Secondary Education at Providence College
Secondary Education at Providence College
Schools trust the Providence College Department of Secondary Education to prepare the teachers of tomorrow. For years, the program — accredited by the Rhode Island Department of Education — has trained students with a passion for teaching to lead science, foreign language, language arts, history, and math classrooms in high schools throughout the country.
In many ways, as a PC secondary education student, you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds. You’ll have the opportunity to study a field of knowledge in great depth and to develop professional skills that allow you to put that knowledge to work. In other words, a transformational educational experience that makes you employable.
degree programs
Secondary Education Programs
Preparation for a teaching career requires:
- a background of general education
- specialization in the subject area
- study in the field of education.
The subject areas in which students may be certified include:
- biology/secondary education (B.S.)
- biology/secondary education (B.A.)
- chemistry/secondary education
- English/secondary education
- foreign language/secondary education (French, Italian, or Spanish)
- history/secondary education (eligible for R.I. certification in social studies)
- mathematics/secondary education
- physics/secondary education
Students preparing for the teaching profession must complete a subject area major in addition to the teacher preparation program.
Prospective secondary education students must participate in a formal admissions process to the program either second semester of the sophomore year or first semester of the junior year.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Participate in field experiences, prior to student teaching, across southern New England
Get involved in clubs, honor societies, and service initiatives
Study abroad in dozens of locations and programs
FACULTY
Our secondary education faculty members consistently present at conferences across the country, have scholarly papers published, and have expertise in several secondary education areas. Our discipline-specific faculty are mathematicians, scientists, linguists, historians, and literary experts. Our secondary education faculty come from diverse backgrounds and hold degrees from the universities of California, Connecticut, Massachusetts (Amherst), North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
Program Highlights
- The liberal arts at PC provides the intellectual rigor and critical analysis skills that make our secondary education graduates superior — and sought after — high school teachers.
- Prior to student teaching, majors participate in four structured sequential field experiences that provide opportunities interact with high school students in a variety of schools and classrooms. At least one of these experiences is in urban schools. In addition, students are encouraged to interact with children and the community through service and service-learning activities. The program culminates with a full year of working with a master teacher.
- Secondary education students can complement their academic studies through involvement in co-curricular clubs and honor societies.
- Secondary education students participate in the entire range of student life on- and off-campus — from service organizations like PC Pals and Campus Ministry to varsity and intramural athletics, student government, and cultural groups.
- Secondary education students, particularly those learning to teach a foreign language, are encouraged to study abroad. This usually occurs during the junior year.
admission requirements
Providence College is a test optional institution. However, due to state teacher certification regulations, completion of an education program requires passing a variety of standardized basic skills, teaching skills, and content knowledge tests at various points throughout the program. Therefore acceptance into Providence College is separate from acceptance into an education program. Click on the link below for more admissions information.
Program admission information >
Resources for Students
IN THE NEWS
AFTER PC
100%
of 2019-2023 education graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school
65%
are employed only
11%
are attending school only
24%
are employed and attending school
Due to rounding, some totals may not correspond with the sum of the separate figures.
Selected Places of Employment/Service
Secondary schools throughout the U.S.
Selected Graduate Schools
Boston College
Boston University
Fitchburg State University
Providence College
