Education as a Second Major
Make a difference in the lives of students and families. Be an advocate for equity and expand opportunity as a teacher. Graduates of the teacher education programs at William & Mary are in high demand by school divisions across Virginia and beyond. These alumni are changing lives every day as teacher-leaders.
Through the second-major program, undergraduate students at William & Mary may pursue a primary major in Arts & Sciences along with a second major in secondary education. Upon graduation, these students are ready to step into the classroom as teachers.
Programs of Study
The second majors in secondary education are 33-credit hour programs. Students may choose from:
Interested in elementary education? Check out our B.A.Ed. in Elementary Education. Students pursuing a B.A.Ed. have the option to double-major but are not required to do so.
Field Experiences
Clinical experiences are a complement to and an integral component of the teacher preparation program in the School of Education. Throughout the program, preservice teachers have experiences in a variety of settings and with diverse populations at our partnering public schools. These experiences serve as a bridge between the knowledge, skills, and dispositions developed through formal course work and the practical application of those professional attributes as a teacher candidate and, subsequently, as a classroom teacher.
In the fall, secondary education candidates complete a minimum of 60 hours in the field, practicing their teaching skills, interacting with students, reflecting on the experiences, and learning about the ecosystem of schools. These field activities prepare candidates for their culminating field experience – student teaching. The 15-week, immersive student teaching experience takes place in the spring and is a critical component of our candidates’ preparation and development as a teacher. Students should understand that full-time student teaching will be required in spring semester of the senior year, between the hours of 9am-4pm. Student teaching must take priority over other activities, to include sports practice.
Licensure
Students who successfully complete our Secondary Education programs will be eligible to apply for licensure as a Secondary Education 6-12 teacher in the selected discipline in the state of Virginia. Therefore, programs are designed for students who are not already licensed as educators in Virginia. Learn more about applying for licensure.
Testing Requirements
All teacher candidates must obtain passing scores on the professional teacher assessments prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education. At William & Mary, all required licensure tests are also graduation requirements; therefore, the appropriate tests must be completed regardless of a teacher candidate’s decision to apply for a teaching license. Learn more about testing requirements.
Applying for Admission
Students must apply to the School of Education in the spring semester of the sophomore year, or before the start of the fall semester of the junior year. Learn more about applying for admission.
Program Contacts
Secondary English: [[lljohnson, Lindy Johnson]]
Associate Professor of English Education
(757) 221-2333
Secondary Math and Science: [[mwkier, Meredith Kier]]
Associate Professor of Science Education
(757) 221-2332
Secondary Social Studies: [[ejkim05, Esther Kim]]
Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education
(757) 221-2348
