Secondary & All-Grades Education

Why study secondary & all-grades education?

This major for those planning to teach secondary level or K-12 prepares classroom teachers to meet the needs of today's diverse students and emphasizes training in a specific content area.

  • Mentors and professors with K-12 teaching experience guide future teachers to become fully-certified in South Dakota by graduation. Teacher candidates may pursue certification in other states, as well.
  • Before the culminating semester of full-time student teaching, education majors spend 100+ hours in a variety of classrooms in area school districts.
  • All programs leading to initial level licensure are accredited and approved by the South Dakota Department of Education (SD DOE).
Sharon Lust School of Education Licensure & Disclosure
AU Education Class

Academics at AU

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Highlights

education student

Careers

Graduates are highly sought after to fill secondary or K-12 teaching positions and other career opportunities, including principal or superintendent, librarian and camp director.

Hands-On Learning  

In the teacher education program, campus classroom experiences are hands-on, and field experiences start from the first year — working as tutors, mentors and classroom assistants. This program’s renowned experiential learning leads to a semester of full-time student teaching, which often includes multiple placements.

Internship opportunities include:

  • Augustana’s model classroom
  • Camp counselor
  • Surrounding school districts

Education students study away in:

  • Kenya — focusing on the intersection of global food security and education with AU faculty
  • Norway — for the exceptional children and youth practicum
  • China — focusing on human relations in education with AU faculty

Courses & Organizations

A major in secondary or all-grades education requires students to pair their classroom studies with a content major in the area they would like to teach.

Those who declare a secondary education (grades 5-12) major may choose a content major in:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communication
  • English
  • Government & International Affairs
  • History
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematics/STEM Composite
  • Physics

Those who declare an all-grades (K-12) education major may choose a content major in:

  • Art Education
  • French
  • Health Education
  • Music Education
  • Physical Education
  • Spanish

Many education majors choose to earn a kindergarten endorsement or a minor in special education, athletic coaching, American Sign Language or Spanish.

Other certified teacher education paths include:

  • Elementary Education 
  • Special Education 

Students may have a declared education major but must meet established program entrance and exit requirements to be considered a teacher candidate. The application to the teacher education program is completed during enrollment in EDUC 275. Students must also fill out an application of intent to student teach and complete the Praxis exam. 
 
Education students often participate in: 

  • Augustana University Education Association (AUEA)
  • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
  • Deaf Awareness
  • National Student Speech Language Hearing Association(NSSLHA)
  • Residence Life
  • FRIENDSLink
  • Lost & Found
  • Peer Navigator (Augie Access)