Secondary Education
Secondary Education
Most teachers would agree there is nothing more rewarding than watching your students learn, grow and succeed. For the Christian educator, there is the added joy of sharing Jesus’ love by encouraging each student to recognize his or her potential. Northwestern’s “teacher as servant” philosophy will help you identify your students as God’s children, bringing Christ to the center of your work in the classroom.
Why NWC?
Northwestern’s education faculty have experience with diverse grade levels and disciplines in both public and private school settings. They will support you throughout your journey to becoming a teacher, from applying to the teacher education program during your sophomore year to applying for licensure as a senior.
The secondary education major is paired with an additional major in a specialized field of study. Compatible tracks of study include:
- Art (K-12)
- Biology
- Business Education
- Chemistry
- English Teaching
- History
- Mathematics
- Music (K-12)
- Physical Education (K-12)
- Physics Education
- Psychology
- Social Studies Teaching
- Spanish (K-12)
- Endorsements in basic science, coaching, middle school, reading, special education and TESL (teaching English as a second language)
Department Co-Chair
Outcomes
Northwestern grads have high graduate placement rates for a reason—their dedication to giving students a Christ-centered education stands out, and they have the experience and bank of effective program plans to prove it.
Join our standout alumni at:
#RaidersStandOut
Experience
As an education major at Northwestern, you won’t have to wait until your senior year to begin work in the classroom. Nearly every education class includes a field experience with students in area K–12 schools, so by the time you’re given a student-teaching assignment, you’ll have spent more than 100 hours working with students.
Here’s what your student-teaching experience might look like:
- Stick close to campus and teach at a school within 60 miles of NWC.
- Venture abroad for a semester and teach overseas—NWC students have taught in places like Paraguay, Dominican Republic and Germany.
If you enjoyed participating in high school mission trips, you’ll have even more opportunities to engage in service at Northwestern.
- Participate in Romania Semester and work with New Horizons Foundation, an organization that uses adventure education to empower local teens.
- Volunteer as an English or subject-area tutor for area schoolchildren.
- Serve as a peer mentor for the Northwestern NEXT program, a college experience for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- Take a 10-day or 10-week mission trip to locations around the globe, where you might volunteer with after-school programs or teach ESL and vacation Bible school.
Northwestern also offers 8 in-demand Master of Education tracks, so you can pursue additional graduate-level training in early childhood education, special education, educational administration and more.
As an education major at Northwestern, you won’t have to wait until your senior year to begin work in the classroom. Nearly every education class includes a field experience with students in area K–12 schools, so by the time you’re given a student-teaching assignment, you’ll have spent more than 100 hours working with students.
Here’s what your student-teaching experience might look like:
- Stick close to campus and teach at a school within 60 miles of NWC.
- Venture abroad for a semester and teach overseas—NWC students have taught in places like Paraguay, Dominican Republic and Germany.
If you enjoyed participating in high school mission trips, you’ll have even more opportunities to engage in service at Northwestern.
- Participate in Romania Semester and work with New Horizons Foundation, an organization that uses adventure education to empower local teens.
- Volunteer as an English or subject-area tutor for area schoolchildren.
- Serve as a peer mentor for the Northwestern NEXT program, a college experience for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- Take a 10-day or 10-week mission trip to locations around the globe, where you might volunteer with after-school programs or teach ESL and vacation Bible school.
Northwestern also offers 8 in-demand Master of Education tracks, so you can pursue additional graduate-level training in early childhood education, special education, educational administration and more.
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Faculty + Staff
Brilliant scholars. Committed Christians. Invested in you. That’s Northwestern’s faculty.
- Mary Beth Breen ’04 Instructor in Education
- Dr. Derek Brower '89 Professor of Education
- Dr. Heather Hayes Assistant Professor of Education
- Dr. Angila Moffitt Assistant Professor in Education
- Dr. Chris Nonhof Associate Professor of Education and English
- Tamara Schram Instructor in Education
Program Director, Online B.A. in Early Childhood
- Dr. Carrie Thonstad Assistant Professor of Education; Licensure Official; Department Chair
- Heidi Vasher Instructor in Education
- Lynn Mouw Education Department Administrative Assistant and Student Placement Coordinator
- Scott Bahrke ’01 Instructor in Business Education
- Beth LeTendre Oolman Instructor in Education