
The humanities are important because it aims to provide us with an understanding of human culture and experience. It can help us develop critical thinking, creativity, empathy and communication skills. Moreover, studying humanities can broaden our worldview and foster appreciation for diversity and inclusivity. Humanities can play a vital role in shaping our personal and societal values and contribute to the advancement of our civilization. A humanities education can:4
There are many branches or categories of humanities in education. These can include:4
You will be taught to develop an understanding of the following competencies in humanities education:
The Master of Education: humanities emphasis requires 33 credit hours to completion, as well as a minimum of 100 practicum hours.
These classes include topics such as:
To learn more, visit the admission page for more information on GCU’s admission and program requirements.
Because this program does not include a student teaching capstone, it does not lead to an Institutional Recommendation (IR) from GCU to obtain certification. Completing practicum hours within the courses is a requirement to prepare to teach in grades 6 through 12.
Teachers may be assigned according to their subject matter specialty. This Master of Education: humanities emphasis may also be appropriate for teachers who wish to pursue employment as a professor at community colleges and similar institutes of higher learning that accept master’s and/or doctoral degrees.2
This master’s program with a humanities emphasis may be ideal for educators who have already earned their teaching license with the completion of a bachelor’s program. This non-licensure degree in education for humanities can prepare you to continue teaching one or more subjects at the secondary level in public or private schools (where alternative certification is accepted), such as:1
Language arts
English
History
Philosophy
Social studies
If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).
Enjoy opportunities to improve your teaching skills so that you can more effectively inspire the young minds of tomorrow as a humanities teacher. Apply today for enrollment in GCU’s online master’s: humanities emphasis degree program.
