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Bachelor of Arts in
Secondary Education
On-Campus

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Transfer up to 75% of your program credits

Inspire Future Lives with a B.A. in Secondary Education

Inspire students to live meaningful lives. Cornerstone University’s Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education program prepares you to teach middle and high school students in a specialized subject area with the most effective teaching and leadership strategies. Rooted in a broad liberal arts education grounded in a Christian worldview and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the program offers a variety of subject areas — from English to mathematics. Grow academically and spiritually through Christ-centered teaching and mentorship by experienced faculty. Graduate equipped to pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) and pursue a rewarding career as an influential educator!

Develop Market-Ready Skills with a B.A. in Secondary Education Degree

Students pursuing teacher licensure in secondary education will choose a subject matter major in Biology, English, Science, Math, Social Studies, or Spanish to develop content expertise. Through our program, you will gain valuable teaching capabilities that are in demand inside and outside the classroom including:

Lesson Planning and Instructional Design – Creating effective, engaging lessons tailored to diverse learners.

Classroom Management – Maintaining a positive, organized and respectful learning environment.

Assessment and Evaluation – Measuring student learning and adjusting instruction accordingly.

Educational Technology Use – Integrating digital tools to enhance teaching and learning.

Differentiated Instruction – Adapting teaching methods to meet the varied needs of students.

Communication and Collaboration – Working effectively with students, families and school teams.

Decision-Making and Problem-Solving – Addressing classroom challenges with thoughtful, practical solutions.

Morally Grounded Formation – Prepare educators to influence students, families and communities through a solid Christian Worldview foundation.

Courses

Cornerstone is ready to help you excel in your chosen field. The courses below reflect just a few of the general education and industry-focused courses you will experience to achieve your teaching degree.

Featured Courses

EDU-220: Foundations of Education & Clinical Experience

Explore teaching foundations in educational theory, classroom practice, and a biblical worldview, supported by a hands-on field experience.

EDU-262: Educational Technology Integration

Understand emerging technology tools, ISTE standards, and best practices for creating student-centered, 21st-century classrooms.

EDU-345: Foundations of Literacy

Examine literacy development, instructional strategies, and learning theory, emphasizing neuroscience-informed approaches to assessment and instruction.

EDU-381: The Learner and Learning

Learn developmental, motivational, and classroom management principles that impact the whole learner with foundational knowledge for effective instruction and assessment.

View all of the courses for your academic program.

Academic Catalog

General Education

A Christian Worldview of Liberal Arts and the G.O.O.D. Life

The humanities are integral to Cornerstone’s liberal arts approach, exploring culture, literature, history, and philosophy through a Christian worldview. Developed by our renowned Christian worldview scholars, students consider how to apply G.O.O.D. Life Biblical principles to inspire their spiritual growth and to profoundly influence society, industry and ministry for Jesus Christ. Our G.O.O.D. Life foundations guide students to answer life’s biggest questions from a rich Biblical perspective to shape Christ-centered moral leaders.

  • God: Who is God? What is His beauty, goodness and greatness?
  • Others: What does it mean to live in a community with responsibility and grace?
  • Ourselves: Who am I? What is the beauty and frailty of being human?
  • Dual Citizenship: What is my role as a citizen of heaven and earth?
  • Life: How do we live, know, and love the good life, valuing truth, beauty, and goodness?

Secondary Education Majors

Get ready to specialize in your area of teaching interest. Students pursuing licensure in secondary education will complete a general education core curriculum and choose a major in Biology, English, Science, Math, Social Studies, or Spanish to fulfill State of Michigan secondary teacher education requirements. Spanish and TESOL minors are also available.

Biology

Biology Major

Learn to teach life sciences with a strong foundation in biological concepts, laboratory skills, and scientific inquiry. Explore topics like genetics, ecology, human anatomy, and cellular biology while learning how to create engaging, standards-based lessons that bring science to life for your students. Courses may include:

  • BIO-161: Human Biology – Learn human anatomy and physiology, exploring cell biology, tissues, and body systems such as the skeletal, muscular, nervous, and more, with emphasis on disease processes and practical health applications.
  • ECO-341: Ecology – Discover organism-environment relationships, emphasizing ecological principles and Michigan ecosystems such as bogs, marshes, streams, and dunes.
  • BIO-351: Genetics – Explore classical and molecular genetics, gene expression, and developmental genetics through hands-on lab investigations using modern techniques like PCR, gel electrophoresis, and cloning, while also examining related ethical issues.
  • SCI-465: Secondary Science Methods – Develop the skills and strategies to effectively design, deliver, and assess science instruction using diverse teaching methods and models.

English

English Major

Cultivate a passion for language by building strong skills in literature, writing, and communication — paired with creative, student-focused strategies that inspire the next generation of readers and writers. Courses may include:

  • LIN-225: Introduction to Linguistics – Learn the nature, structure, and diversity of human language through scientific analysis, covering topics such as language acquisition, variation, change, and the relationship between language and the brain.
  • ENG-319: Advanced Grammar – Examines English grammar through descriptive and prescriptive approaches, using traditional, structural, and transformational analysis methods.
  • EDU-436: Teaching Secondary Writing & Language – Develop evidence-based strategies to cultivate adolescents’ writing and language skills through engaging, student-centered methods, with practical application in a concurrent classroom practicum.
  • ENG-463: Teaching Secondary Reading – Engage adolescent learners in effective reading and critical thinking through evidence-based strategies, with practical application in a concurrent classroom practicum.

