To become a high school teacher, should I major in secondary education or the subject?
Well, I’m from Massachusetts and I’m currently an “English Secondary Education” major at my college in New Hampshire. I’ve been looking at other answers, but in the Northeast it’s really up to you what you want to major in, your content area or secondary education. If you major in secondary ed then you will have to take education courses (kind of like a duel major), many pre-practicums (pre-student teaching), and then student teaching your senior year. Also, you will probably have to pass the state’s teacher exam for you to be admitted into the teacher program, but they will usually help you with that process. Whereas, if you just majored in your content area then you would be solely taking just English, or Math, or History…. Then if you decide to go into teaching you’ll be on your own when it comes to taking the exam. I had a teacher back in high school who just majored in her content area and she regretted not having student teaching experience. Well, every state is different in th
A high school teacher teaches a subject, such as math. That is what you major in. In California you need a Bachelors degree in the subject. Then additional course work in how best to teach it, organize a class, promote a learning (not chaos) environment. Student teaching is the ideal, but you have to pay for it, so some teach & student teach at the same time. Some become zombies from lack of sleep.
