Skip to main content

Secondary Education Undergraduate Programs

Our UNM College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS) program strives to prepare teachers to meet the diverse needs of New Mexico children. We celebrate the rich cultures of New Mexico and have designed our curriculum to reflect their unique needs. The secondary Education student teaching program is an apprenticeship that straddles two places to learn; a working classroom and the university. Our goal is to weave together the learning that occurs at both locations. Instruction at the university complements the learning that occurs in the field under the guidance of an experienced Cooperating Teacher.

Secondary Education Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts in Education in Secondary Education (B.A.Ed.)

Major: Secondary Education
Program Code: BAED-SED-EH
Concentration-Teaching Fields: French, German, Language Arts Education, Social Studies Education, Spanish.

Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education (B.S.Ed.)

Major Secondary Education
Program Code: BSED-SED-EH
Concentration-Teaching Fields: Earth Science Education; Life Science Education; Mathematics Education; Physical Science Education.

NMPED Teacher Licensure Content Areas Available From UNM

  • English/Language Arts
  • Mathematics,
  • Science,
  • Global Languages,
  • Social Studies,

Teacher Licensure Endorsements Available From UNM

Bilingual Endorsement

For information about UNM’s Bilingual Concentration leading to endorsement TESOL Endorsement
Information about UNM’s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Concentration leading to endorsement.

Reading Endorsement

Information about UNM’s Reading Concentration leading to endorsement (Scroll down to Teaching Endorsements for more information).

The State of New Mexico requires, a student must have 24 credit hours in one of the above subject areas, with 12 of those hours taken at the upper division (300-400 level or above).

Please visit this website for more information on New Mexico Public Education Licensure. NMPED Secondary (6-12)

Each student must apply for admission to the Secondary Education program. Students may apply to be admitted to the degree-granting program with a minimum of 15 credit hours, an appropriate minimum 2.75-grade point average (including transfer work), and completion of the application.

For additional information, refer to the following:

• UNM COEHS TEELP Undergraduate Catalog Secondary Education
COEHS Admissions
UNM CATALOG-TEACHER EDUCATION

Required Pre-Service and Student Teaching Semesters must be taken in sequence.

Prior to the Pre-Service (Fall) and Student Teaching (Spring) Semesters, students may enroll in the following courses:

  1. EDUC 438: Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Field (3 undergraduate credits)
    Summer, Spring, and Fall semesters.
  2. SPCD 489: Teaching Exceptional Students in General Education” (3 undergraduate credits)
    Fall or Spring semesters.

During the Pre-Service Semester (Fall) the courses below must be taken in sequence.

  1. EDUC 450: Issues in Secondary Education (3 undergraduate credits)
    EDUC 362: Teaching Experience I (2 undergraduate credits)—Students are required to spend two days per week in a classroom, under the supervision of a certified cooperating teacher. They will report to their assigned school district on the first day of the school's fall semester. Please note that New Mexico schools begin their school year earlier than UNM.
  2. EDUC 464 Student Teaching Seminar (1 undergraduate credit)
  3. Content Area Methods Course:
    1. Math: MSET 429 Teaching of Secondary Mathematics (3 undergraduate credits)
    2. Science: MSET 431 Teaching of Secondary Sciences (3 undergraduate credits)
    3. Social Studies: LLSS 432 Teaching Secondary Social Studies (3 undergraduate credits)
    4. English Language Arts; LLSS 436 Teaching of English (3 undergraduate credits)
    5. Modern Languages: LLSS 459 Second Language Literacy (3 undergraduate credits)

During the Student Teaching (Spring) Semester, students are required to enroll in the following courses:

  1. EDUC 464: Student Teaching Seminar (3 undergraduate credits)
  2. EDUC 462: Student Teaching (3 to 15 undergraduate credits) During the Spring Semester, students must spend 5 days per week in a classroom with a certified cooperating teacher to meet the 9-credit undergraduate enrollment requirement for Licensure.

Field Experience EDUC 362 Teaching Experience I and EDUC 462 Student Teaching

  1. Students do not make their own field experience placements in schools or with teachers and should not contact classroom teachers or schools directly.
  2. UNM COEHS Field Services works with program faculty and school personnel in order to support the placement of student teachers in the classroom. For additional information please refer to the Field Services website
  3. Students are expected to begin their Field Experience when the School District begins Fall and Spring Semesters


NMPED Licensure

For NMPED licensure information: Please visit the COEHS Licensure website coehs.unm.edu/licensure.

How do I begin

Whether you’re a current UNM student seeking to apply to the program, or just starting from square one, you are encouraged to connect with our COEHS Advisement Team via the buttons below. They will happily schedule a meeting with you to review any questions you may have! Please also take a moment to review the Application & Requirements page, which may answer some of your initial questions about applying to the program.

For more information about the COEHS Secondary Education BAED or BSED, please get in touch with Sherry Jones MS, Secondary Education Coordinator at seced@unm.edu.

Application Deadlines Fall and Spring Semesters

  • For best consideration February 1
  • Applications will continue to be reviewed

Seeking initial UNM admission?

If you are seeking initial admission to the UNM Main Campus as a first-time student, or as a transfer student, you must:

  • Begin by applying to the University via the UNM Admissions Office and you will be placed as a “Pre-Admitted Secondary Education” student in the system. This does not prevent you from taking courses that will apply to the Secondary Education Program, and you will still receive semesterly advisement from COEHS Advisors.
  • Once the Secondary Education application requirements are met, you will complete a separate application specifically to COEHS for the Secondary Education Program via the TK20 system as outlined below.

NMPED

Already a UNM Student and meet all Secondary Education Requirements?

If you are already an admitted UNM Main Campus student and meet all Secondary Education application requirements you should:

  • Apply directly to COEHS via the TK20 system as outlined below.

NMPED


How to Apply

Should you have any questions regarding your readiness to apply to the program, you are encouraged to email our COEHS Advisement Team at coeac@unm.edu, and they will be able to assist you further.

Meet with a COEHS advisor to receive information on specific undergraduate majors and minors.

  • If you are a UNM student, bring a complete set of unofficial academic transcripts. You can access and print your unofficial transcripts from your MyUNM portal account.
  • Students transferring to UNM must apply, pay the fee, and send official transcripts for all schools attended. Once admitted, you can get a TCE through LoboWeb. For more information, visit the Admissions Transfer Webpage


Leading New Mexico in Educator Preparation and Research

The overall mission and purpose of our work within the Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy Department is to prepare and support teachers, teacher educators and teacher leaders who support the children and families of New Mexico. Read more about our Mission and Core Values.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Our program has determined it meets professional licensure requirements in the state of New Mexico. It has not determined it meets professional licensure requirements in any other state.