Education - Secondary
Program Description
Students planning to enter the field of secondary education can complete their first two years of study at Arizona Western College. An Associate in Arts degree in Secondary Education will prepare students to transfer to a university and earn their bachelor’s degree. Education majors should consult with their academic advisors concerning the courses required for certification in Arizona and/or graduation from a state university with a bachelor’s degree in education. Secondary education students also need to double major in the discipline they wish to teach in high school.
Graduates of these programs will successfully complete the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate an awareness of and a beginning understanding of the teaching profession in regard to its historical context, the implications of the profession, and the role played by public education in contemporary society
- Articulate a beginning philosophy of education that incorporates an understanding of relevant theories and models of education
- Construct lesson plans based on current best practices, developmental theories, and state, and national standards
- Implement self-reflection strategies to enhance professional and personal growth
Degree(s) / Certificates(s)
| Title | Local Bachelor's |
|---|---|
| Education - Secondary - A.A. Transfer Degree | |
| Physical Education - A.A. Transfer Degree | - |
Career Outlook
Successful completion of this program may lead to a variety of employment opportunities, most of which require continued higher education at the university level. Below are examples of related occupations and annual mean wages in Arizona according to a May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Teaching Assistants Perform duties that are instructional in nature or deliver direct services to students or parents. Serve in a position for which a teacher has ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services. |
$26,590 |
| Short-Term Substitute Teachers Teach students on a short-term basis as a temporary replacement for a regular classroom teacher, typically using the regular teacher’s lesson plan. |
$30,080 |
| Middle School Career and Technical Education Teachers Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level. |
$40,380 |
| Middle School Teachers Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level. |
$45,120 |
| Middle School Special Education Teachers Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. |
$46,030 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential. |
$47,760 |
| Secondary School Special Education Teachers Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. |
$49,010 |
| Secondary School Teachers Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. |
$50,320 |
| Secondary School Career and Technical Education Teachers Teach occupational, vocational, career, or technical subjects to students at the secondary school level. |
$52,530 |
| Instructional Coordinators Develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology into instruction in order to provide guidelines to educators and instructors for developing curricula and conducting courses. May train and coach teachers. Includes educational consultants and specialists, and instructional material directors. |
$54,550 |
Contact Information
Department Contact(s)
Faculty/Staff Contact(s)
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Powers | Professor of Education | (928) 317-6051 | patricia.powers@azwestern.edu |