Education (Secondary Licensure Prep) - Master of Arts (Online)

Secondary Licensure Prep

The School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership (TPAL) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) offers a Secondary Teaching Education Program for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree and wish to seek Secondary Education licensure. This program meets the State of New Mexico Public Education Department’s education requirements for initial teacher licensure as part of the Master of Arts in Education degree program.

Program Completion Requirements:

  1. Apply through NMSU Graduate School’s main webpage (https://gradschool.nmsu.edu). Select the intended major “Education (Secondary Licensure Prep)” as the concentration you will pursue.
  2. After you receive official notification of acceptance from the Graduate School, contact your faculty advisor within the first semester of enrollment.
  3. Complete the TEP pre-requisites first before specialized admission to the Teacher Education Program.

Teaching Field & Other Course Completion Requirements:

  1. Secondary teaching fields can be selected from English Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, or General Science.
  2. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree aligned to one of the Secondary teaching fields, or closely related field.
  3. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, students’ transcripts will be evaluated for a minimum of 24 credits in the teaching field (12 credits must be upper division).
  4. Teaching field deficiencies will require extra coursework beyond the Secondary Licensure Prep degree program.
  5. All teaching field deficiencies and all degree coursework (see below) must be completed before the Student Teaching internship semester.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP):

  1. Obtain application information at https://tpal.nmsu.edu/admissions/tep-admission/
  2. Submit TEP portfolio no later than 12:00 noon (MST) on the 3rd Friday in February for Spring, the 3rd Friday in September for Fall. TEP portfolio must be successfully reviewed prior to enrolling in Teaching Methods Courses.

Student Teaching Entry Portfolio (STEP)- one semester before student teaching

  1. Obtain application information at https://tpal.nmsu.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate-programs/stia.html
  2. Submit Student Teaching Packet (STEP) on the 1st Friday in March for Spring and the 1st Friday in October for Fall.

Student Teaching Internship - must be completed during the final semester

  1. Take EDUC 5811 and EDUC 5810 concurrently during student teaching (16-week Student Teaching Internship and Seminar).
  2. Complete all coursework (see below) and teaching field deficiencies before the Student Teaching courses. No additional courses may be taken during student teaching.
  3. Before completion of the program and recommendation for initial licensure, the candidate must pass the Evidence of Student Learning Portfolio during student teaching as a State of NM licensure requirement.
Prefix Title Credits
Course List
TEP Pre-Requisites
SPED 5105Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society (TEP Prerequisite) 13
EDUC 5120Multicultural Education (TEP Prerequisite) 13
EDUC 5110Exploration in Education (TEP Prerequisite) 1, 23
TPAL Core Courses
EDUC 5160Curriculum and Pedagogy3
EDUC 5130Technology and Pedagogy3
EDUC 5140Research in Curriculum and Pedagogy3
Graduate Electives (3 credits from any department) 33
Teaching Methods Courses
READ 5330Content Area Literacy 43
Choose one Teaching Methods Course based on the Teaching Field (3 credits) - Fall only3
Teaching Science at the Middle and High School Level 2, 43
Teaching Mathematics at the Middle and High School Level 2, 43
Teaching Social Studies at the Middle and High School Level 2, 43
Teaching Language Arts at the Middle and High School Level 2, 43
Choose one cross-curricular teaching methods course based on the Teaching Field (3 credits) - Spring only3
Computational Thinking in STEM Education3
Teaching Secondary ELA & Social Studies Using Primary Sources, Memoir & Autobiography3
Student Teaching Block
EDUC 5810Student Teaching 2, 46
EDUC 5811Teaching Methods Laboratory 43
Total Credits39
1

Courses are prerequisites/co-requisites for TEP application. 

2

Field Experience is required, you must complete a background check and fingerprinting process at the beginning of the semester to obtain district clearance. Fliers will be posted each semester in O'Donnell Hall.

3

Electives can be selected with the program director's approval. 

4

Courses require admission into TEP.

Suggested Plan of Study


Fall Start

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Semester 1Credits
EDUC 5120 Multicultural Education 1 3
EDUC 5110 Exploration in Education 1, 2 3
SPED 5105 Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society 1 3
Elective course (3 credits) 3 3
*Apply to TEP 4  
 Credits12
Semester 2
EDUC 5160 Curriculum and Pedagogy 3
EDUC 5130 Technology and Pedagogy 3
Choose one cross-curricular teaching methods course based on the Teaching Field (Spring only) 3
Computational Thinking in STEM Education  
Teaching Secondary ELA & Social Studies Using Primary Sources, Memoir & Autobiography  
 Credits9
Second Year
Semester 1
Choose one from the following based on teaching field (3 credits only) - Fall only 3
Teaching Science at the Middle and High School Level 2, 5  
Teaching Mathematics at the Middle and High School Level 2, 5  
Teaching Social Studies at the Middle and High School Level 2, 5  
Teaching Language Arts at the Middle and High School Level 2, 5  
READ 5330 Content Area Literacy 5 3
EDUC 5140 Research in Curriculum and Pedagogy 3
Apply to STEP 6  
 Credits9
Semester 2
Student Teaching Internship 7  
EDUC 5811 Teaching Methods Laboratory 8 3
EDUC 5810 Student Teaching 8 6
 Credits9
 Total Credits39
1

Courses are prerequisites/co-requisites for TEP application. 

2

Courses require field experience. 

3

Select graduate-level electives with Program Directors approval

4

To apply for TEP see the TPAL website

5

Courses require admission to TEP

6

To apply for STEP see the TPAL website

7

Student Teaching must be taken during the final semester after all other course work is completed

8

Requires admission to STEP

Accelerated Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Semester 1Credits
Mini Semester 1  
SPED 5105 Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society 1 3
EDUC 5120 Multicultural Education 1 3
Mini Semester 2  
EDUC 5130 Technology and Pedagogy 3
 Credits9
Semester 2
EDUC 5110 Exploration in Education 1, 2, 3 3
Mini Semester 2  
EDUC 5160 Curriculum and Pedagogy 3
Elective 4 3
 Credits9
Semester 3
Apply to TEP 5  
Elective 4 3
 Credits3
Second Year
Semester 1
Apply to STEP 6  
Choose from one of the following (based on content with field experience): 3
Teaching Science at the Middle and High School Level 2, 3, 7  
Teaching Mathematics at the Middle and High School Level 2, 3, 7  
Teaching Social Studies at the Middle and High School Level 2, 3, 6  
Teaching Language Arts at the Middle and High School Level 2, 3, 7  
READ 5330 Content Area Literacy 7 3
Mini Semester 2  
EDUC 5140 Research in Curriculum and Pedagogy 3
 Credits9
Semester 2
EDUC 5811 Teaching Methods Laboratory 8 3
EDUC 5810 Student Teaching 8 6
 Credits9
 Total Credits39
1

Courses are prerequisites/co-requisites for TEP application. 

2

Courses require field experience. 

3

Courses require weekly synchronous class meetings.

4

Select graduate electives with program director's approval. 

5

To apply for TEP, see TPAL Website

6

To apply for STEP, see TPAL Website

7

Courses require admission to TEP. 

8

Courses require admission to TEP and STEP.