Adolescence to Young Adult Education program is part of the School of Teaching and Learning in the BGSU College of Education & Human Development  

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  • Bachelors Available
  • Bachelors Available

Adolescence to Young Adult Education

Make a difference in the lives of middle and high school students in grades 7-12. You will get a wide variety of classroom and field experiences that provide ongoing opportunities to use best practice teaching theories from your courses.

In this well-regarded program, we emphasize developing human relations skills, teaching innovative instructional methods and offering effective techniques to work with students in urban, suburban and rural school settings.

Nationally ranked education program

The BGSU College of Education and Human Development is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top programs for education. Service careers like education make an outsize impact on our communities. Well-trained teachers are vital to the education of future generations.

Our expert faculty share your enthusiasm for teaching and will help you build your teaching skills right from the start. By the end of your four years, you will have spent nearly 1,000 hours in the field. This program will set you apart.

The adolescence to young adult education program at BGSU is one of Ohio's largest preparers of teaching-focused education graduates, with 28 teacher preparation programs leading to Ohio licensure. This competitive program has some additional entry criteria, including FBI/BCI background check requirements.

Stand Out in courses like

  • Life Sciences and Earth Sciences Education
  • Digital Technology for Middle/HS Teachers
  • Schools, Society and Cultural Diversity
  • Digital Technology for Teachers
  • Educational Psychology
  • Chinese Education

Curriculum

Core subjects cover the theories and practices of sound pedagogy and instill proficiency in theories of human development. Adolescence to young adult education students will learn to plan, implement and assess daily lessons and instruction units. Teacher instruction and extensive fieldwork will ensure all students exhibit professional and ethical behavior when working with students, their parents, other educators and community members.

Choose a blend of classes within your content area – language arts, mathematics, social studies or science. 

BGSU in Austria and BGSU in Spain
Students can study abroad in Salzburg, Austria, or Alcalá de Henares, Spain, among two possibilities. Each study abroad program is coordinated by a Bowling Green State University faculty member. Students are registered for BGSU courses and receive BGSU credit and can make use of all of their institutional, state and federal financial aid when participating in one of these programs.

Educators in Context & Community (ECCO)
ECCO Is a comprehensive, career-based professional development learning community for education majors. Focus is on acclimating educators to the diverse cultures and communities – urban, rural and suburban – which their students bring with them into the classroom. Cultural competence – educators knowing themselves, their students, the community and their profession – is vital. 

 

BGSU is the largest producer of teacher education graduates in Ohio, and BGSU’s teacher education graduates get paid more on average than any other graduates in the state, according to a study by Payscale

Career

Field experiences start as soon as the freshman year, totaling nearly 1,000 hours by graduation. This puts BGSU students ahead of many other programs. Renowned for our wide range of subject specializations, including integrated language arts, integrated mathematics, integrated social studies and integrated science, a BGSU education prepares you for a job in demand. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that “rising student enrollment should increase demand for high school teachers.” Additionally, the University hosts one of the country’s largest teacher job fairs, sponsored by BGSU’s Career Services.

Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate

$37,834*— BGSU Adolescence to Young Adult graduates average starting salary, more on average than any other graduates in the state, according to a study by Payscale.com.

98% of Adolescence to Young Adult graduates report they're employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

(BGSU data compiled from students who completed the related questions on the graduation survey.)

GO FAR in your career

  • Middle school teacher
  • School counselor
  • Special education teacher
  • School administration
  • Vocational/technical teacher
  • TEFL teacher

What Our Graduates Are Saying:

“I’ve been inspired to be the best teacher I can be because of the high bar set by my own professors. I’ve had incredible experiences both in and out of the classroom that have motivated me in my pursuit to become an educator. In particular, the semester I spent abroad in Keele, England, provided unforgettable lessons and a global mindset that I’ll carry into my work as a high school social studies teacher.” 

Andrew Menich ’17

students in workshop

College of Education and Human Development logo white
Adolescence to Young Adult Education program is part of the School of Teaching & Learning in the BGSU College of Education & Human Development

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in the Adolescence to Young Adult (Secondary) Education teacher education program are expected to:

  • Demonstrate competence of subject matter in the content area of specialization;
  • Demonstrate competence in the theories and practices of sound pedagogy;
  • Apply theories of human development and learning to plan, implement and assess daily lessons and units of instruction;
  • Exhibit professional and ethical behavior when working with students, their parents, other educators, and community members.
Accreditation

The various specialties within the AYA Education Program at Bowling Green State University (math, science, social studies, language arts) have achieved the status of Nationally Recognized by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Science Teachers Association, National Council for Social Studies, and the National Council of Teachers of English. The AYA program is fully accredited by the Ohio Board of Regents. The Teacher Education program at BGSU is fully accredited by NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education).

More information on accreditation

Professional Licensure

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Adolescence to Young Adult (Secondary) Education teacher education program requires professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Gainful Employment

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Adolescence to Young Adult (Secondary) Education teacher education program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.



* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 10/16/2023 10:45AM