Integrated Comprehensive Science

Integrated Comprehensive Science Major

Gain broad knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science, along with strategies to promote inquiry and curiosity in the classroom. Courses may include:

  • ECO-241: Environmental Science – Explore the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues by examining ecological principles, policy, and human impact, with topics including air and water quality, energy, waste, sustainability, and environmental legislation (includes lab).
  • SCI-262: Geology – Examine Earth’s materials and processes, integrating interdisciplinary science and a Christian worldview, to explore natural disasters, resource distribution, and geographic boundaries.
  • SCI-263: Atmosphere and Weather – Explore atmospheric composition, weather systems, and forecasting models using materials from the American Meteorological Society’s Online Weather Studies.
  • SCI-465: Secondary Science Methods – Prepare to effectively design, deliver, and assess science instruction using a variety of instructional models and teaching strategies.

Integrated Science

Integrated Science Major

Acquire broad knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science to teach and inspire scientific thinking through inquiry-based learning. Courses may include:

  • CHM-212: Principles of Organic & Biochem – Study carbon compounds and biomolecules, emphasizing structure-function relationships and including lab work in synthesis and analysis of natural and synthetic products.
  • BIO-233: Zoology – Learn principles of animal biology with a focus on invertebrates, covering development, classification, and interactions.
  • ECO-241: Environmental Science – Explore the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues by examining ecological principles, policy, and human impact, with topics including air and water quality, energy, waste, sustainability, and environmental legislation.
  • SCI-261: Astronomy – Explore the planets, moons, stars, and galaxies through observation and calculation-based lab exercises.

Mathematics

Mathematics Major

Build a deep understanding of mathematics and gain the tools to teach algebra, geometry, calculus, and statistics in ways that engage students and bring math to life in the classroom. Courses may include:

  • MAT-243: Discrete Mathematics – Learn fundamental concepts in combinatorics, probability, and algorithms through the study of core principles in discrete mathematics.
  • MAT-251: Probability & Statistics – This calculus-based course covers probability models, inference, and data analysis techniques, with emphasis on statistical software and applications in economics and science.
  • MAT-341: Modern Algebra – Examine group theory through binary operations, isomorphisms, cyclic and abelian groups, homomorphisms, cosets, group actions, and Sylow’s Theorems.
  • MAT-471: Secondary Math Methods – Learn to design and deliver standards-based math instruction in areas such as algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus, using educational theory, curriculum development, and a variety of tools and technologies.

Social Studies

Social Studies Major

Gain a broad foundation in history, government, economics, and geography to engage students in understanding human society, civic responsibility, and global perspectives from a Christian worldview. Courses may include:

  • SSC-161: World Geography – Discover the physical, cultural, economic, and political characteristics of global regions to foster understanding and appreciation of the world’s diverse peoples and environments.
  • HIS-211: Michigan History – Learn the state’s development from the territorial period to the present, focusing on its economic, political, constitutional, social, and religious history.
  • SSC-262: Geography of North America – Explore the continent’s physical landscape and cultural development through a regional study of land use, resources, economy, urban systems, and spatial analysis.
  • SSC-464: Secondary Social Studies Methods – Develop social studies effective planning, instructional strategies, and evaluation methods, while examining foundational philosophies and current issues in the discipline through a Christian worldview.

Spanish

Spanish Certification

Develop strong language skills and cultural understanding to prepare you to teach Spanish with confidence through engaging, student-centered instruction that brings the language and its cultures to life. Courses may include:

  • SPA-316: Conversation in the City – Immerse in Spanish-language conversations through real-life interactions with Latin American/Latino families, exploring topics like faith, culture, and daily life in the local community.
  • SPA-317: Cultural Perspectives – Explore the rich diversity, commonalities, and unique cultural identities of Latino communities in the local city through this online course offered in Spanish or English.
  • SPA-412: Spanish Civilization & Culture – Gain comprehensive insights into Peninsular society, examining how history, traditions, and cultural influences have shaped Spanish national identity and character.
  • SPA-465: World Language Teaching Methodology – Develop effective methods for teaching language skills and components, with practice in lesson planning, material selection, and integrating technology into ESL or Spanish instruction.

What might make this degree a good fit for me? Cornerstone University’s Spanish K-12 Certification program offers a comprehensive curriculum that blends language mastery, educational best practices, and faith integration. Graduates are prepared to inspire a love for language and culture in K-12 classrooms, fostering meaningful cross-cultural connections.

Teacher Education Field Experience

Students will engage in classroom experiences every semester starting in the spring of freshman year. You’ll observe a variety of grade levels and school settings, taking on more active roles and putting knowledge into practice. You will spend one-to-two semesters working with a cooperating teacher to prepare you for your final semester of full-time teaching.

Influential Careers with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education Degree

  • Middle School Teacher
  • High School Teacher
  • Curriculum Specialist
  • Instructional Coach
  • Education Consultant
  • Online Educator
  • Youth Program Director
  • Academic Advisor
  • Educational Content Writer
  • International Teacher

Tuition

On-Campus

$22,000 per year

Generous scholarship and payment options available.
Review information about student fees and housing packages on our Tuition & Fees page.

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Your Degree Starts Here

Start your degree at one of the most affordable Christian universities in the region. An admissions counselor is ready to help you begin the enrollment process.

  1. Apply — our application is free.
  2. Set goals — your admissions counselor is here to guide you.
  3. Maximize your credits — you could transfer in up to 75% of your degree credits.
  4. Discover affordability — scholarships and grants are available for qualified students.

Cornerstone University

Hours

MON - FRI: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
SAT & SUN: Closed

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