Secondary Education Minor
Find your calling in the classroom at Valpo. The secondary education minor prepares future educators to teach and lead in grades 5–12, combining deep subject-matter knowledge with the teaching methods and skills to make a meaningful impact on the next generation of students.
Designed for students majoring in English, history, science, math, exercise science, visual arts, or world languages, this minor allows you to complete the requirements for professional educator licensure while strengthening expertise in your chosen discipline. You won’t have to choose between mastering your subject and learning how to teach it — at Valpo, you can do both.
With our unique cohort model, you’ll move through your education coursework and classroom experiences alongside a small group of peers, building collaboration, leadership skills, and a professional network that extends far beyond graduation.
You’ll graduate prepared to teach grades 5–12 with licensure recognized nationwide, ready to step confidently into your own classroom and inspire young learners.
100% of Valpo education professors are former licensed P–12 teachers
98% of Valpo graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation
CAREER PATHS
With a strong academic major and professional teacher licensure with Valpo’s secondary education minor, you’ll be prepared to teach and lead in a variety of settings, including:
• Public middle and high schools
• Private and parochial schools
• International schools
• Coaching and academic leadership roles
• Graduate study in education or your content field
Visit valpo.edu/alumni-success to learn more.
EXPERT MENTORSHIP
At Valpo, you’ll learn from experienced educators how to lead with purpose and build lives for good. All of our education professors are former licensed P–12 teachers and published scholars in literacy, STEM education, pedagogy, and diversity in education. With small classes and personalized advising, they help you integrate your major with professional coursework to meet licensure requirements and develop a teaching style uniquely your own. You’ll also work with carefully selected mentor teachers aligned to your subject area, gaining discipline-specific guidance in real middle and high school classrooms.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Teaching is learned by doing — and at Valpo, that starts right away. From your first year, you’ll be placed in local middle and high schools with a mentor matched to your content area, where you’ll observe, assist, and actively participate in the classroom. During your methods course, you’ll complete an immersive practicum with weeks of guided teaching practice before student teaching begins. In your final year, you’ll gradually assume full responsibility for teaching within your discipline under the guidance of an experienced mentor. By graduation, you’ll not only know your subject deeply — you’ll be prepared to teach it with confidence and purpose.
Be a Beacon
Valparaiso University admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religion. (For a full statement, see valpo.edu .)
minor and education program as a whole is very supportive and fieldwork-oriented. I had the opportunity to observe a classroom during my very first semester at Valpo and every semester after until I student taught last spring. This is quite different from many other education programs.”
ELLA HAHN ’26
MAJOR: English
MINORS: Secondary Education, Humanities
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
For more information on financial aid, visit valpo.edu/aid.
V V V V V
Take the next step toward your bright future by visiting valpo.edu/education, or by scanning the QR code.
Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN 46383
web: valpo.edu
email: undergrad.admission@valpo.edu
