BA in Secondary Education
Lawrence Township, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 61,215 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international applicants studying in country | international applicants studying out of country: 15 june 2025
** for living on campus | living at home: 43,515 USD per year
Make meaningful contributions in the classroom, positively impact the lives of students and put your passion to work by preparing to become a licensed secondary school teacher. Rider University's education students participate in mediated field experiences, have access to unique short-term study abroad experiences, and benefit from personalized attention. Small class sizes enable our faculty to personally observe and guide students every step of the way.
Why earn your teacher certification in NJ? The median salary for a teacher in New Jersey is $72,900, making New Jersey teachers some of the best paid in the country (NJ.com, 2022). New Jersey has some of the most robust certification requirements, and it is often easier to earn out-of-state certification should you choose to relocate (NJ.gov, 2022).
- 1M+ high school teaching jobs in the U.S. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
- $62K+ median salary for high school teachers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
- 67,100 projected job openings for high school teachers each year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
The four-year advantage
At Rider University, our goal is to turn aspiring educators into confident ones. Our four-year program is focused on immersing you in the teaching profession and cultivating your skills. You'll graduate with the reassurance that you've chosen the right career, saving you both time and money. Graduates who spend their fifth-year teaching full-time are often able to take advantage of school district funding or discounts through our University partnerships program to pursue graduate study.
Student teaching
Your studies are half the picture of becoming a teacher, but the other half is actually teaching. As a student in the College of Education and Human Services, you’ll observe and assist in classrooms, learn to use a range of teaching methods, and complete an entire semester of full-time student teaching. All field experiences are mediated, so students are never alone in the field. You'll always have a faculty mentor to help guide you.
Beyond100K
Rider is proud to partner with Beyond100K and make the commitment to help end the STEM teacher shortage. Having achieved their goal of preparing 100,000 excellent STEM teachers in 10 years, they continue to tackle the world’s most pressing problems by engaging the best and most diverse minds, especially those who have been historically marginalized. They are centered on racial diversity, equity, and belonging for their next chapter to help close gaps in STEM education, drive innovation, and deliver the most impactful solutions to move our world forward.
Scholarships for future educators.
Rider encourages students to embark on this rewarding career path by offering scholarships, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 per year, for incoming undergraduate education majors, beginning with the fall 2024 semester.
Rider’s financial aid office works with families to ensure an undergraduate education is affordable at every income level. Scholarship and aid award offers are customized to fit your unique financial circumstances.
To get a full picture of the scholarships, grants, and other aid that you may be eligible to receive, apply to Rider and transmit your FAFSA using federal school code 002628. Merit-based scholarships and aid are automatically awarded when you apply, and once we receive your FAFSA, the Office of Financial Aid can help identify additional resources to fund your education.
Scholarships and Awards
The scholarships below are competitive and are typically awarded based on a comprehensive review of the student's academic record, including cumulative high school GPA, rigor of academic course selection, test scores, and auditions (if applicable), and other supporting credentials.
| Scholarships Awards | Award Range | Maximum value over 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Merit-based scholarships | $14,000 - $27,000 annually | Variable based on financial aid offer. Students who meet the criteria and qualifications for a scholarship automatically receive the award upon admission to Rider. No additional scholarship application is required. |
To be considered for a merit-based academic scholarship, you must:
- Apply to Rider: Submit your completed application for admission, including official transcripts, standardized test scores (unless applying test-optional), essay, and one letter of recommendation by January 15. (Note: the final deadline is November 15th for all Musical Theatre and Acting applicants.)
- Rider offers Test-optional Admission, which means SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission and most scholarships at Rider. Test-optional applicants will be given full consideration for most merit-based scholarships.
- Are you a high achiever? Students with a 4.0 GPA and 1300+ SAT/28+ ACT score may be eligible to receive the maximum merit-based scholarship offer of $27,000. You must submit your SAT/ACT to Rider in order to qualify for this award level.
- Complete an audition, if required (audition results are a factor in scholarship awards).
- Be regularly admissible to the University as a full-time student.
- Have a minimum cumulative academic 2.7 GPA (unweighted) on a 4.0 scale.
For New Jersey residents, the Rider Tuition Guarantee:
Rider guarantees free tuition for qualified in-state students! If you're a New Jersey resident with a GPA of 3.5 or above based on a 4.0 grading scale, an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, and are receiving both full TAG and Pell grants, you may be eligible to attend Rider University tuition-free when you apply as an undergraduate student for the fall 2025 or spring 2026 start terms. Terms and conditions apply.
Visit our website to learn more about the scholarships and aid opportunities.
Areas of study for secondary education at Rider are English education, foreign language education: Spanish, history education, mathematics education, and science education (biochemistry, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environmental sciences, marine sciences).
In addition, secondary education majors can elect to pursue the following minors, certifications, and endorsements: English as a second language, bilingual education, or an interdisciplinary minor in special education.
Major Requirements
Preparation to teach a particular academic subject in secondary education is accomplished through a program requiring completion of the major requirements of the appropriate liberal arts or science major, general studies, and professional education major requirements. In addition to completing these requirements, all Rider University students are required to complete the Engaged Learning requirements.
Second major/options include:
- English Education
- Foreign Language Education: Spanish
- History Education
- Mathematics Education
- Science Education: (Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, or Environmental Sciences)
The program curriculum includes general studies courses, major requirements, and field experiences, including a semester of full-time student teaching.
Students also have the option to earn additional teaching certifications by choosing from a variety of minors.
Please visit our website to check the major and minor requirements for this course.