K-12 and Secondary Education

If you are interested in pursuing secondary education (teaching in a middle school or high school) or K-12 education, you will need to choose a major in your area of interest and enroll in the college where your major is located. Our secondary education program prepares students to teach at the middle and high school levels by encouraging you to become an expert in your subject matter by majoring in that subject. 

Iowa State University has 13 undergraduate teacher preparation areas at Iowa State University. Our secondary education program provides students the opportunity for clinical experience aligned with your coursework early on in the program. The secondary and K-12 program areas offered by our Educator Preparation Program and their corresponding grade levels are listed below, along with the college where the program resides and where you can find information on the required curriculum.

If you’re interested in this program, you will want to do the following:

  1. Choose your major.
  2. Apply to our Education Preparation Program
    • Upon acceptance and successful completion of the program, you will be recommended for an initial license and become a teacher. 

For those who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree and who are looking to pursue a master’s degree with licensure recommendation for teaching, please check out these specific programs:

Grades 5-12

Majors

Teacher Preparation Area – College

Agricultural Education – Agriculture and Life Sciences
Biology Education – Liberal Arts and Sciences
Chemistry Education – Liberal Arts and Sciences
Earth Sciences Education – Liberal Arts and Sciences
English Education – Liberal Arts and Sciences
Family and Consumer Sciences Education – Human Sciences
Health Education – Human Sciences
History Education – Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mathematics Education – Liberal Arts and Sciences
Physics Education – Liberal Arts and Sciences
World Languages and Cultures – Liberal Arts and Sciences

Requirements

You need to apply to the department in which you plan to major and must meet the graduation requirements of that department and the college where it resides. In addition, in order to be recommended for licensure, you must apply and be accepted to the Educator Preparation Program and complete all of the requirements of this program.

Secondary Education Program Coordinators

Secondary ProgramCoordinatorEmailPhone Number
Agriculture Education Scott Smalleysmalle16@iastate.edu515-294-0047
English Education/ESLDonna Nidaydniday@iastate.edu515-294-9981
Family Consumer Science Education Laura VanWaardhuizenlauravw@iastate.edu515-294-6316
History/Social Studies Education Jeff Bremer
Amy Rutenberg
jrbremer@iastate.edu
arutenbe@iastate.edu
515-294-7266
515-294-4634
Mathematics Education Alejandro Andreotti
Ji Yeong I
aleand@iastate.edu
jiyeongi@iastate.edu
515-294-5128
515-294-7677
Music Education Natalie Roystonnasteele@iastate.edu515-294-6829
Physical EducationHolly Lipseylipsey@iastate.edu515-294-8131
Science Education Ben Van Dusenbvd@iastate.edu 515-294-0317
World Languages and Cultures EducationTBD

Grades K-12

Majors

Teacher Preparation Area – College

Music (grades K-12) – Liberal Arts and Sciences
Physical education (grades K-12) – Human Sciences

Requirements

You need to apply to the department in which you plan to major and must meet the graduation requirements of that department and the college where it resides. In addition, in order to be recommended for licensure, you must apply and be accepted to the Educator Preparation Program and complete all of the requirements of this program.

K-12 Program Coordinators

K-12 ProgramCoordinatorEmailPhone Number
Music EducationNatalie Roystonnasteele@iastate.edu515-294-6829
Physical Education/Health EducationHolly Lipseylipsey@iastate.edu515-294-8131

Advisor

Kathy Christensen

Academic Advisor II

Department: School of Education

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Ready for the next step?

Need More Information?

Secondary Education Advising

edadvise@iastate.edu