Online Master’s in Secondary Education: STEM Emphasis
Online Master’s in Secondary Education: STEM Emphasis
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According to the U.S. Department of Education, their launch of a new initiative aims to support STEM educators and organizations to advance their STEM education.1 With an increase for more next-generation innovators in STEM disciplines, GCU aims to create opportunities for secondary educators skilled in STEM.2 Graduates of GCU’s in-person or online master's in secondary education, specializing in STEM, have the opportunity to pursue the following career paths:
STEM education for secondary teachers can serve as a pathway for teachers to help fulfill the shortage of STEM education teachers.1
Pursue your online master's in secondary education at your convenience. This option may allow you to achieve balance between working toward your academic goals while maintaining your busy schedule and family responsibilities.
Our online modality can provide the flexibility you need to access quality education from anywhere, empowering you to position yourself to potentially seek advancement within your career in secondary education while accommodating your busy lifestyle. Join an online learning community that can help you learn essential skills in the field of STEM education.
Enrolling in a Master of Education program with a focus on secondary education in STEM can help equip you with a variety of skills that can potentially prepare you to:
This non-licensure degree does not include a student teaching capstone, and therefore does not lead to an Institutional Recommendation (IR) from GCU to obtain certification. However, candidates will be required to complete 101 practicum field experience hours within the courses to help prepare them to teach in the grades 6 through 12.
GCU offers a licensure version of this master’s in secondary education STEM emphasis tailored for individuals who aspire to strengthen their knowledge in STEM and pedagogy subjects while seeking to fulfill teaching licensure requirements. This licensure version may be ideal for professionals who want to work toward becoming a licensed secondary education teacher (grades 6-12). Education students who pursue the licensure version of this STEM 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.
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This master's degree in secondary education: STEM emphasis is designed for teachers who already hold a teaching license. This program does not contain the in-classroom teaching experience component necessary to obtain a teaching license. However, this master’s in secondary education degree requires 33 credits for completion and approximately 101 hours of practical field experience hours. You will be taught in both informative and interactive classes. These experiences are designed to support you in assimilating theories, concepts, and research methodologies into your classroom practices.
Courses in this program include coursework and topics on the following:
Adolescent literacy
Explore the essential principles of language acquisition, cultural factors in learning, and effective strategies to promote English language development among students.
Innovative STEM pedagogy
Explore teaching methods and strategies tailored to STEM subjects, fostering student engagement and understanding into middle and high school instruction.
Assessing and evaluating STEM education teachers
Cultivate leadership qualities that can equip you with skills to guide and inspire both students and fellow educators in the STEM field.
Tools for creating and managing learning environments
Develop the ability to create and adapt curriculum materials that align with STEM standards.
Comprehensive STEM instruction
Study the skills and knowledge to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics to middle and high school learners. This includes utilizing inquiry-based instructional strategies, promoting practical applications and integrating engineering and technology concepts into your curriculum.
GCU has been fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. This accreditation affirms our commitment to maintaining high educational standards and providing a quality academic experience. If you would like more information about this accreditation and how it and others help to serve the greater purpose of GCU, visit our University Accreditation page.
The Master of Education (MEd) in Secondary Education with a STEM Emphasis Non-Initial Teaching Licensure (NITL) program at Grand Canyon University can prepare students to lead STEM education from sixth to twelfth grade. Students will be taught to integrate grades 6–12 subject matters, including STEM and educational psychology, as well as various instructional methods and strategies with a goal of producing positive student outcomes.
This master’s in secondary education with a STEM emphasis is designed for educators who desire to not only impact education but impact STEM fields that affect our everyday lives. Graduates of this program will have the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge to provide a solid STEM foundation, interdisciplinary curriculum and hands-on learning experiences within their classroom. An emphasis on technology and classroom diversity exposes graduate students to modern classroom learning tools and identifies practices on how to meet diverse student needs that promote the most effective learning.
If you enjoy motivating young learners to explore STEM and develop curiosity in these critical areas, fill out the form to learn more about the master’s in secondary education degree at GCU.
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).
1 U.S. Department of Education (n.d.). Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math, Including Computer Science. Retrieved on Oct. 31, 2023.
2 NSTA (2020, Feb.). STEM Education Teaching And Learning. Retrieved on Oct. 31, 2023.
3 Deangelis, Stephen F. (n.g.). Why STEM? Success Starts With Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving Skills. Wired. Retrieved on Nov. 1, 2023.
4 National Math and Science Initiative (2023, Aug. 25). Unlocking the Benefits of STEM Education for Every Student. Retrieved on Nov. 1, 2023.
5 National Inventors Hall of Fame (n.d.). What Is The Value of STEM Education? Retrieved on Nov. 1, 2023.
6 Norris, Maria (2022, Oct. 19). Why Is STEM important? The Impact of STEM Education On Society. Study in the USA. Retrieved on Nov. 1, 2023.
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).
Discover answers to frequently asked questions about pursuing a STEM education for secondary teachers. Whether you're curious about program details, career prospects or admission, we have you covered.
Earning a non-licensure education degree means that the program does not contain the in-classroom teaching experience component necessary to obtain a teaching license. However, students are still required to complete 100 hours of practical field experiences to apply theories, concepts, and research findings effectively in educational settings. The non-licensure degree programs are typically designed for teachers who already hold a teaching license. This program is designed to meet the needs of the adult learner and build upon the content knowledge that the candidate may already have in the subject areas. Courses are led by knowledgeable instructors who use their experience to teach you in the areas of secondary education, STEM and educational psychology.
All courses directly align with the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) and International Society of Technology Educators (ISTE) standards.
In an age where technology and outsourcing have diminished the need for repetitive tasks, the capacity to tackle new and unique challenges has gained greater importance.3 Therefore, the benefits of a STEM education has the opportunity to serve as a catalyst for nurturing students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.4 It has the potential to empower students to embrace creativity and autonomy in their thought processes, facilitating their grasp and application of intricate concepts and innovative ideas.
STEM education, which encompasses science, technology, engineering and mathematics, employs an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes hands-on learning, problem-solving and critical thinking. STEM education works by integrating these subjects into a cohesive curriculum and encourages students to engage in hands-on projects and experiments, fostering teamwork and practical skill development. Educators may undergo tailored training to adeptly mentor students along their STEM educational path, with the goal of preparing students for potential careers in STEM-related fields.
According to the Department of Defense, more than 80% of jobs over the next decade will require STEM related skills.5 STEM teachers are important to the next generation of learners for a variety of reasons because they can:6
Becoming a certified STEM teacher typically involves completing an initial teacher preparation program before pursuing this STEM education emphasis. In this master’s in secondary education, licensed educators will complete 100 hours of observational and practice-based learning field experiences that can guide you through incorporating concepts, theories and research into your own classroom. Knowledgeable GCU faculty can prepare you with the skills and tools to help you pursue becoming a secondary educator in the area of STEM.
Discover additional emphasis options that can help you find the right path for your academic and career aspirations.
