Secondary Education, OU STEP

Department Website

Program description

The School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) offer a combined bachelor and master of arts in teaching for the secondary teacher education program (STEP) for students seeking teacher certification at the middle or high school level. Students that complete this 5-year program will earn: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in one of four content areas (listed below)
• Recommendation for a Standard Michigan Teaching Certificate in two grade bands (grades 5-9 & 7-12)
• Master of Arts in Teaching degree

Course descriptions and program details are found in the graduate catalog posted on their current website under the heading Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education.

Schedule of classes

Specific offerings for each semester may be found in the Schedule of Classes.

Admission to the combined program

Delayed admission into the MAT program is required before taking graduate-level professional education courses. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the major. Qualitative criteria may be required as well. The program seeks students who are committed to teaching in diverse schools or districts. Underrepresented students are especially encouraged to apply. Minimum criteria for admission to the secondary education program are:

Admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program is required before taking professional education courses. Five undergraduate majors are eligible for admission to the combined program. 

• English Language Arts for Educators, B.A.  
• Integrated Science, B.A. 
• Mathematics for Educators, B.A.  
• Mathematics for Educators, B.S.  
• Social Studies with History for Educators, B.A.  

Factors considered in admissions include the following:

1. A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.20 or higher at Oakland University
2. Complete WRT 1060  with a minimum grade of B
3. Pursue a teachable major and have 33% or more complete. Teachable majors require a 3.0 cumulative GPA with no single  course below a C. Students can apply as early as after their sophomore year and are encouraged to work with their CAS adviser to determine the best time for them.
4. Read and sign the Michigan Code of Educational Ethics on the STEP application acknowledging your duty to uphold the ethical standards of the profession.
5. Two professional references will be required as a part of your application.
6. Goal Statement: In two pages or less, please include a short biography, your professional goals, and respond to the following: (1) What experiences have led you to believe you would enjoy teaching middle/high school students? (2) What abilities do you have that lead you to believe you can facilitate a productive classroom? (3) What knowledge, experience or personal attributes do you have that will benefit your students?
7. Additional information or an interview may be requested to provide a more complete application profile.

Applications to the combined program are considered twice per year. May 1st for regular applications and October 1 for late applications. Applications received after that date may be considered pending review by faculty and space in the program. Applications are available through the graduate school

Retention in the SEHS professional education programs Teacher Education students are expected to meet high professional, personal, and ethical standards, as detailed in the Teacher Ed Expectations Statement .