If you love life and learning, if you seek a professional career contributing to the strength and vitality of our community and America, if you have a good college education and feel the calling to share it with young people, NAU-Yuma’s Postbaccalaureate Secondary Education Certificate program may be for you.
NAU-Yuma’s Education Department offers courses in teacher preparation leading to an Institutional Recommendation for state teaching certification in Secondary Education. To be accepted into the Secondary Education Program, you must meet criteria established by our Teacher Education Committee.
Please review the list of Specialized Accredited Programs for information on the program's accreditation status.
This program is designed for the individual who has a baccalaureate degree and wants to teach in a high school and/or middle school school/junior high school. If your degree includes a major, minor, or other preparation in a subject area Arizona Department of Education includes on the list of Subject Knowledge Secondary Education exams, you may complete your professional education training and Institutional Recommendation for Teacher Certification through this program. If you have a teaching job in a Yuma area school, you may be able to take the Alternative Pathway to Certification including internship. The program will include classroom study with signature assignments, supervised field experience, and supervised practicum and student teaching experiences totaling 30 units.
To receive an undergraduate certificate (at least 15 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
Please be aware that federal financial aid is not available for some certificates, if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program). See the "Details" tab for additional information.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 30 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching | Required |
| Licensing or Certification | This program may lead to licensure or certification. |
Purpose Statement
The purpose of the postbaccalaureate program in education is to prepare individuals who already have bachelor’s degrees to be highly qualified professional teachers in their degree concentration area of their major or minor. It responds to the needs of non-certified school personnel, retirees, career changers, and retired military. This undergraduate certificate program facilitates student development in the philosophy, theories, concepts, and practices of general and discipline-specific education. Our students become critical and reflective teachers for meaningful learning and practical application in a global community in a digital world. Students benefit from a culturally-relevant curriculum including rich, meaningful, and authentic practicum and clinical experiences preparing them to become competent and committed professionals literate in inquiry, technology, data-informed decision-making, and the academic language of the discipline. True to the academic and research interests of our department faculty, our graduates are prepared to be community leaders of environmental sustainability and capable of engaging students in regional and global citizenship.
Student Learning Outcomes
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Take the following with a 30 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:
Foundations (15 units)
Student Teaching or Internship (8 units)
This certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate. Under both circumstances, federal financial aid can be used for this certificate.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.